United States Coast Guard Academy
Encyclopedia
Founded in 1876, the United States Coast Guard Academy (USCGA) is the military academy
of the United States Coast Guard
. Located in New London
, Connecticut
, it is the smallest of the five federal service academies. The academy provides education to future Coast Guard officers
in one of eight major fields of study.
Unlike the other service academies, admission to the academy is based solely upon merit and does not require a congressional nomination. Students are officers-in-training and are referred to as cadets. Tuition for cadets is fully funded by the Coast Guard in exchange for an obligation of five years active duty service upon graduation. This obligation increases if the cadet chooses to go to flight school
or graduate school
. Approximately 400 cadets enter the academy each summer with about 200 cadets graduating. Graduates are commissioned as ensigns
. The academic program grants a Bachelor of Science
degree in one of eight majors, with a curriculum that grades cadets' performance upon a holistic education of academics, physical fitness, character and leadership. Cadets are required to adhere to the academy's Honor Concept, "Who lives here reveres honor, honors duty", which is emblazoned in the halls of the academy's entrance.
The academy's motto is Scientiæ cedit mare, which is Latin for "the sea yields to knowledge" (the trident, emblem of the Roman god Neptune
, represents seapower).
The roots of the academy lie in the School of Instruction of the Revenue Cutter Service, the school of the Revenue Cutter Service. Established near New Bedford, Massachusetts
in 1876, the School of Instruction used the USRC Dobbin
for its exercises. Captain John Henriques served as superintendent from the founding until 1883. The one civilian instructor was Professor Edwin Emery, who taught mathematics, astronomy, English composition, French, physics, theoretical steam engineering, history, and international law, and revenue law, among other subjects. The School was basically a two-year apprenticeship, supplemented by a little classroom work. The student body averaged five to 10 cadets per class. With changes to new training vessels, the school moved to Curtis Bay, Maryland in 1900 and then again in 1910 to Fort Trumbull
, a Revolutionary War–era Army installation near New London, Connecticut. In 1914 the school became the Revenue Cutter Academy, and with the 1915 merger of the Revenue Cutter Service and the Life Saving Service, it became the Coast Guard Academy.
The town of New London donated its current location above the west bank of the Thames River
in 1932. In 1947, the academy received as a war reparation from Germany the barque Horst Wessel, a 295-foot tall ship
which was renamed the USCGC Eagle
. It remains the main training vessel for cadets at the academy as well as for officer candidates as the Coast Guard's Officer Candidate School
, which located on the grounds of the USCGA.
The academy was racially integrated
in 1961, at the behest of President Kennedy.
Unlike the other service academies, admission to the USCGA is solely based upon merit and does not require a congressional nomination. This is due to the fervent objections of Captain John A. Henriques, the first Superintendent of the Revenue Cutter School of Instruction (later the Revenue Cutter Academy). His objection stemmed from years of poor political appointments in the U.S. Revenue Cutter Service's bureaucracy. Since his objections, it has been the policy of the academy to base all appointments solely on the merits of the applicants.
The academy is regularly cited as being one of the most difficult American institutions of higher education
in which to gain entrance. Each year more than 2,500 students apply and 400 are selected. About 280 of those 400 selectees accept their appointment and report to the USCGA in early July for "Swab Summer
", a basic military training program designed to prepare them for the rigors of their Fourth Class year. Each cadet takes two semesters
of classes during the school year and then spends the majority of the summer in military training. After four years of study and training, approximately 200 cadets will graduate with a Bachelor of Science
degree
and be commissioned as ensigns
in the United States Coast Guard, to begin serving their five years of obligatory duty.
Student are referred to as cadet
s, and the student body is the Corps of Cadets. A little more than 30 percent of cadets are women.
composed the academy's mission statement. All entering cadets must memorize the mission during their first few days of Swab Summer, the indoctrination period for new cadets.
(adjacent the academy's campus) as part of an open exchange agreement.
The academy offers eight majors:
Each summer, cadets participate in training programs according to their class. The summers are organized as follows:
Each week during the school year cadets participate in Regimental Review, a formal military drill. In addition, cadets perform a variety of military duties at the academy. Like all cadets and midshipmen at the United States service academies, Coast Guard cadets are on active duty in the military and wear uniforms
at all times. Cadets receive a monthly stipend
to pay for books, uniforms, and other necessities.
divided into eight companies
, each of which is composed of about 120 cadets of all classes. Although the Corps of Cadets is supervised directly by the Commandant of Cadets (a Coast Guard officer with the rank of captain), the academy operates on the concept of "the Corps leading the Corps."
The Corps of Cadets is largely a self-directed organization that follows a standard military chain of command:
The highest-ranking cadet in each company is the Company Commander, a first-class cadet ("firstie"), equivalent to a senior. Although each company has some leeway in their standards and practices, every company commander reports to the Regimental Staff who plan and oversee all aspects of cadet life. At the top of the cadet chain of command is the Regimental Commander, the highest ranking cadet. Command positions, both in companies and on Regimental Staff, are highly competitive, and a cadet's overall class rank
is often a deciding factor in who is awarded the position.
The eight companies are named for the first eight letters of the NATO phonetic alphabet. Each has a special focus in administering day-to-day affairs: Alpha company is in charge of health and wellness. Bravo company is in charge of trainings. Charlie company is in charge of administering the honor system
, Delta company is in charge of drill and ceremonies. Echo company is in charge of transportation and logistics. Foxtrot is in charge of operating the cadet conduct system, organizing the watch rotations, and making the regulations. Golf company is in charge of supplies for cleaning and repairing damaged rooms within the corps. Hotel company is in charge of morale
events, and so forth. To accomplish these missions, each company is divided into three departments
, each of which is divided into a variety of divisions
. Divisions are the most basic unit at the Coast Guard Academy, and each has a very specific duty. Each division is commanded by a firstie and contains several members of each other class.
