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Denzel McWhite: Pre-AIM Interview

Denzel McWhite | July 7, 2024

How did you hear of the Coast Guard Academy?

My dad is an Academy graduate and hearing his stories through the years put the Academy on the map for me. Although his stories intrigued me, it wasn’t until I toured the campus that I felt CGA was for me.

What is the #1 thing you’ve done to prepare for AIM so far?

Push-ups and waking up early. I’ve never been an early riser, but since being accepted to AIM, waking up early combined with push-ups and working out is my daily routine.

What do you expect to have in common with your fellow AIMsters?

The drive to succeed, specifically, the drive to achieve our goals and the drive to earn an appointment to the Academy. If we all made it to AIM, we’re all likely driven for something great.

What are you most looking forward to?

I’m eager to experience AIM, meet new people, and learn more about CGA. I’m also excited to meet the tennis coach and maybe a few members of the team. It’s a great chance to peek into the life of a student-athlete cadet.

Any hesitations about your AIM week?

I have no hesitations. I know I’ll face failure, but through it, I will face success. The yelling, the push-ups, and all the learning curves to come will no doubt be difficult, but I’m up to the task.

What do your peers think about your service academy aspirations?

Everyone I’ve told is amazed and encourages me to continue pursuing my goals. I even have a friend who’s now interested in applying for CGA.

About Denzel

Hometown: Fairhope, AL
Intended Major: Mechanical Engineering

Sponsor Family Application

Thank you for submitting your application to be part of the Sponsor Family Program. Your application will be processed in the upcoming week. Coast Guard Academy’s policy on background screening now requires all adults (everyone 18 and older living in the home) who volunteer to mentor, teach, coach or sponsor cadets, whether on or off Coast Guard Academy grounds, to be screened every 5 years. They are required to provide personal information (name, birth date and social security number) for the purpose of conducting a criminal background check.

The Security Officer at the Coast Guard Academy, CWO2 Gina Polkowski, is overseeing this process. Her email is: Gina.M.Polkowski@uscg.mil.

Sponsor Family designations fall into several different categories. Below are the guidelines to help you determine how best to meet the background screening requirement:

If you are Coast Guard active duty you do not need to apply for an additional Background Check. You will be vetted through the Coast Guard system by CWO2 Polkowski.
If you are a Civilian working for the Coast Guard you do not need to apply for an additional Background Check. You will be vetted through the Coast Guard system by CWO2 Polkowski.
If you are non-Coast Guard Active Duty, you are required to provide proof of your current security clearance or National Agency Check that is to be emailed by your Command Security Officer (CSO)/ Security Office to CWO2 Polkowski at Gina.M.Polkowski@uscg.mil.
If you are non-Coast Guard civilian who has a current security clearance or National Agency check, you are required to provide proof of your current security clearance or National Agency Check that is to be emailed by your Command Security Officer (CSO)/ Security Office to CWO2 Polkowski at Gina.M.Polkowski@uscg.mil.
All civilians in the families who are 18 years or older and do not have a security clearance or a National Agency Check are required to be vetted through Mind Your Business, the third party vendor hired by the Coast Guard Academy for the vetting process.

After you complete your application, please e-mail the Sponsor Family Program Coordinator at CadetFamilySponsorProgram@uscga.edu. In your e-mail, you must include the e-mail address and phone number of every adult living in the home. The Sponsor Family Coordinator will then initiate the background check process and you will receive an email with further instructions.

Important things to note:

There is a Sponsor Family Training that is a one-hour training which we ask sponsors to attend once every four years. This training is designed to give you an overview of the program, what is expected of you as a sponsor, and what you can expect from your cadets. This training will also help familiarize you with the cadet regulations onboard CGA. You will be notified via e-mail once the training is scheduled.

The matching process of swabs to families will occur during July and August. Please bear with us and remain flexible through this process. There will be a meet and greet scheduled on Campus, typically in late August. This will give families an opportunity to formally meet their cadet if they have not already done so. Details on this will also be via email.