VMI to Coast Guard

tinysnail

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Hi all!

I was wondering if anybody had any experience with or thoughts on commissioning into the Coast Guard after VMI via the DCSS program?

Attending the Coast Guard Academy has been a dream of mine since freshman year, but I learned a lot about VMI at Girls State and it's been really growing on me ever since.
 
CGA is the better route because you're sure to commission the Coast Guard, but nothing wrong with VMI. I personally don't know any VMI grads in the Coast Guard (their giant rings would be the give away), but that certainly doesn't mean there aren't any.
 
LineInTheStand and tinysnail, I am a very soon to be incoming rat. I have heard of people commissioning into the Coast Guard from VMI and can confirm that is possible. That being said, I have zero idea how that is done nor do I know of any cadets currently attempting to do so. I am simply stating that it has been done before.

Considering LineInTheSand is a CGA grad, Im going to say he is a lot better of a resource for knowledge than I am.
 
I am not, nor do I want to be, knowledgeable of your financial situation but I must add that VMI without an ROTC scholarship or other serious financial aid would be a very costly option compared to USCGA. Seeing as how the USCGA's sole mission is to commission officers for the Coast Guard, provides more specific training for the occupation you are striving towards, and is "free" I concur with LITS and say go to the Academy.
 
Hi all!

I was wondering if anybody had any experience with or thoughts on commissioning into the Coast Guard after VMI via the DCSS program?

Attending the Coast Guard Academy has been a dream of mine since freshman year, but I learned a lot about VMI at Girls State and it's been really growing on me ever since.
well- pretty much every year there will be one or two Cadets who wind up commissioning in the USCG thru that direct commissioning program and it's good to see, but from what I can gather- it's something that you really have to work thru with the Coast Guard yourself. Unlike the other services- there is no USCG department at VMI or any active officers stioned there who will guide you thru the process. So from my perspective-if you really , really want to be a Coastie then for sure you should be doing everything you can to get to the USCGA as your first choice- and again in my personal opinion- I would be looking at the USMMA and the State Maritime Academies as back up plans - as they have a much longer track record of producing USCG officers (they are after all in the business of producing professional sailors so the environment is one with a lot of commonality with the Coast Guard's world, and you will find a lot more alums in the Coast Guard from those schools than you will from VMI). However- if the Coast Guard commission isn't the only thing on your agenda and if it falls thru you won't see your life as "over" at 22- then I think VMI is a marvelous place to go to school.
 
Don't forget you can also apply to their scholarship as VMI falls into one the eligible schools. Google CSPI. It's not very competitive, and definitely worth a shot.
 
Is there a list of other eligible schools for CSPI? Specifically, is Norwich an eligible school?
 
Don't forget you can also apply to their scholarship as VMI falls into one the eligible schools. Google CSPI. It's not very competitive, and definitely worth a shot.
It looks like a great program, but unfortunately I don't think VMI fulfills their minority-enrollment requirement.
 
if it helps, on matriculation day the class of 2017 was 86.3% white.
Yeah, I don't think that's going to cut it. :) "CGRC may consider, on a case-by-case basis, schools...that have had a minority student population averaging at least 50% of the total student enrollment for the past three years."
(I'm concerned that smiley face looks a little smarmy. I'm not trying to be a jerk, I promise!)
 
I believe there are 8 or 9 schools that have the authority to direct commission into the USCG which includes all the SMCs, there are certain requirements that have to be fulfilled including being a member of either the CG Reserve or Auxiliary. The Citadel had two CG commissionees this year and has a number of CG alumni who entered via OCS. Yes the academy is the most preferable route except for the small problem of being highly competitive, about a 15% acceptance rate; as always better have a backup plan.
 
Hi all!

I was wondering if anybody had any experience with or thoughts on commissioning into the Coast Guard after VMI via the DCSS program?

Attending the Coast Guard Academy has been a dream of mine since freshman year, but I learned a lot about VMI at Girls State and it's been really growing on me ever since.

