United States Coast Guard

The United States Coast Guard (USCG) is the coast guard of the United States. One of the seven uniformed services of the United States, and the smallest armed service of the United States, it has a broad and important role in homeland security, law enforcement, search and rescue, marine environmental pollution response and the maintenance of intercoastal and offshore aids to navigation (ATON). It also lays claim of being the United States' oldest continuous seagoing service.

Personnel

Officer Corps

Commissioned officers join the Coast Guard by several means:

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U.S. Coast Guard Academy

The United States Coast Guard Academy is located on the Thames River in New London, Connecticut. It is the only military academy, apart from the specialized Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, to which no Congressional or Presidential appointments are made. All cadets enter by competitive examination. About 170 cadets are commissioned ensigns each year.

Related Topics:
United States Coast Guard Academy - Thames River - New London, Connecticut - Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences - Ensigns

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Officer Candidate School

In addition to the Coast Guard Academy, officers may enter the Coast Guard through a 17-week Officers Candidate School (OCS) at New London, Connecticut. Graduates of OCS must serve 3 years' active duty. About 70 candidates are commissioned ensigns, with a few commissioned as lieutenant junior grade in each class.

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In addition to United States citizens, foreign cadets and candidates also attend Coast Guard officer training.

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Enlisted

Newly enlisted personnel are sent to eight weeks of Basic Training at Coast Guard Training Center Cape May in Cape May, NJ.

Related Topics:
Coast Guard Training Center Cape May - Cape May, NJ

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The training schedule includes:

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• Physical fitness
• Water survival and swimming qualifications
• Wellness and nutrition
• Self discipline
• Military skills
• Military bearing

Following graduation, most members are sent to their first unit while they await orders to attend advanced training, in Class "A" Schools, in their chosen rating, the naval term for military occupational specialty (MOS). Some members go directly to "A" School upon graduation from Basic training.

Related Topics:
Rating - Military occupational specialty - Basic training

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Petty officers follow career development paths similar to those of the Navy.

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Enlisted Coast Guard members who have reached the pay grade of E-7, or Chief Petty Officer, must attend the U.S. Coast Guard Chief Petty Officer Academy at Petaluma, California, or an equivalent Department of Defense school, to be promoted to pay grade E-8. United States Air Force master sergeants, as well as international students representing their respective maritime services, are also eligible to attend the CPO Academy. The basic themes of this school are:

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• Professionalism
• Leadership
• Communications
• Systems Thinking and Lifelong Learning