CGA Expenses

CGAsupporter

5-Year Member
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Apr 16, 2014
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Hi all. I would appreciate insight into the expenses while at the CGA. I have seen that the uniform allotment is $9,500 which is then deducted from pay. Is that what cadets realistically need or is that a max amount. Also, athletic activity fee of $40 a month- does that cover your uniform if you are on a varsity team or will that be another expense? I have read about issues with the costs of books before, but $9500 for uniforms...wow! Does that include official coats and boots for winter? My family does not have military experience, so this is all new to me.
 
Hi all. I would appreciate insight into the expenses while at the CGA. I have seen that the uniform allotment is $9,500 which is then deducted from pay. Is that what cadets realistically need or is that a max amount. Also, athletic activity fee of $40 a month- does that cover your uniform if you are on a varsity team or will that be another expense? I have read about issues with the costs of books before, but $9500 for uniforms...wow! Does that include official coats and boots for winter? My family does not have military experience, so this is all new to me.

All great questions. You may want to consider posting that question also on the official CGA Parents Association Facebook group. I am sure some experienced parents can answer them.

https://www.facebook.com/groups/CGA.PA/
 
You will be issued almost everything you need, including uniforms and your computer. You will be loaned money by CGA to cover these expenses including the cost of textbooks for the semester immediately following swab summer.

You will pay back these loans through deductions from your monthly cadet pay, which is slightly more than $1000.00 per month. Your monthly net pay after deductions will vary month-to-month, depending on what is deducted, but should average $350-$450/month. While this sounds like a lot, remember, that you will need to save from this in order to purchase textbooks for second semester of 4/c year. Budget $800 to $1000 for this. This will leave you some money for discretionary spending. However, you shouldn't go crazy.

Your initial loan should be paid back by the beginning of 2/c year, so the net you receive from your cadet pay should go up. However, by 2/C year your textbook expenses also likely will increase as you move away from introductory classes into more advanced and specialized classes.

All this being said and done, a cadet that exercises some discretion in the spending dept. should be able to save money to put towards a car down payment 1/c year or open and contribute to a small Roth IRA through the course of enrollment.
 
AlexT has given you details. The bottom line is that the swabs/cadets will be issued everything they need, when they need it. They will also be paid enough to cover those expenses and loans. And they will be given advice and training on responsibly paying for all those things. (And they'll still have a little left over.) It is part of their training for the fleet.

But yeah, as parents we worry. So send them care packages and some spare change once in a while. :wink:
 
And parents don't forget to budget for the airline tix. A welcomed expense!
Go Bears Crew!

Sculler Dad
 
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