This organizational structure is designed to give every cadet a position of leadership and to emulate the structure of a Coast Guard cutter, in which the division officer and department head positions are filled by junior officers. Third-class cadets directly mentor the fourth-class in their division, just as junior petty officers would be responsible for the most junior enlisted personnel (non-rates). Second-class cadets act as non-commissioned officer
s, and ensure that the regulations and accountability are upheld. Firsties (like junior officers) are in supervisory roles, and are responsible for carrying out the mission of their divisions and ensuring the well-being of those under their command. Exchange cadets from the other federal service academies are also a part of the Corps, and take part in many activities alongside their USCGA counterparts.
for cadets. The academy's athletics teams generally compete in Division III of the National Collegiate Athletic Association
. The Rifle and Pistol teams compete in Division I.
Cadets devote two hours per academic day to athletic activities, either on varsity
teams, club teams, or other sports pursuits. The academy nickname
is the Bears, after the USRC Bear, which made a dramatic rescue in Alaska in 1897, shortly after the opening of the academy.
In 1926, then-Cadet Stephen Evans (a future superintendent of the academy) brought a live bear to the academy and named it Objee for "Objectionable Presence." The tradition of keeping a live bear as the mascot was continued until the City of New London petitioned for its removal in 1984. The athletic facilities have been undergoing major upgrades since 2004, when the state-of-the-art FieldTurf
synthetic surface was installed at Cadet Memorial Field
(home of the football
and soccer
teams).
The academy maintains a sailing fleet of over 150 vessels to support the offshore sailing and dinghy sailing teams, in addition to the summer sail training programs. In 2007, a USCGA cadet, then a freshman sailor from the class of 2011, Krysta Rohde was featured in the "Faces in the Crowd" section of the December 27th edition of Sports Illustrated
. That year Rohde gained recognition by being the first academy cadet and second freshman ever to win the ICSA
Women's Singlehanded National Championship.
The academy has an unofficial rivalry with neighboring Connecticut College
. The rivalry is most evident during the Coast Guard–Connecticut College biannual club hockey game which draws large numbers of spectators from both schools.
In 2006, the men's rugby club won the Division II National Championship at Stanford, California, after defeating the University of Northern Colorado
.
all-male sea shanty
group are some of the vocal programs.
Military academy
A military academy or service academy is an educational institution which prepares candidates for service in the officer corps of the army, the navy, air force or coast guard, which normally provides education in a service environment, the exact definition depending on the country concerned.Three...
of the United States Coast Guard
United States Coast Guard
The United States Coast Guard is a branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the seven U.S. uniformed services. The Coast Guard is a maritime, military, multi-mission service unique among the military branches for having a maritime law enforcement mission and a federal regulatory agency...
. Located in New London
New London, Connecticut
New London is a seaport city and a port of entry on the northeast coast of the United States.It is located at the mouth of the Thames River in New London County, southeastern Connecticut....
, Connecticut
Connecticut
Connecticut is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States. It is bordered by Rhode Island to the east, Massachusetts to the north, and the state of New York to the west and the south .Connecticut is named for the Connecticut River, the major U.S. river that approximately...
, it is the smallest of the five federal service academies. The academy provides education to future Coast Guard officers
Officer (armed forces)
An officer is a member of an armed force or uniformed service who holds a position of authority. Commissioned officers derive authority directly from a sovereign power and, as such, hold a commission charging them with the duties and responsibilities of a specific office or position...
in one of eight major fields of study.
Unlike the other service academies, admission to the academy is based solely upon merit and does not require a congressional nomination. Students are officers-in-training and are referred to as cadets. Tuition for cadets is fully funded by the Coast Guard in exchange for an obligation of five years active duty service upon graduation. This obligation increases if the cadet chooses to go to flight school
Flight training
Flight training is a course of study used when learning to pilot an aircraft. The overall purpose of primary and intermediate flight training is the acquisition and honing of basic airmanship skills....
or graduate school
Graduate school
A graduate school is a school that awards advanced academic degrees with the general requirement that students must have earned a previous undergraduate degree...
. Approximately 400 cadets enter the academy each summer with about 200 cadets graduating. Graduates are commissioned as ensigns
Ensign (rank)
Ensign is a junior rank of a commissioned officer in the armed forces of some countries, normally in the infantry or navy. As the junior officer in an infantry regiment was traditionally the carrier of the ensign flag, the rank itself acquired the name....
. The academic program grants a Bachelor of Science
Bachelor of Science
A Bachelor of Science is an undergraduate academic degree awarded for completed courses that generally last three to five years .-Australia:In Australia, the BSc is a 3 year degree, offered from 1st year on...
degree in one of eight majors, with a curriculum that grades cadets' performance upon a holistic education of academics, physical fitness, character and leadership. Cadets are required to adhere to the academy's Honor Concept, "Who lives here reveres honor, honors duty", which is emblazoned in the halls of the academy's entrance.
The academy's motto is Scientiæ cedit mare, which is Latin for "the sea yields to knowledge" (the trident, emblem of the Roman god Neptune
Neptune (mythology)
Neptune was the god of water and the sea in Roman mythology and religion. He is analogous with, but not identical to, the Greek god Poseidon. In the Greek-influenced tradition, Neptune was the brother of Jupiter and Pluto, each of them presiding over one of the three realms of the universe,...
, represents seapower).
