I had a question about that. I know that the direct appointment people can request to have one of the officers come out to present the certificate at their high school, but do the CGAS kids have that opportunity too? Is it something we need to request?
There is a procedure for requesting if you would like this, and don't have someone particular in mind. If you haven't received a link from Admissions, be a little patient. It can be an Admissions Officer, and Active Duty officer, an Admissions Partner, and Auxiliarist or just someone who has helped you (or your offspring). You don't have to go through Admissions if there is someone you want to have present. My son couldn't get anyone from the Coast Guard, so the Navy stepped in. (There is a back story there, so things actually worked nicely.) There is a cadet at CGA now who had his appointment presented by his father and grandfather who were both CGA grads with CG careers. So if you don't have someone special, go through Admissions. If that fails, PM me as I have contacts in the throughout the Auxiliary. Any one of them would be glad to help.
Thank you for the information. So, it is ok to request for CGAS too, even though she doesn't have an official appointment yet? No one at her school knows what the USCGA is. If anything, they think it's just a "lifeguard" school. They only know the big three SA's. It'll be nice to have CG officer come out and speak of the USCG missions and the prestige of the USCGA. It'll be great publicity for the USCGA!
I didn't realize we can just ask anyone. I totally thought that the admissions contacts the high schools and make arrangements for presenting, but that's not the case then? We do know an active duty officer in our area who has been acting as a mentor. Can we just personally ask him then? He wouldn't be caught off guard? Does he choose his own words for the presentation, or does the academy provide him with a guideline on what should be said? We want to make sure we're not troubling this officer too much. Also, do we make the arrangements with her high school ourselves then? just contact the high school principal and say, "hey, we have an officer coming to present our daughter. Can you make time for her during the awards ceremony?" That seems a little tacky, but is that how it really is? I suppose the whole thing isn't even necessary, but our DD is the most humble person you'll meet; she never tells anyone any of her accomplishments or explains how prestigious the USCGA is. We want the USCGA to be recognized for what it is and for her to truly start feeling proud of her accomplishments in getting into such an incredible school and an amazing military branch (and not a "lifeguard school").