USMMA=Coast Guard?

mperri215

mperri215

USMMAPrep18
5-Year Member
Joined
Mar 28, 2013
Messages
63
Starting out as a 4/c in 2014, should I talk to someone specifically about going Active Coast Guard after graduation? Does gender play a role on anything? What steps should I take now? I first have to attend NMMI Prep as a sponsored cadet, but I just want to make sure I take the right steps. :wiggle:
 
You are starting out as Plebe Candidate. If and only if you make it to recognition, then you will be a 4/C. Get through plebe year, focus on your grades and give yourself a solid GPA foundation. Worry about your career choice later.
 
USMMA used to have a CG liaison and I assume they still do.

Not going to lie, it's a little tough to get in the Coast Guard right now, but it has certainly been possible in the past, and I've had some friends that were KP grads.

In fact, we had a USMMA cadet on my first ship, so I know it has been possible to spend some time on a Coast Guard cutter.
 
LineInTheSand said:
USMMA used to have a CG liaison and I assume they still do.

Not going to lie, it's a little tough to get in the Coast Guard right now, but it has certainly been possible in the past, and I've had some friends that were KP grads.

In fact, we had a USMMA cadet on my first ship, so I know it has been possible to spend some time on a Coast Guard cutter.
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I know that is very competitive to go Coast Guard especially with budget cuts, but is it the GPA that makes me competitive? or leadership capabilities, what exactly?
 
KPEngineer said:
You are starting out as Plebe Candidate. If and only if you make it to recognition, then you will be a 4/C. Get through plebe year, focus on your grades and give yourself a solid GPA foundation. Worry about your career choice later.
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I am aware that I would be a plebe, but it is important for me to think about my career path because that is the reason for my interest to attend KP, to be in the military. By what month are plebes recognized as cadets?
 
mperri215 said:
I am aware that I would be a plebe, but it is important for me to think about my career path because that is the reason for my interest to attend KP, to be in the military. By what month are plebes recognized as cadets?
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I can appreciate that you are focused on a career path, that is fine. My suggestion to you is to not worry until your 3/C year about who you need to talk to or what programs you need to get into. Spend your first year focused almost exclusively on your classes and getting good grades. Having a solid GPA foundation at the end of your first year will make the succeeding three years much more comfortable and allow you to do more things related to your chosen career path. If you spend your Plebe year worrying about getting in to the USCG it is entirely possible, if not probable, that your grades will suffer to some degree and that will limit your ability to do things that will enhance your chances of getting a USCG slot. People are being disenrolled with only a single class failure ... dont be one of them!

Recognition typically occurs around late winter/early spring. My class was recognized in early February but some have been recognized as late as mid-May. It all depends on how well your entire class performs as a unified class.
 
KPEngineer said:
I can appreciate that you are focused on a career path, that is fine. My suggestion to you is to not worry until your 3/C year about who you need to talk to or what programs you need to get into. Spend your first year focused almost exclusively on your classes and getting good grades. Having a solid GPA foundation at the end of your first year will make the succeeding three years much more comfortable and allow you to do more things related to your chosen career path. If you spend your Plebe year worrying about getting in to the USCG it is entirely possible, if not probable, that your grades will suffer to some degree and that will limit your ability to do things that will enhance your chances of getting a USCG slot. People are being disenrolled with only a single class failure ... dont be one of them!

Recognition typically occurs around late winter/early spring. My class was recognized in early February but some have been recognized as late as mid-May. It all depends on how well your entire class performs as a unified class.
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Wow I was unaware that it depends on how the class does to see if they get recognized at an early date or not. I actually like that because it puts pressure on the class to do well. Thank you for your advice. I was just under the impression that I had to speak with someone and set things up pertaining to the Coast Guard at the beginning of Plebe year. I will definetly focus on the academics and just let things fall into place. It does make sense to just focus on that the first year I am there anyways.
 
There are some definitive criteria like passing all the Plebe Knowledge Tests, conducting spirit missions, etc., but there are also some subjective ones. General class participation in following the plebe rules for example. It is actually very noticible if a fair number of plebes no longer square their corners, or walk in the middle of the hall. Even those who are ambivalent towards the regimental system will get annoyed and let the Reg. Officers know.

I also advise not getting caught up in trying to be a class leader as a plebe. A surprisingly large number of them don't seem to graduate and it will have about 0% impact on you getting into the USCG.

"Lo Pro", as in Low Profile is the way to go as a plebe in my opinion. Grades, grades, grades!!! There will be plenty of time to fully immerse yourself in the regimental system as you progress through further years.
 
KPEngineer said:
There are some definitive criteria like passing all the Plebe Knowledge Tests, conducting spirit missions, etc., but there are also some subjective ones. General class participation in following the plebe rules for example. It is actually very noticible if a fair number of plebes no longer square their corners, or walk in the middle of the hall. Even those who are ambivalent towards the regimental system will get annoyed and let the Reg. Officers know.

I also advise not getting caught up in trying to be a class leader as a plebe. A surprisingly large number of them don't seem to graduate and it will have about 0% impact on you getting into the USCG.

"Lo Pro", as in Low Profile is the way to go as a plebe in my opinion. Grades, grades, grades!!! There will be plenty of time to fully immerse yourself in the regimental system as you progress through further years.
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Awesome advice. I will definetly stay "Lo Pro". I will also keep up with keeping my room squared away and doing my hospital corners. Little details like that show true character and demonstrates how important integrity means to them. what do knowledge tests and spirit missions consist of?
 
squaring your corners is not the hospital corners on your rack. Prior to recognition, plebes are required to walk no further than 6" from the STBD bulkhead. When coming to a corner in the hallway you are required to walk all the way into the corner stop and perform a facing movement, as in "Left face" when standing in formation, before proceeding. This is referred to as "squaring corners". When outside with a group of less than 5 plebes you are required to run everywhere. When running you must come to a complete stop and square a corner correctly before proceeding at a run.

Plebe Knowledge Tests cover a wide range of subjects such as Academy history, Chain of Command and general maritime knowledge. A 90% class average is required to pass a test, I believe we had to pass 10 as a class. That is much more difficult than it sounds. We had them every sunday night.
 
KPEngineer said:
squaring your corners is not the hospital corners on your rack. Prior to recognition, plebes are required to walk no further than 6" from the STBD bulkhead. When coming to a corner in the hallway you are required to walk all the way into the corner stop and perform a facing movement, as in "Left face" when standing in formation, before proceeding. This is referred to as "squaring corners". When outside with a group of less than 5 plebes you are required to run everywhere. When running you must come to a complete stop and square a corner correctly before proceeding at a run.

Plebe Knowledge Tests cover a wide range of subjects such as Academy history, Chain of Command and general maritime knowledge. A 90% class average is required to pass a test, I believe we had to pass 10 as a class. That is much more difficult than it sounds. We had them every sunday night.
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What about memorizing menus? And I remember having to square my corners at USCGA for their summer seminar.
 
Yes to the menu.

Things may have changed some since I was a plebe so don't hold any of this as gospel but it should be pretty close.
 
KPEngineer said:
Yes to the menu.

Things may have changed some since I was a plebe so don't hold any of this as gospel but it should be pretty close.
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Well thank you for your advice. I will definetly keep everything in mind. :smile:
 
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