History
New Bedford, Massachusetts
New Bedford is a city in Bristol County, Massachusetts, United States, located south of Boston, southeast of Providence, Rhode Island, and about east of Fall River. As of the 2010 census, the city had a total population of 95,072, making it the sixth-largest city in Massachusetts...
in 1876, the School of Instruction used the USRC Dobbin
USRC James C. Dobbin (1853)
USRC James C. Dobbin was a topsail schooner of the Cushing-class named after President Franklin Pierce's Secretary of the Navy, James Cochrane Dobbin. She was initially stationed at Wilmington, North Carolina, but in 1856 was moved to Savannah, Georgia. She was seized by a secessionist mob on 3...
for its exercises. Captain John Henriques served as superintendent from the founding until 1883. The one civilian instructor was Professor Edwin Emery, who taught mathematics, astronomy, English composition, French, physics, theoretical steam engineering, history, and international law, and revenue law, among other subjects. The School was basically a two-year apprenticeship, supplemented by a little classroom work. The student body averaged five to 10 cadets per class. With changes to new training vessels, the school moved to Curtis Bay, Maryland in 1900 and then again in 1910 to Fort Trumbull
Fort Trumbull
Fort Trumbull refers to a fort in New London, Connecticut and to a nearby neighborhood.-Neighborhood:The neighborhood of Fort Trumbull was demolished as part of plan for the economic development of New London. The plan was appealed in a case that reached the US Supreme Court, Kelo v...
, a Revolutionary War–era Army installation near New London, Connecticut. In 1914 the school became the Revenue Cutter Academy, and with the 1915 merger of the Revenue Cutter Service and the Life Saving Service, it became the Coast Guard Academy.
The town of New London donated its current location above the west bank of the Thames River
Thames River (Connecticut)
The Thames River is a short river and tidal estuary in the U.S. state of Connecticut. It flows south for through eastern Connecticut from the junction of the Yantic and Shetucket rivers at Norwich, to New London and Groton, which flank its mouth at the Long Island Sound.Differing from its...
in 1932. In 1947, the academy received as a war reparation from Germany the barque Horst Wessel, a 295-foot tall ship
Tall ship
A tall ship is a large, traditionally-rigged sailing vessel. Popular modern tall ship rigs include topsail schooners, brigantines, brigs and barques. "Tall Ship" can also be defined more specifically by an organization, such as for a race or festival....
which was renamed the USCGC Eagle
USCGC Eagle
USCGC Eagle may refer to:, was a "100-foot" patrol boat, commissioned in 1925 and transferred to the U.S. Navy in 1936, is a Gorch Fock-class barque, a German training vessel taken as war reparations by the United States and commissioned into the Coast Guard in 1946; she is still in active...
. It remains the main training vessel for cadets at the academy as well as for officer candidates as the Coast Guard's Officer Candidate School
Officer Candidate School
Officer Candidate School or Officer Cadet School are institutions which train civilians and enlisted personnel in order for them to gain a commission as officers in the armed forces of a country....
, which located on the grounds of the USCGA.
The academy was racially integrated
Black Cadets at the Coast Guard Academy
Founded in 1876, the U. S. Coast Guard Academy graduated their first African-American Cadet in 1966. Prior to 1962, there was one African-American Cadet, Jarvis Wright, admitted...
in 1961, at the behest of President Kennedy.
Description
The academy is regularly cited as being one of the most difficult American institutions of higher education
Higher education
Higher, post-secondary, tertiary, or third level education refers to the stage of learning that occurs at universities, academies, colleges, seminaries, and institutes of technology...
in which to gain entrance. Each year more than 2,500 students apply and 400 are selected. About 280 of those 400 selectees accept their appointment and report to the USCGA in early July for "Swab Summer
Swab Summer
The United States Coast Guard Academy's Swab Summer is a seven-week initiation through which all Cadets are required to pass. It is the Academy's boot camp...
", a basic military training program designed to prepare them for the rigors of their Fourth Class year. Each cadet takes two semesters
Academic term
An academic term is a division of an academic year, the time during which a school, college or university holds classes. These divisions may be called terms...
of classes during the school year and then spends the majority of the summer in military training. After four years of study and training, approximately 200 cadets will graduate with a Bachelor of Science
Bachelor of Science
A Bachelor of Science is an undergraduate academic degree awarded for completed courses that generally last three to five years .-Australia:In Australia, the BSc is a 3 year degree, offered from 1st year on...
degree
Academic degree
An academic degree is a position and title within a college or university that is usually awarded in recognition of the recipient having either satisfactorily completed a prescribed course of study or having conducted a scholarly endeavour deemed worthy of his or her admission to the degree...
and be commissioned as ensigns
Ensign (rank)
Ensign is a junior rank of a commissioned officer in the armed forces of some countries, normally in the infantry or navy. As the junior officer in an infantry regiment was traditionally the carrier of the ensign flag, the rank itself acquired the name....
in the United States Coast Guard, to begin serving their five years of obligatory duty.
Student are referred to as cadet
Cadet
A cadet is a trainee to become an officer in the military, often a person who is a junior trainee. The term comes from the term "cadet" for younger sons of a noble family.- Military context :...
s, and the student body is the Corps of Cadets. A little more than 30 percent of cadets are women.
Mission
While Superintendent of the academy, in 1929 Vice Admiral Harry G. HamletHarry G. Hamlet
Harry Gabriel Hamlet served as the seventh Commandant of the United States Coast Guard, from 1932 to 1936.-Early life and career:...
composed the academy's mission statement. All entering cadets must memorize the mission during their first few days of Swab Summer, the indoctrination period for new cadets.
The mission of the United States Coast Guard Academy is 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 the 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.
Course of study
All cadets earn commissions as Coast Guard officers as well as Bachelor of Science degrees. For that reason the academy maintains a core curriculum of science and professional development courses in addition to major-specific courses. Academic work is interspersed with military training to produce officers of character with the requisite professional skills. Among these are courses in leadership, ethics, organizational behavior, and nautical science. The majority of cadets report to their first units after graduating, as either deck watch officers or engineering officers of the watch. Nautical science courses help prepare cadets in piloting, voyage planning, deck seamanship, and all aspects of shiphandling.Academic majors
Academics at the USCGA stress the sciences and engineering, but different courses of study are available. In addition, several of the majors offer tracks of specialization (for example, Marine and Environmental Science majors can choose to focus on biology, chemistry, or geophysics). Cadets sometimes opt to take elective courses with Connecticut CollegeConnecticut College
Connecticut College is a private liberal arts college located in New London, Connecticut.The college was founded in 1911, as Connecticut College for Women, in response to Wesleyan University closing its doors to women...
