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Mission

In Service of Country and Humanity

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Mission Conquered

The focus of the U.S. Coast Guard Academy is to develop officer-ready leaders of character who embody Coast Guard values, who influence and inspire others, and who decide what is right and demonstrate the courage to act accordingly.

USCGA Mission

“To graduate young men and women with sound bodies, stout hearts, and alert minds, with a liking for the sea and its lore, and with that high sense of honor, loyalty, and obedience which goes with trained initiative and leadership; well-grounded in seamanship, the sciences, and amenities, and strong in the resolve to be worthy of the traditions of commissioned officers in the United States Coast Guard in the service of their country and humanity.”

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OUR MISSION

Mission

Future cadets are hardworking ordinary Americans who share one thing in common, the resolve to be worthy.

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Our Process

Leader development at the Coast Guard Academy is intentional, collaborative and continuous. Our process includes several components:
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Professional Development

Developing leaders and professionally ready officers is an integrated four-year process. The many components include: Curriculum, summer experiences, internships, simulation, career exploration weeks, speakers, and more.
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Four Year Leadership Journey

Experiential and fully integrated with the professional development program, cadets’ leadership journeys are guided by a comprehensive curriculum, a dedicated team, and a culture of assessment.

Four Years At a Glance

The Corps of Cadets is largely a self-directed organization that follows a standard military chain of command.

Fourth Class Year

Fourth class cadets (freshmen) serve as followers, assimilating into the rigors of military life, while developing essential teamwork skills.

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Third Class Year

third-class shieldThird class cadets (sophomores) serve as personal and professional mentors for 4th class cadets.

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Second Class Year

second class shieldSecond class cadets (juniors) serve as Assistant Division Officers, mentoring, leading and supervising third and fourth class cadets.

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First Class Year

first class shieldFirst class cadets (seniors) serve as leaders of the corps, as Regimental Staff Officers, Company Commanders, Department Heads, and Division Officers.

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Mission News

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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:

  1. 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.
  2. 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.
  3. 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.
  4. 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.
  5. 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.

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