Coast Guard Academy?
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Anonymous
Parent of DD headed to West Point. I totally disagree. To the PP with the Asian-American kid, if you think about how the military operates, they first try and strip away all the "otherness" (race, wealth etc) so they can reformulate into teams where you trust your teammates with your life. The tribalism gets transferred from typical civilian tribes (race/wealth/geography) to the big tribe of being American, and sub-tribes of Army/Navy/Coast Guard/Air Force/Merchant Marine etc. It's very intense and an indoctrination. I may not be saying all this very well (I'm sure in a year's time I'll be more articulate) but hopefully you get the idea. I'm white but my very good friend's son is Asian-American (and my friend and her DH were born in China) and he is doing fine at a service academy. Pics of my DD at Summer Leaders Experience (SLE, for West Point) and Summer Session (for Navy) the groups were totally integrated; she's stayed in touch with many of them. ha, and now I'm smiling bc in the picture I'm thinking about, they are all wearing camouflage paint on their faces...everyone was different shades of green |
Anonymous
Yes, but the Coasties I know who left the CG after their required time are now things like business owners and attorneys and engineers. |
Anonymous
That’s changing |
Anonymous
| My son has a HS friend who is freshman now at the Coast Guard Academy. His dad had a long Coast Guard career (and went to the Academy), so I think the kid knew what he was getting into. The first summer and semester the kid was pretty isolated from anyone outside the Academy (no access to their phones, for example), but I saw him at Christmas and he said it had been a phenomenal experience so far. |
Anonymous
No need to put down other human beings (“car mechanics”) in support of your argument. |
Anonymous
You are in the rah rah phase of believing all of the hype. In a year, I am not sure if you will be more articulate, but I suspect you will be less niave. Then, let's talk again when your child has served a few years. In an organization still largely run by, and designed for, men. (Signed, someone who has worked in DoD for 30 years) |
Anonymous
Is being in the USCG after graduation a bad thing? It isn't investment banking, although many graduates serve their commitment and go onto successful investment banking careers. You graduate with a bachelor of science degree, a commission, job, and no debt. When you eventually leave the service (because everyone does, either at five years, or later on down the line) you have real life experiences that very few people ever gain. The current cadet demographics show about 40% women. Yes, it is predominantly white (62%), but if you explore the data, you will see it isn't drastically different from other universities and colleges (excepting HBCUs, etc). As military officers in training, the cadet corps is very apolitical. They just want to serve, and will do so with distinction regardless of the parenthetical letter behind the President's name. USCGA isn't for everyone. The students that go there should go there because they want to. Not because someone else in their family pushed them there. |
Anonymous
Your last 2 sentences seems right to be based on my observation. I can't say the same thing for the kids heading off to West Point or USNA. Almost always the family seems to have nudged if not ourtright pushed the kid in that direction. |
Anonymous
| My mixed asian child will be attending USCGA starting this coming June. I was there and witnessed for myself the academy to be very welcoming of everyone. Not sure what you are getting at here. Welcoming of non whites? Sorry i just see the world differently than you do. M kid has to learn to navigate challenges in life including race relations. I found USCGA to be welcoming if that helps. |
Anonymous
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I have never been in uniform but I worked for CG as a civilian a while back. If my kid had to join a military service I would want them in the USCG. I worked with a lot of smart people, many of whom got their advanced degrees paid for and have interesting and meaningful jobs. I think the exit opportunities are mixed, especially for people who don't want to live on the Gulf coast, and your kid should think about what career path will translate to civilian life.
As for the Academy, all the grads know each other and if your kid stays in they will promote up with former classmates (I'm sure this is true of other services too) so just be aware that everybody will know whatever dumb stuff happened in college. And, expect that the military will discipline misbehaviors that would be NBD at other schools/jobs. Some years back there were alarming reports about sexual assault and hazing at the school. It got a lot of attention - all kinds of training, a new unit stood up to deal with it, etc. I hope that means the behavior is reduced and not just hidden. |
Anonymous
agree, my son is looking into the academies and taking school tours helped us get a feel for demographics. They are more diverse that we realized. Also recommend if your son is interested, signing up for the week long summer programs academies offer. The summer program is selective but if your son get in it will help him decide what is the best fit for him. https://www.usna.edu/Admissions/Programs/NASS.php#fndtn-panel1-Steps-For |
Anonymous
| USCGA is the only service academy at 50-50 male to female which, impressively translates into their leadership. If you are interested at all in cybersecurity this is the place - they are not only a part of the military but the civilian DHS as well. |
Anonymous
| First tours of duty after uni are often Hawaii! |
Anonymous
You choose at billet night based on your class rank. |
Anonymous
Or Alaska. |