(adjacent the academy's campus) as part of an open exchange agreement.
The academy offers eight majors:
- Civil EngineeringCivil engineeringCivil engineering is a professional engineering discipline that deals with the design, construction, and maintenance of the physical and naturally built environment, including works like roads, bridges, canals, dams, and buildings...
- Mechanical EngineeringMechanical engineeringMechanical engineering is a discipline of engineering that applies the principles of physics and materials science for analysis, design, manufacturing, and maintenance of mechanical systems. It is the branch of engineering that involves the production and usage of heat and mechanical power for the...
- Electrical EngineeringElectrical engineeringElectrical engineering is a field of engineering that generally deals with the study and application of electricity, electronics and electromagnetism. The field first became an identifiable occupation in the late nineteenth century after commercialization of the electric telegraph and electrical...
- Naval ArchitectureNaval architectureNaval architecture is an engineering discipline dealing with the design, construction, maintenance and operation of marine vessels and structures. Naval architecture involves basic and applied research, design, development, design evaluation and calculations during all stages of the life of a...
and Marine EngineeringMarine propulsionMarine propulsion is the mechanism or system used to generate thrust to move a ship or boat across water. While paddles and sails are still used on some smaller boats, most modern ships are propelled by mechanical systems consisting a motor or engine turning a propeller, or less frequently, in jet... - Operations Research and Computer AnalysisOperations researchOperations research is an interdisciplinary mathematical science that focuses on the effective use of technology by organizations...
- Marine and Environmental ScienceEnvironmental scienceEnvironmental science is an interdisciplinary academic field that integrates physical and biological sciences, to the study of the environment, and the solution of environmental problems...
s - GovernmentGovernmentGovernment refers to the legislators, administrators, and arbitrators in the administrative bureaucracy who control a state at a given time, and to the system of government by which they are organized...
- ManagementManagementManagement in all business and organizational activities is the act of getting people together to accomplish desired goals and objectives using available resources efficiently and effectively...
Military training
- Swab SummerSwab SummerThe United States Coast Guard Academy's Swab Summer is a seven-week initiation through which all Cadets are required to pass. It is the Academy's boot camp...
: The new class of freshmen report in to the Academy, and are sworn in to the military. They undergo a seven week basic training program that culminates on a week-long voyage underway on the barqueBarqueA barque, barc, or bark is a type of sailing vessel with three or more masts.- History of the term :The word barque appears to have come from the Greek word baris, a term for an Egyptian boat. This entered Latin as barca, which gave rise to the Italian barca, Spanish barco, and the French barge and...
USCGC EagleUSCGC Eagle (WIX-327)The is a barque used as a training cutter for future officers of the United States Coast Guard. She is one of only two active commissioned sailing vessels in American military service, the other being the USS Constitution....
. - Third-class (3/c) Summer: Five weeks aboard the USCGC Eagle training under sail, five weeks aboard an operational Coast Guard cutterUnited States Coast Guard CutterCutter is the term used by the United States Coast Guard for its commissioned vessels. A Cutter is or greater in length, has a permanently assigned crew, and has accommodations for the crew to live aboard...
or small boat station in the role of junior enlistedEnlisted rankAn enlisted rank is, in most Militaries, any rank below a commissioned officer or warrant officer. The term can also be inclusive of non-commissioned officers...
(i.e., standing watchesWatchstandingWatchstanding, or watchkeeping, in nautical terms concerns the division of qualified personnel to operate a ship continuously around the clock. On a typical sea going vessel, be it naval or merchant, personnel keep watch on the bridge and over the running machinery...
as helmsman, lookout, quartermaster of the watch, or engineering watch). - Second-class (2/c) Summer: Damage controlDamage controlDamage control is a term used in the Merchant Marine, maritime industry and navies for the emergency control of situations that may hazard the sinking of a ship...
training, weaponWeaponA weapon, arm, or armament is a tool or instrument used with the aim of causing damage or harm to living beings or artificial structures or systems...
qualifications, navigation rulesInternational Regulations for Preventing Collisions at SeaThe International Regulations for Preventing Collisions at Sea 1972 are published by the International Maritime Organization , and set out, inter alia, the "rules of the road" or navigation rules to be followed by ships and other vessels at sea in order to prevent collisions between two or more...
certification, aviationAviationAviation is the design, development, production, operation, and use of aircraft, especially heavier-than-air aircraft. Aviation is derived from avis, the Latin word for bird.-History:...
internship, sail trainingSail trainingFrom its modern interpretations to its antecedents when maritime nations would send young naval officer candidates to sea , sail training provides an unconventional and effective way of building many useful skills on and off the water....
program, and three weeks as members of the cadre, who train the incoming Swabs. - First-class (1/c) Summer: Ten weeks aboard an operational cutter in the role of a junior officerJunior officerThe term junior officer is sometimes used to make clear that an officer in a military or paramilitary unit is not in overall command. The term senior officer is reserved for the officer in overall command....
(i.e., standing bridge watches conning the ship as Officer of the DeckOfficer of the DeckOfficer of the deck is a position in the United States Navy and United States Coast Guard that confers certain authority and responsibility. The officer of the deck on a ship is the direct representative of the captain, having responsibility for the ship.-Overview:In port, the OOD is stationed on...
), or an optional internship for exceptional cadets who split their summer with five weeks at an internship and five weeks aboard a cutter.