I believe there are 8 or 9 schools that have the authority to direct commission into the USCG which includes all the SMCs, there are certain requirements that have to be fulfilled including being a member of either the CG Reserve or Auxiliary. The Citadel had two CG commissionees this year and has a number of CG alumni who entered via OCS. Yes the academy is the most preferable route except for the small problem of being highly competitive, about a 15% acceptance rate; as always better have a backup plan.

Hi - I believe each of the SMCs are on the list for direct commission to the Coast Guard - but it may require that members be enrolled in the Coast Guard Auxillary while in college. Belos is a link to the Coast Guard site where you may find out more on the Auxillary and on Coast Guard careers:
Contact NationalNational Help DeskWebsite PoliciesAccessibilityFOIAPlug Ins
U.S. Coast GuardU.S. Department of Homeland SecurityUSA.gov
CGAUX.ORG is the U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary official web portal.

The Citadel established its detachment in 2008 and has one or two direct commissions earch year since then. If there is a detachment at VMI - or a local auxillary detachment, this may also enable direct commission. Otherwise, a graduate would have to apply to the Coast Guard and find out how to do this post college. Here is some info on The Citadel detachment - located in Charleston South Carolina - it is about a ten minute drive to the Coast Guard base in Charleston.

With the official establishment of the Flotilla 12-8A Citadel Detachment in 2008 came the privilege of being one of the first Coast Guard Auxiliary University Programs in the Nation. The Citadel is one of the few schools in the nation that has this type of program on its campus.

About Us
  • We are a group of cadets interested in furthering our cadet career by being involved with the operational side of the Coast Guard Auxiliary.
  • Upon graduation, we are interested in attending Coast Guard officer candidate school, direct commission, active duty enlistment, reserve enlistment or continuing with the Coast Guard Auxiliary.
  • We believe in the Coast Guard's core values of honor, respect, and devotion to duty.
  • We were officially established with the Coast Guard Auxiliary on campus in the spring of 2008.
About the US Coast Guard Auxiliary
When you join the Coast Guard Auxiliary, you could find yourself saving lives, protecting the environment from polluters, guarding our shores from terrorists, and much more. That is our job 24-hours a day, 365 days a year. That's life in the Coast Guard Auxiliary. We do much more than just train. We train and perform. Since 1939 the U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary has safeguarded our Nation’s maritime interests in the heartland, in the ports, at sea, and around the globe.
We protect the maritime economy and the environment, we defend our maritime borders, and we save those in peril. This history has forged our character and purpose as America’s Maritime Guardian — Always Ready for all hazards and all threats.
Today’s U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary, with nearly 32,000 men and women, is a unique force that carries out an array of responsibilities touching almost every facet of the U.S. maritime environment.
The overarching mission of the U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary is to contribute to the safety and security of our citizens, ports, waterways and coastal regions. We will balance our missions of Recreational Boating Safety and Coast Guard Support with Maritime Homeland Security and other challenges that emerge as a result of our growing understanding of changes required in the post-9/11 era.

On any given day, on average, Auxiliarists throughout the United States will do the following:
  • Complete 62.5 safety patrols
  • Complete 6.2 regatta patrols
  • Perform 10.2 vessel assists
  • Assist 28 people
  • Save 1 life
  • Save $341,290 in property
  • Participate in 100 operational support missions
  • Participate in 48.7 administrative support missions
  • Complete 13.4 recruiting support missions
  • Educate 369 people on boating safety
  • Perform 299 vessel safety checks
  • Attend 70 public affairs functions


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A couple points. Follow the links on the gocoastguard.com website to the Active Duty Officer programs, and look for DSCC.

Citadel is one of the accepted schools for the Direct Commission Selected School accession path. CG Aux is not required in any Direct Commission accession. But it's a great program. Other than the listed accepted schools, successful academics and successful participation in an ROTC program will be considered on a case-by-case basis.

CSPI is a separate program, and unlikely to apply to any of the schools on the DCSS accepted schools list (although I haven't checked their demographics).

If you are interested in the DCSS program, and are attending a school not on the list, you should contact a recruiter. Alternatively, contact the Academy for the Admissions Officer either where you live, or better, where you are attending college.
 
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