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Staying Active with Your Favorite Sports

Emily Davis-Morin | November 3, 2022

Track and Field: My main sport at the Academy is Track and Field. I am a thrower on the team and my favorite events are javelin and discus, but I also throw shot put, hammer throw, and weight throw on occasion. I actually never thought that I would compete in a varsity team after
high school, so being on the team provides me an opportunity to continue having fun doing things I love with some of the most amazing people and coaches. Although we expend a lot of time and sweat towards improving our strength and skills in the weight room or in the ring, our efforts pay off and it is great to see the growth in each and every one of us! Being on the Track and Field Team is not just about competing and beating your PRs, the community and teamwork creates strong bonds across the team. Additionally, because the throwers are a smaller group, we are really tight-knit and get to know each other really well. The team is also a family outside of sports. If one of us is struggling outside of the throwing ring/sector, there is always one of us to help whether it be academics, or just a rough week.

Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Club: Even though I meet my sports/activities credit with Track & Field, in my free time, I also participate in the Brazilian Jiu Jitsu Club. Originally, I came in with no knowledge of wrestling or really anything related to the sport, but I can proudly say that I have learned a lot. Unlike the varsity team, our instructors are usually other cadets, although we have also had outside instructors come by and CG Officer Candidates teach some lessons. This really helps foster an open learning environment that also helps cadets with their leadership skills. Additionally, I have really grown to appreciate the sport, it both provides great stress relief and improves self-defense and body awareness skills which may come in handy in the fleet!

About Emily

Hometown: Newton, MA
Major: Marine and Environmental Sciences
Email: Emily.J.Davis-Morin@uscga.edu

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.