USCGA2017hopeful
5-Year Member
- Joined
- Nov 11, 2012
- Messages
- 75
While the state of the economy has caused hardships for many people, at the U.S. Coast Guard Academy it has had one surprisingly positive effect: cadets are sticking together more and taking care of one another.
The Coast Guard doesn't need as many new officers because record numbers of officers are staying in the service instead of venturing out into an uncertain job market. Last year only half of all captains were allowed to stay in the service.
Class sizes at the academy have been shrinking. The Class of 2016, which started at 248 and now stands at 223, is the smallest in more than a decade. The Class of 2017 is going to be even smaller, with only 235 spots available.
Cadets who break the rules or don't meet the school's standards often are not getting a second or third chance, as they may have in the past.
"We're not making any efforts to shove people out," she said. "But on the other hand if they make the choice to get in trouble or not to comply with the standard, then they do it at their own risk because we don't have the service need to give them all those chances."
Regardless of whether the Coast Guard needs to grow or shrink, Stosz said, she is firm with cadets who don't adhere to the service's core values of honor, respect and devotion to duty.
Explains the same thing is happening with AFA, and likely the other academies as well.
http://theday.com/article/20130114/NWS09/301149957/1017