Crusader 6
5-Year Member
- Joined
- Oct 24, 2010
- Messages
- 34
I thought I'd make a thread about my experience at AIM this past summer in order to answer questions that anyone considering USCGA/AIM might have about AIM. I know there wasn't much info out there when I had applied for AIM regarding its nature, so I figured I would help out by telling my story.
First off, if you are not aware, AIM stands for the Academy Introduction Mission, and it is the USCGA's equivalent of the summer seminars offered by the other service academies. It goes from a Sunday to Saturday, and there are three sessions. I was in third week last summer, likely because I applied a little later in the application window. I can't remember if they offer any scholarships or financial aid for getting to the academy, but you must pay the cost of the program and any expenses to get there. Since I'm from Oregon and had never been to the East Coast before, I opted to arrive two days early and get used to the climate and do a little sight seeing. I stayed in Groton, which is just on the other side of the sound from the academy. If you aren't from a humid state, it might be wise to show up a day early or so to get used to the insane humidity of a Connecticut summer, that way it won't be as much of a shock as it would if you arrived on reporting in day.
Anyways, Sunday arrived and I took a taxi to the academy. CG vets and volunteers were stationed around to guide you to the drop off point, and one older gentleman peeked into the cab and noted that it was a good thing I was wearing good running shoes and that I would need them. This didn't help my nerves at all. Once you are at the drop off point, you surrender all of your valuables including your cell phone and they are stowed. You put your bags in the designated area for your company (I was in Foxtrot) and then you acquire all of the gear you will be issued for the week (shirts, shorts, water bottle, drawstring bag, hat, etc). Next, we were taken to a lecture hall where they played "The Guardian" until everyone had reported in. Then they start calling out companies to go back and retrieve your stuff. This was when things started to get more intense, as yelling started for us to grab our things in like 30 seconds and be outside the building in formation. This commences the shock and awe of being suddenly thrust into a disciplined military environment. We were instructed on how to respond to commands and such, and then told to run to Chase Hall as fast as you could while carrying everything you brought along. This was unfortunate for me since I had extra stuff due to arriving early. I had to carry a large suitcase, my backpack, and the drawstring bag. USCGA is built on a hill, and the assembling point is at the bottom, Chase Hall is towards the top. Great. I began to wonder what I had gotten myself into when I was gasping for breath as we all stood against the bulkhead in Chase Hall. More yelling and then we were assigned rooms. Rooms must be kept in good order, clothes folded a specific way, and beds made with hospital corners every morning. Reporting in day was mostly just getting over the shock of everything that is going on and learning some of the basics for protocols during the week. The first full day involved a lot of this too.
Mealtimes are a blessing, as you get yelled at less depending on who your cadre are, and the food is actually very very good. Meals are one good time to get to know your cadre and your other shipmates when the cadre ask questions about your interests and such.
A typical day consists of waking up at 6:00 AM, 10 minutes to get ready, morning PT, morning formation, breakfast, something to occupy the time (sometimes it's a walk down to the dock to tour an icebreaking tug or basic drilling in a field) afternoon formation, lunch, more time spent doing other things (often times there was a seminar during this time), more time used for what the cadre see fit, evening formation, dinner, and more cadre controlled time until bed. On a couple of the days, you will have several hours allocated for constructing a robotic boat that must be designed to complete a series of tasks in a robotics engineering competition held on the last day of AIM. One day also has a few hours set aside for sailing, which was one of the highlights of the week. I had never sailed before, but I got to run the tiller to steer as well as run the rigging when changing directions into or with the wind.
I'll be the first to admit, AIM is not easy. However, it was one of the most rewarding things I have accomplished so far in life. Foxtrot company graduated 14 out of 20 (one of the dropouts was Rear Admiral Scott Burhoe's niece! That's saying something). It was a tough week, it challenges you physically and mentally, but most of the struggle is overcoming yourself. On the first night there I was definitely questioning what I had gotten myself into, but I got through the next day and knew I could make it the whole week. Even if you aren't considering the CGA, I think AIM is a valuable experience. My reasons for not applying to the academy are not because I didn't enjoy AIM or like the CGA, but more that I realized that the Army is my calling. Even with that knowledge, I don't regret AIM in the least.
I know I have been a little vague and I have left out a lot of details, but I am going to withhold some details for the sake of the experience and your surprise when you get there. If you have questions, feel free to ask away and I will answer to the best of my abilities.
-Jason
First off, if you are not aware, AIM stands for the Academy Introduction Mission, and it is the USCGA's equivalent of the summer seminars offered by the other service academies. It goes from a Sunday to Saturday, and there are three sessions. I was in third week last summer, likely because I applied a little later in the application window. I can't remember if they offer any scholarships or financial aid for getting to the academy, but you must pay the cost of the program and any expenses to get there. Since I'm from Oregon and had never been to the East Coast before, I opted to arrive two days early and get used to the climate and do a little sight seeing. I stayed in Groton, which is just on the other side of the sound from the academy. If you aren't from a humid state, it might be wise to show up a day early or so to get used to the insane humidity of a Connecticut summer, that way it won't be as much of a shock as it would if you arrived on reporting in day.
Anyways, Sunday arrived and I took a taxi to the academy. CG vets and volunteers were stationed around to guide you to the drop off point, and one older gentleman peeked into the cab and noted that it was a good thing I was wearing good running shoes and that I would need them. This didn't help my nerves at all. Once you are at the drop off point, you surrender all of your valuables including your cell phone and they are stowed. You put your bags in the designated area for your company (I was in Foxtrot) and then you acquire all of the gear you will be issued for the week (shirts, shorts, water bottle, drawstring bag, hat, etc). Next, we were taken to a lecture hall where they played "The Guardian" until everyone had reported in. Then they start calling out companies to go back and retrieve your stuff. This was when things started to get more intense, as yelling started for us to grab our things in like 30 seconds and be outside the building in formation. This commences the shock and awe of being suddenly thrust into a disciplined military environment. We were instructed on how to respond to commands and such, and then told to run to Chase Hall as fast as you could while carrying everything you brought along. This was unfortunate for me since I had extra stuff due to arriving early. I had to carry a large suitcase, my backpack, and the drawstring bag. USCGA is built on a hill, and the assembling point is at the bottom, Chase Hall is towards the top. Great. I began to wonder what I had gotten myself into when I was gasping for breath as we all stood against the bulkhead in Chase Hall. More yelling and then we were assigned rooms. Rooms must be kept in good order, clothes folded a specific way, and beds made with hospital corners every morning. Reporting in day was mostly just getting over the shock of everything that is going on and learning some of the basics for protocols during the week. The first full day involved a lot of this too.
Mealtimes are a blessing, as you get yelled at less depending on who your cadre are, and the food is actually very very good. Meals are one good time to get to know your cadre and your other shipmates when the cadre ask questions about your interests and such.
A typical day consists of waking up at 6:00 AM, 10 minutes to get ready, morning PT, morning formation, breakfast, something to occupy the time (sometimes it's a walk down to the dock to tour an icebreaking tug or basic drilling in a field) afternoon formation, lunch, more time spent doing other things (often times there was a seminar during this time), more time used for what the cadre see fit, evening formation, dinner, and more cadre controlled time until bed. On a couple of the days, you will have several hours allocated for constructing a robotic boat that must be designed to complete a series of tasks in a robotics engineering competition held on the last day of AIM. One day also has a few hours set aside for sailing, which was one of the highlights of the week. I had never sailed before, but I got to run the tiller to steer as well as run the rigging when changing directions into or with the wind.
I'll be the first to admit, AIM is not easy. However, it was one of the most rewarding things I have accomplished so far in life. Foxtrot company graduated 14 out of 20 (one of the dropouts was Rear Admiral Scott Burhoe's niece! That's saying something). It was a tough week, it challenges you physically and mentally, but most of the struggle is overcoming yourself. On the first night there I was definitely questioning what I had gotten myself into, but I got through the next day and knew I could make it the whole week. Even if you aren't considering the CGA, I think AIM is a valuable experience. My reasons for not applying to the academy are not because I didn't enjoy AIM or like the CGA, but more that I realized that the Army is my calling. Even with that knowledge, I don't regret AIM in the least.
I know I have been a little vague and I have left out a lot of details, but I am going to withhold some details for the sake of the experience and your surprise when you get there. If you have questions, feel free to ask away and I will answer to the best of my abilities.
-Jason