Each week during the school year cadets participate in Regimental Review, a formal military drill. In addition, cadets perform a variety of military duties at the academy. Like all cadets and midshipmen at the United States service academies, Coast Guard cadets are on active duty in the military and wear uniforms
Military uniform
Military uniforms comprises standardised dress worn by members of the armed forces and paramilitaries of various nations. Military dress and military styles have gone through great changes over the centuries from colourful and elaborate to extremely utilitarian...
at all times. Cadets receive a monthly stipend
Stipend
A stipend is a form of salary, such as for an internship or apprenticeship. It is often distinct from a wage or a salary because it does not necessarily represent payment for work performed, instead it represents a payment that enables somebody to be exempt partly or wholly from waged or salaried...
to pay for books, uniforms, and other necessities.
Organization of the Corps of Cadets
The Corps is organized as one regimentRegiment
A regiment is a major tactical military unit, composed of variable numbers of batteries, squadrons or battalions, commanded by a colonel or lieutenant colonel...
divided into eight companies
Company (military unit)
A company is a military unit, typically consisting of 80–225 soldiers and usually commanded by a Captain, Major or Commandant. Most companies are formed of three to five platoons although the exact number may vary by country, unit type, and structure...
, each of which is composed of about 120 cadets of all classes. Although the Corps of Cadets is supervised directly by the Commandant of Cadets (a Coast Guard officer with the rank of captain), the academy operates on the concept of "the Corps leading the Corps."
The Corps of Cadets is largely a self-directed organization that follows a standard military chain of command:
- 1st class cadets lead the Corps
- 2nd class cadets are cadre in Swab Summer training
- 3rd class cadets are mentors to 4th class cadets
- 4th class cadets are followers
The highest-ranking cadet in each company is the Company Commander, a first-class cadet ("firstie"), equivalent to a senior. Although each company has some leeway in their standards and practices, every company commander reports to the Regimental Staff who plan and oversee all aspects of cadet life. At the top of the cadet chain of command is the Regimental Commander, the highest ranking cadet. Command positions, both in companies and on Regimental Staff, are highly competitive, and a cadet's overall class rank
Class rank
Class rank is a measure of how a student's performance compares to other students in his or her class. It is commonly also expressed as a percentile. For instance, a student may have a GPA better than 750 of his or her classmates in a graduating class of 800...
is often a deciding factor in who is awarded the position.
The eight companies are named for the first eight letters of the NATO phonetic alphabet. Each has a special focus in administering day-to-day affairs: Alpha company is in charge of health and wellness. Bravo company is in charge of trainings. Charlie company is in charge of administering the honor system
Honor system
An honor system or honesty system is a philosophical way of running a variety of endeavors based on trust, honor, and honesty. Something that operates under the rule of the "honor system" is usually something that does not have strictly enforced rules governing its principles...
, Delta company is in charge of drill and ceremonies. Echo company is in charge of transportation and logistics. Foxtrot is in charge of operating the cadet conduct system, organizing the watch rotations, and making the regulations. Golf company is in charge of supplies for cleaning and repairing damaged rooms within the corps. Hotel company is in charge of morale
Morale
Morale, also known as esprit de corps when discussing the morale of a group, is an intangible term used to describe the capacity of people to maintain belief in an institution or a goal, or even in oneself and others...
events, and so forth. To accomplish these missions, each company is divided into three departments
Departmentalization
Departmentalization refers to the process of grouping activities into departments.Division of labour creates specialists who need coordination. This coordination is facilitated by grouping specialists together in departments....
, each of which is divided into a variety of divisions
Division (military)
A division is a large military unit or formation usually consisting of between 10,000 and 20,000 soldiers. In most armies, a division is composed of several regiments or brigades, and in turn several divisions typically make up a corps...
. Divisions are the most basic unit at the Coast Guard Academy, and each has a very specific duty. Each division is commanded by a firstie and contains several members of each other class.
This organizational structure is designed to give every cadet a position of leadership and to emulate the structure of a Coast Guard cutter, in which the division officer and department head positions are filled by junior officers. Third-class cadets directly mentor the fourth-class in their division, just as junior petty officers would be responsible for the most junior enlisted personnel (non-rates). Second-class cadets act as non-commissioned officer
Non-commissioned officer
A non-commissioned officer , called a sub-officer in some countries, is a military officer who has not been given a commission...
s, and ensure that the regulations and accountability are upheld. Firsties (like junior officers) are in supervisory roles, and are responsible for carrying out the mission of their divisions and ensuring the well-being of those under their command. Exchange cadets from the other federal service academies are also a part of the Corps, and take part in many activities alongside their USCGA counterparts.
Athletics
The USCGA Athletic Department offers 23 intercollegiate sportsCollege athletics
College athletics refers primarily to sports and athletic competition organized and funded by institutions of tertiary education . In the United States, college athletics is a two-tiered system. The first tier includes the sports that are sanctioned by one of the collegiate sport governing bodies...
for cadets. The academy's athletics teams generally compete in Division III of the National Collegiate Athletic Association
National Collegiate Athletic Association
The National Collegiate Athletic Association is a semi-voluntary association of 1,281 institutions, conferences, organizations and individuals that organizes the athletic programs of many colleges and universities in the United States...
. The Rifle and Pistol teams compete in Division I.
Cadets devote two hours per academic day to athletic activities, either on varsity
Varsity team
In the United States and Canada, varsity sports teams are the principal athletic teams representing a college, university, high school or other secondary school. Such teams compete against the principal athletic teams at other colleges/universities, or in the case of secondary schools, against...
teams, club teams, or other sports pursuits. The academy nickname
Athletic nickname
The athletic nickname, or equivalently athletic moniker, of a university or college within the United States is the name officially adopted by that institution for at least the members of its athletic teams...
is the Bears, after the USRC Bear, which made a dramatic rescue in Alaska in 1897, shortly after the opening of the academy.
