General Questions about CGA

A couple things I can't seem to find anywhere.

How are summer billets assigned? Is it by class ranking or dealt like a deck of cards?
Also, what is the criteria for the Commandant's List (silver star)?
Are the Honor's Lists published anywhere? (I see the other academy's lists, but not the CGA)

thanks in advance.

LurkingQuietly said:

A couple things I can't seem to find anywhere.

How are summer billets assigned? Is it by class ranking or dealt like a deck of cards?
Also, what is the criteria for the Commandant's List (silver star)?
Are the Honor's Lists published anywhere? (I see the other academy's lists, but not the CGA)

thanks in advance.

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1. In the very beginning of the second semester during Mid-Year Administative Processing week, or MAP week, each class is given training on the various options available to their specific class for training. Then, cadets put in a dream sheet ranking their options by preference. Typically, you can put in for location, type of platform, special programs, etc. In terms of actual assignment, I do believe it is more on the side of a deck of cards as you said. The only exceptions are assignments for special programs, if sports teams are still competing, or other special circumstances. I was lucky in that my third class and first class summers were awesome. 3/c year, I was assigned to Eagle for the 1st half of the summer and sailed to Europe. For the second half, I was assigned to a small boat station in Hawaii. My 1/c summer, I spent 5 weeks on CGC STRATTON out of Alameda, CA and then returned to the academy as summer company staff. 2/c summer is different in that you put in your preference for what cadre you want (Swab Summer, Waterfront, Eagle, AIM, CGAS) and then the 1/c assigned as company staff assign what cadre you get. