United States Coast Guard Academy facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
United States Coast Guard Academy

Former names	Revenue Cutter Service School of Instruction (1876-1914) Revenue Cutter Academy (1914-1915)
Motto	Scientiæ Cedit Mare (Latin)
Motto in English	The sea yields to knowledge
Type	U.S. Service Academy
Established	1876; 149 years ago (1876)
Superintendent	Michael J. Johnston
Provost	Amy K. Donahue
Commandant of Cadets	Edward J. Hernaez
Academic staff	175
Students	1,095 cadets (As of fall 2023)
Location	New London Connecticut , United States 41°22′22″N 72°06′06″W / 41.37278°N 72.10167°W / 41.37278; -72.10167
Campus	Suburban 103 acres (420,000 m2)
Fight song	"Semper Paratus"
Colors	Blue  and  Orange
Nickname	Bears
Sporting affiliations	NCAA Division III – NEWMAC NEISA
Mascot	Objee the Bear
Athletics	24 varsity teams

The United States Coast Guard Academy (USCGA) is a special college in New London, Connecticut. It's where future officers for the United States Coast Guard go to learn. The academy started in 1876. It teaches students in nine main subjects.

Students at the academy are called cadets. They are training to become officers. When they graduate, they get a college degree called a Bachelor of Science. They also become an ensign in the U.S. Coast Guard. Their education is free, which is worth a lot of money! In return, graduates agree to work for the Coast Guard for at least five years. This time might be longer if they go to flight school or other special training.

About 300 cadets start at the academy each summer. Around 250 of them graduate. Cadets pick from nine different majors. Their progress is judged on their schoolwork, military behavior, physical fitness, character, and leadership skills.

Cadets must follow the academy's "Honor Concept." It says, "Who lives here reveres honor, honors duty." This important phrase is carved into the walls at the academy's entrance. The academy's motto is Scientiæ Cedit Mare. This is Latin for "the sea yields to knowledge."

History of the Coast Guard Academy

The USRC Dobbin, an early training ship.

The academy from above in 1938.

The academy began as the School of Instruction of the Revenue Cutter Service in 1876. This school was for the United States Revenue Cutter Service. It was located near New Bedford, Massachusetts. The ship USRC James C. Dobbin was used for training exercises.

Captain John A. Henriques was the first leader of the school. He served from 1876 to 1883. There was only one civilian teacher, Professor Edwin Emery. He taught many subjects like math, science, and history. The school was mostly a two-year apprenticeship. Students learned by doing, with some classroom lessons. There were usually only five to ten cadets in each class.

Over time, the school moved to new places. In 1900, it moved to Curtis Bay, Baltimore. Then in 1910, it moved to Fort Trumbull in New London, Connecticut. This was an old Army base from the Revolutionary War. In 1914, the school became the Revenue Cutter Academy. A year later, in 1915, it became the Coast Guard Academy. This happened when the Revenue Cutter Service joined with the United States Life-Saving Service to form the U.S. Coast Guard.

New land was bought in New London on July 31, 1930. This was for building the current Coast Guard Academy. The land was 40 acres and cost $100,000. Construction started in January 1931. The new buildings were ready, and cadets moved in on September 20, 1932.

In 1946, the academy received a large sailing ship called the Horst Wessel. It was a war reparation from Germany. This 295-foot tall ship was renamed USCGC Eagle. It is still the main training vessel for cadets today. It's also used for officer candidates at the Coast Guard's Officer Candidate School, which is also at the academy.

The academy welcomed its first Black cadets in 1962. This was requested by President Kennedy. In 1976, women were also allowed to join the academy. This change was requested by Congress.

Becoming a Cadet

An aerial view of the Washington Parade field and campus.

Unlike other U.S. service academies, you don't need a special nomination from a member of Congress to get into the USCGA. This is because the first Superintendent, Captain John A. Henriques, strongly disagreed with political appointments.

Each year, more than 2,000 students apply to the academy. About 400 students are offered a spot in the incoming class. The average class size that starts is about 300 cadets. New cadets arrive in late June or early July for "Swab Summer." This is a basic military training program. It helps them get ready for their first year.

After four years of studying and training, about 250 of those cadets will graduate. About 40 percent of the cadets are women.

What Cadets Learn

A class graduating from the academy.

All cadets who graduate become officers in the United States Coast Guard. They also earn a Bachelor of Science degree. Because of this, the academy has a main set of science and leadership courses. These are in addition to the courses for their chosen major.

Cadets take classes for two semesters each school year. Then, they spend most of the summer doing military training. This helps them become good officers with the right skills. They take courses in leadership, ethics, and how organizations work. They also learn about nautical science, which is about ships and the sea.

Most cadets go to their first Coast Guard unit right after graduating. These units can be on ships, at shore stations, or they might go to flight training to become pilots. Cadets assigned to ships learn to be watch officers or engineers. Courses in maritime studies teach them about piloting, planning voyages, and handling ships. They also learn about Coast Guard leadership and duties.

Majors Offered

The USCGA focuses on science and engineering subjects. However, there are different courses of study available. Some majors also let you specialize in certain areas. For example, marine and environmental science majors can focus on biology, chemistry, or geology. Cadets can also take extra classes at Connecticut College, which is next to the academy.

Summer Military Training

The barque USCGC Eagle (WIX-327), the United States' only active duty tall ship. It is used for training.

Every summer, cadets take part in different training programs. The training changes depending on what year they are in:

• Swab Summer: New freshmen (called "swabs") arrive and join the military. They go through seven weeks of basic training. This ends with a week-long trip on the sailing ship barque USCGC Eagle.
• Third-class (3/c) Summer: Cadets spend five weeks training on the USCGC Eagle. They also spend five weeks on a real Coast Guard cutter or small boat station. Here, they act like junior enlisted crew members. They stand watches and help with ship duties.
• Second-class (2/c) Summer: This summer includes training in damage control (how to fix a ship if it's damaged). They also learn to use weapons and get certified in navigation rules. Some cadets do aviation internships or sail training. They also spend three weeks helping to train the new swabs.
• First-class (1/c) Summer: Cadets spend ten weeks on a real cutter. They act like junior officers, standing bridge watches and steering the ship. Some exceptional cadets can choose an internship. They split their summer with five weeks at an internship and five weeks on a cutter.

During the school year, cadets have a formal military drill called regimental review every week. They also do various military duties at the academy. Coast Guard cadets are active-duty military members. They wear uniforms all the time. Cadets get a monthly payment to help pay for books, uniforms, and other things they need.

How Cadets are Organized

The group of cadets is called the Corps of Cadets. It is organized into one regiment. This regiment is split into eight companies. Each company has about 120 cadets from all different years. A Coast Guard officer called the Commandant of Cadets supervises the Corps. However, the academy believes in "the Corps leading the Corps." This means cadets learn to lead themselves.

The Corps of Cadets mostly runs itself. It follows a standard military chain of command:

• First-class cadets (seniors) lead the entire Corps.
• Second-class cadets help train the new freshmen during Swab Summer. They are mainly in charge of guiding and developing the fourth-class cadets. They act as mentors.
• Third-class cadets are role models for the fourth-class cadets.
• Fourth-class cadets are responsible for learning and using Coast Guard values. These include leadership, teamwork, attention to detail, and being responsible.

The highest-ranking cadet in each company is the company commander. This is a first-class cadet. Each company has some freedom in how it operates. However, every company commander reports to the regimental staff. This staff plans and oversees all parts of cadet life. The highest-ranking cadet in the entire Corps is the regimental commander. Getting a command position is very competitive. A cadet's overall class rank often helps decide who gets these roles.

The eight companies are named after the first eight letters of the NATO phonetic alphabet. Each company has a special focus for daily tasks:

• Alfa Company handles health and wellness.
• Bravo Company manages training.
• Charlie Company runs the honor system.
• Delta Company organizes drills and ceremonies.
• Echo Company manages transportation and supplies.
• Foxtrot Company handles cadet conduct and updates rules.
• Golf Company is in charge of cleaning and repairing rooms.
• Hotel Company organizes fun events for morale.

To do their jobs, each company is divided into three departments. These are like departments on a ship. Each department is then divided into divisions with specific duties. Divisions are the smallest unit at the Coast Guard Academy. Each division has a very specific purpose. A first-class cadet leads each division. It includes several cadets from each of the other classes.

This organization helps every cadet learn leadership skills. It also copies the structure of a Coast Guard cutter. On a cutter, junior officers fill the division officer and department head roles. Third-class cadets guide the fourth-class cadets directly. This is like how junior petty officers guide the newest enlisted personnel. Second-class cadets act like non-commissioned officers. They make sure rules are followed and everyone is responsible. First-class cadets (like junior officers) are in charge. They make sure their divisions complete their missions and that their cadets are doing well. Cadets from other federal service academies also join the Corps for exchange programs. They take part in many activities with the USCGA cadets.

Fun Activities

Sports

The USCGA Athletic Department offers 24 intercollegiate sports for cadets. The academy's sports teams usually compete in NCAA Division III of the National Collegiate Athletic Association. Cadets spend two hours each school day on sports. They can be on varsity teams, club teams, or do other sports. The academy's nickname is the Bears. This name comes from the USRC Bear, a ship that made a famous rescue in Alaska in 1897. This was shortly after the academy opened.

Music

Most non-sports activities are music-related. They take place at Leamy Hall. There are instrumental groups like the Regimental Band, Windjammers Drum & Bugle Corps, and the NiteCaps Jazz Band. There are also vocal groups like the Chapel Choirs, Glee Club, the Fairwinds all-female a cappella group, and The Idlers all-male sea shanty group.

Model UN

The academy's Model UN team started in 2004. Since then, it has done very well in competitions across North America. They also compete at the World Model UN Conference.

Campus Pride Clubs

The academy has clubs and teams that help boost campus spirit. These include the Blog Club, Cheer Squad, The Dance Team, and the Social Committee.

Famous Graduates

Graduates of the Coast Guard Academy are known as the "Long Blue Line."

Leaders of the Academy

The academy has had many superintendents (leaders) over the years. Here are some of them:

Coast Guard Museum

The U.S. Coast Guard Museum is located in Waesche Hall. This is on the grounds of the United States Coast Guard Academy. The museum has many items that show the history of the U.S. Coast Guard. You can see ship models, old cannons, uniforms, medals, and paintings. If you want to visit, you need to bring a government-issued photo ID to enter the campus. If you are visiting from another country, you need to make an appointment with the Curator before you go.

See also

In Spanish: Academia de la Guardia Costera de Estados Unidos para niños

• United States Military Academy
• United States Naval Academy
• United States Air Force Academy
• United States Merchant Marine Academy
• USCGC Eagle (WIX-327), a training ship that was originally built in Germany.