In 1926, then-Cadet Stephen Evans (a future superintendent of the academy) brought a live bear to the academy and named it Objee for "Objectionable Presence." The tradition of keeping a live bear as the mascot was continued until the City of New London petitioned for its removal in 1984. The athletic facilities have been undergoing major upgrades since 2004, when the state-of-the-art FieldTurf
FieldTurf
FieldTurf is a brand of artificial turf playing surface. It is manufactured and installed by the FieldTurf Tarkett division of Tarkett Inc., based in Calhoun, Georgia, USA. In the late 1990s, the artificial surface changed the industry with a design intended to replicate real grass...
synthetic surface was installed at Cadet Memorial Field
Cadet Memorial Field
Cadet Memorial Field is an outdoor athletic facility on the campus of the United States Coast Guard Academy, on the banks of the Thames River in New London, Connecticut. The stadium hosts the Academy's football and soccer teams, and, owing to the dramatic view of the river, is regarded as one of...
(home of the football
College football
College football refers to American football played by teams of student athletes fielded by American universities, colleges, and military academies, or Canadian football played by teams of student athletes fielded by Canadian universities...
and soccer
College soccer
College soccer is a term used to describe association football played by teams who are operated by colleges and universities as opposed to a professional league operated for exclusively financial purposes...
teams).
The academy maintains a sailing fleet of over 150 vessels to support the offshore sailing and dinghy sailing teams, in addition to the summer sail training programs. In 2007, a USCGA cadet, then a freshman sailor from the class of 2011, Krysta Rohde was featured in the "Faces in the Crowd" section of the December 27th edition of Sports Illustrated
Sports Illustrated
Sports Illustrated is an American sports media company owned by media conglomerate Time Warner. Its self titled magazine has over 3.5 million subscribers and is read by 23 million adults each week, including over 18 million men. It was the first magazine with circulation over one million to win the...
. That year Rohde gained recognition by being the first academy cadet and second freshman ever to win the ICSA
Intercollegiate Sailing Association
The Inter-Collegiate Sailing Association is a volunteer organization that serves as the governing authority for all sailing competition at colleges and universities throughout the United States and in some parts of Canada.-History:...
Women's Singlehanded National Championship.
The academy has an unofficial rivalry with neighboring Connecticut College
Connecticut College
Connecticut College is a private liberal arts college located in New London, Connecticut.The college was founded in 1911, as Connecticut College for Women, in response to Wesleyan University closing its doors to women...
. The rivalry is most evident during the Coast Guard–Connecticut College biannual club hockey game which draws large numbers of spectators from both schools.
In 2006, the men's rugby club won the Division II National Championship at Stanford, California, after defeating the University of Northern Colorado
University of Northern Colorado
-Organization:The University of Northern Colorado offers 100 undergraduate programs and more than 100 graduate programs. The university has a satellite campus in Denver, Colorado...
.
Music
Non-athletic activities also abound. Principal among them are the musical activities, centered on Leamy Hall. Regimental Band, Windjammers Drum & Bugle Corps, various pep bands, and the NiteCaps Jazz Band are some of the instrumental programs. Chapel Choirs, Glee Club, the Fairwinds all-female a cappella group, and The IdlersThe Idlers
The Idlers of the United States Coast Guard Academy are an all-male collegiate a cappella ensemble specializing in the performance of sea shanties and patriotic music.-Overview:...
all-male sea shanty
Sea shanty
A shanty is a type of work song that was once commonly sung to accompany labor on board large merchant sailing vessels. Shanties became ubiquitous in the 19th century era of the wind-driven packet and clipper ships...
group are some of the vocal programs.
Model UN
Also of note is the academy's Model UN team, which was started in 2004, and has since been successfully competing around North America, and at the World Model UN Conference.Clubs
Multiple clubs are offered to students at the academy to help assist them in networking with others. All clubs are non-discriminating and offer insight into many cultures or sports based on the club theme.Links in the Chain
For years it has been a United States Coast Guard Academy tradition for fourth-class cadets (freshman) to hide the chain links that sit outside the cadet library, also known as Waesche Hall. The chain links are historic: they were used during the Revolutionary War to prevent ships from transiting up the Hudson River and attacking West Point. When Benedict Arnold betrayed the United States, the chain links were one of the secrets that he revealed to the British. The family that originally forged the chain donated the links to the United States Coast Guard Academy. Since the donation, the fourth class is challenged each year at the annual homecoming football game to outwit the second class (juniors) and keep the chain hidden until half-time. If the fourth class is successful in hiding the links until the end of the second quarter, it is granted some sort of reward such as carry-on.Notable alumni
| Name | Class | Notability |
|---|---|---|
| Ellsworth P. Bertholf Ellsworth P. Bertholf Ellsworth Price Bertholf was a Congressional Gold Medal recipient who later served as the fourth Captain-Commandant of the United States Revenue Cutter Service and because of the change in the name of the agency, the fourth Commandant of the United States Coast Guard... |
1887 | Last Captain-Commandant of the United States Revenue Cutter Service United States Revenue Cutter Service The United States Revenue Cutter Service was established by Secretary of the Treasury Alexander Hamilton in 1790 as an armed maritime law enforcement service. Throughout its entire existence the Revenue Cutter Service operated under the authority of the United States Department of the Treasury... (1911–1915); fourth Commandant of the United States Coast Guard (1915–1919) |
| Leonidas I. Robinson Leonidas I. Robinson Third Lieutenant Leonidas I. Robinson was the first graduate of the School of Instruction of the Revenue Cutter Service to die in the line of duty. He drowned during small-boat operations June 6, 1891 at Icy Bay near Sitka, Alaska while assigned to the USRC Bear... |
