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Home / Mission / Professional Development

Professional Development

By the time you are ready to choose your first Coast Guard job, you will be able to make your decision with confidence.

The professional development program is a comprehensive, four-year process that leads to the acquisition of knowledge, skills, and the ability to succeed in your first Coast Guard job.

Individual and team-based experiential learning reinforces classroom theory, using simulators, waterfront assets, and operational Coast Guard ships, aircraft, and units, surpassing your typical college courses.

Besides hands-on experience in the active Coast Guard, you will have the chance to participate in annual career exploration weeks that feature speakers and leaders in Coast Guard aviation, Coast Guard careers at sea, and Coast Guard jobs ashore.

Professional Maritime Certifications

All graduates are certified by exam in the International and Inland Navigation Rules. Significantly, most cadets earn the Master—100 gross tons near coastal license, a standard of maritime proficiency recognized worldwide. Both certifications are foundations for building a career in the maritime industry, as well as your Coast Guard career.

Nautical Science Curriculum

Classroom study of navigation and nautical science are core academic requirements totaling up to 16 credits. The Shipboard Control and Navigation Training Simulator (SCANTS), waterfront training assets, and summer training are integrated with, or complement, the academic curriculum.

PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT

FEATURED CONTENT

cadet in a simulator
Simulators and Labs

Explore the shipboard simulators, flight simulators and labs at the Academy.

cadets sailing
Waterfront Assets

Learn more about the 130+ boats, sailing vessels and trainers at the Academy waterfront.

cadets on the helm
USCGC EAGLE

Discover why one of the oldest ships in commissioned service is one of the best training platforms for future officers.

cadets on summer assignments
Summer in the Field

Sample the Coast Guard ships and units that train cadets each summer.

Coast Guard Professional Enrichment

Informal opportunities throughout the year enrich the professional development process, such as:

  • The Ethics Forum – a two-day seminar on ethical decision making
  • The Washington Trip – a three-day trip featuring private meetings with national leaders, relevant to maritime interests
  • Professional clubs

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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