1889 | First Academy graduate to die in the line of duty |
| Joseph Stika Joseph Stika Joseph Stika was a Vice Admiral in the United States Coast Guard. He graduated from the United States Coast Guard Academy in 1911 and would hold various commands until he retired in 1951, including the USCGC Bibb . In 1934 while commanding the U.S.S... |
1911 | Vice admiral; recipient of the Navy Cross Navy Cross The Navy Cross is the highest decoration that may be bestowed by the Department of the Navy and the second highest decoration given for valor. It is normally only awarded to members of the United States Navy, United States Marine Corps and United States Coast Guard, but can be awarded to all... |
| Elmer Fowler Stone Elmer Fowler Stone Elmer "Archie" Fowler Stone was a United States naval aviator and a Commander in the United States Coast Guard.-Biography:... |
1913 | United States Naval Aviator United States Naval Aviator A United States Naval Aviator is a qualified pilot in the United States Navy, Marine Corps or Coast Guard.-Naming Conventions:Most Naval Aviators are Unrestricted Line Officers; however, a small number of Limited Duty Officers and Chief Warrant Officers are also trained as Naval Aviators.Until 1981... , piloted the NC-4 NC-4 The NC-4 was a Curtiss NC flying boat which was designed by Glenn Curtiss and his team, and manufactured by Curtiss Aeroplane and Motor Company. In May 1919, the NC-4 became the first aircraft to fly across the Atlantic Ocean, starting in the United States and making the crossing as far as Lisbon,... on the first naval transatlantic flight Transatlantic flight Transatlantic flight is the flight of an aircraft across the Atlantic Ocean. A transatlantic flight may proceed east-to-west, originating in Europe or Africa and terminating in North America or South America, or it may go in the reverse direction, west-to-east... |
| Lyndon Spencer Lyndon Spencer Lyndon Spencer was a Vice Admiral in the United States Coast Guard.-Biography:Spencer was born on January 26, 1898 in Hornell, New York., and died in Connecticut on April 12th, 1981. He married Lucile Littlefield in 1920 and had two children.-Career:... |
1918 | Vice admiral; commanding officer of the USS Bayfield (APA-33) USS Bayfield (APA-33) USS Bayfield was a built for the United States Navy during World War II, the lead ship in her class. Named for Bayfield County, Wisconsin, she was the only U.S... during World War II World War II World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis... |
| A. J. Carpenter | 1933 | Rear Admiral; Commander of the 11th and 3rd Coast Guard Districts |
| John Birdsell Oren John Birdsell Oren John Birdsell Oren was a rear admiral in the United States Coast Guard.-Biography:Oren was born on December 27, 1909 in Madison, Wisconsin. He would obtain a M.S. in Marine Engineering from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Oren would marry Virginia Prentis, who died in 2002... |
1933 | Rear admiral; Chief of Engineering |
| G. William Miller G. William Miller George William Miller served as the 65th United States Secretary of the Treasury under President Carter from August 6, 1979 to January 20, 1981... |
1945 | Chairman of the Federal Reserve Chairman of the Federal Reserve The Chairman of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System is the head of the central banking system of the United States. Known colloquially as "Chairman of the Fed," or in market circles "Fed Chairman" or "Fed Chief"... (1978–1979); United States Secretary of the Treasury United States Secretary of the Treasury The Secretary of the Treasury of the United States is the head of the United States Department of the Treasury, which is concerned with financial and monetary matters, and, until 2003, also with some issues of national security and defense. This position in the Federal Government of the United... (1979–1981) |
| John B. Hayes John B. Hayes John Briggs Hayes was a retired United States Coast Guard admiral who served as the 16th Commandant of the United States Coast Guard from 1978 to 1982.... |
1947 | Commandant of the United States Coast Guard (1978–1982) |
| Richard A. Appelbaum Richard A. Appelbaum Richard A. Appelbaum is a retired Rear Admiral in the United States Coast Guard.-Biography:A native of Chicago, Illinois, Appelbaum moved to Miami, Florida in 1950. He is a graduate of the George Washington University Law School.... |
1961 | Rear Admiral; Chief of Law Enforcement and Defense Operations |
| James Loy James Loy Admiral James Milton Loy served as Acting United States Secretary of Homeland Security in 2005 and United States Deputy Secretary of Homeland Security from December 4, 2003, to March 1, 2005... |
1964 | Admiral; Commandant of the Coast Guard (1998–2002); 2nd Administrator of the Transportation Security Administration Transportation Security Administration The Transportation Security Administration is an agency of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security that exercises authority over the safety and security of the traveling public in the United States.... (2002–2003); United States Deputy Secretary of Homeland Security United States Deputy Secretary of Homeland Security The Deputy Secretary of Homeland Security is the chief operating officer of the United States Department of Homeland Security. In this role, the Deputy Secretary serves as Department of Homeland Security's chief operating officer, with responsibility for managing day-to-day operations... (2003–2005); Acting Secretary United States Department of Homeland Security United States Department of Homeland Security The United States Department of Homeland Security is a cabinet department of the United States federal government, created in response to the September 11 attacks, and with the primary responsibilities of protecting the territory of the United States and protectorates from and responding to... (2005) |
| Thomas H. Collins Thomas H. Collins Thomas Hansen Collins is a retired United States Coast Guard 4 star admiral who served as the 22nd Commandant of the United States Coast Guard from 2002 to 2006.-Background:... |
1968 | Admiral; Commandant of the Coast Guard (2002–2006); guided the Coast Guard after the terrorist attacks of 9/11 |
| Paul M. Blayney Paul M. Blayney Paul M. Blayney is a Rear Admiral in the United States Coast Guard.-Biography:Blayney was born in Milwaukee, Wisconsin and was raised in Jefferson, Wisconsin. He obtained a J.D. from the Columbus School of Law in 1972.Blayney married Mary Saccardi in 1971.... |
1965 | Rear Admiral; Commander of the Thirteenth Coast Guard District |
| Thad Allen | 1971 | Principal Federal Official for the response to Hurricane Katrina Hurricane Katrina Hurricane Katrina of the 2005 Atlantic hurricane season was a powerful Atlantic hurricane. It is the costliest natural disaster, as well as one of the five deadliest hurricanes, in the history of the United States. Among recorded Atlantic hurricanes, it was the sixth strongest overall... , Hurricane Rita Hurricane Rita Hurricane Rita was the fourth-most intense Atlantic hurricane ever recorded and the most intense tropical cyclone ever observed in the Gulf of Mexico. Rita caused $11.3 billion in damage on the U.S. Gulf Coast in September 2005... and National Incident Commander for the response to the Deepwater Horizon oil spill Deepwater Horizon oil spill The Deepwater Horizon oil spill is an oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico which flowed unabated for three months in 2010, and continues to leak fresh oil. It is the largest accidental marine oil spill in the history of the petroleum industry... in the Gulf Coast region; Commandant of the Coast Guard Commandant of the Coast Guard The Commandant of the United States Coast Guard is the highest ranking member of the United States Coast Guard. The Commandant is normally the only four-star Admiral in the Coast Guard and is appointed for a four-year term by the President of the United States upon confirmation by the United... (2006–2010) |
| Charles D. Wurster Charles D. Wurster ]Charles D. Wurster is a retired Vice Admiral in the United States Coast Guard who last served as the Commander, Pacific Area and Commander, Defense Force West... |
1971 | Retired vice admiral; national commodore of the Sea Scouting division of the Boy Scouts of America Boy Scouts of America The Boy Scouts of America is one of the largest youth organizations in the United States, with over 4.5 million youth members in its age-related divisions... |
| Erroll M. Brown Erroll M. Brown Erroll M. Brown is a retired rear admiral in the United States Coast Guard. Brown was the first African-American promoted to flag rank in the Coast Guard.-Education:In 1972, Brown graduated from the U.S. Coast Guard Academy, majoring in Marine Engineering... |
1972 | First African-American Coast Guard admiral |
| Bruce E. Melnick Bruce E. Melnick Bruce Edward Melnick is a former American astronaut and retired United States Coast Guard officer. Following retirement from NASA and the Coast Guard, he entered the aerospace industry. He served as a Vice President with the Boeing Co.'s Integrated Defense Systems group, in charge of Boeing's... |
1972 | First Coast Guard astronaut Astronaut An astronaut or cosmonaut is a person trained by a human spaceflight program to command, pilot, or serve as a crew member of a spacecraft.... |
| Timothy S. Sullivan Timothy S. Sullivan Timothy S. Sullivan is a rear admiral in the United States Coast Guard who presently serves as the Deputy Commander, Pacific Area Coast Guard Defense Forces West. He remains permanently assigned as Commander of the Pacific... |
1975 | Rear admiral; Senior Military Advisor and Operational Advisor to the United States Secretary of Homeland Security United States Secretary of Homeland Security The United States Secretary of Homeland Security is the head of the United States Department of Homeland Security, the body concerned with protecting the American homeland and the safety of American citizens. The Secretary is a member of the President's Cabinet. The position was created by the... ; Primary Military Coordinator between the United States Department of Homeland Security United States Department of Homeland Security The United States Department of Homeland Security is a cabinet department of the United States federal government, created in response to the September 11 attacks, and with the primary responsibilities of protecting the territory of the United States and protectorates from and responding to... and United States Department of Defense United States Department of Defense The United States Department of Defense is the U.S... |
| Robert J. Papp, Jr. Robert J. Papp, Jr. Robert J. Papp. Jr. is a United States Coast Guard admiral and the 24th and current Commandant of the U.S. Coast Guard. He leads the largest component of the United States Department of Homeland Security, with 42,000 active duty, 8,200 Reserve, 8,000 civilian, and 31,000... |
1975 | Admiral; 24th and current Commandant of the United States Coast Guard (2010–Present) |
| Sandra L. Stosz Sandra L. Stosz Sandra Leigh Stosz is a United States Coast Guard rear admiral who was chosen by the Commandant of the United States Coast Guard ADM Robert J. Papp to become the Superintendent of United States Coast Guard Academy in 2011. As such, she is the first woman to lead a United States military service... |
1982 | Rear admiral; first female Academy graduate to achieve flag rank; Superintendent of the United States Coast Guard Academy; first woman to command a United States military service academy. |
| Stephen E. Flynn | 1982 | Ph.D.; author; chair at the Council on Foreign Relations Council on Foreign Relations The Council on Foreign Relations is an American nonprofit nonpartisan membership organization, publisher, and think tank specializing in U.S. foreign policy and international affairs... |
| Daniel C. Burbank Daniel C. Burbank Daniel Christopher Burbank is an American astronaut and a veteran of two space shuttle missions. Burbank, a Captain in the United States Coast Guard, is the second Coast Guard astronaut after Bruce Melnick.... |
1985 | Second Coast Guard astronaut |
See also
- United States Military AcademyUnited States Military AcademyThe United States Military Academy at West Point is a four-year coeducational federal service academy located at West Point, New York. The academy sits on scenic high ground overlooking the Hudson River, north of New York City...
- United States Naval AcademyUnited States Naval AcademyThe United States Naval Academy is a four-year coeducational federal service academy located in Annapolis, Maryland, United States...
- United States Air Force AcademyUnited States Air Force AcademyThe United States Air Force Academy is an accredited college for the undergraduate education of officer candidates for the United States Air Force. Its campus is located immediately north of Colorado Springs in El Paso County, Colorado, United States...
- United States Merchant Marine AcademyUnited States Merchant Marine AcademyThe United States Merchant Marine Academy is one of the five United States Service academies...
Further reading
- John P. Lovell. Neither Athens nor Sparta?: The American Service Academies in Transition (1979),
External links
- United States Coast Guard Academy official website
- Coast Guard Athletics website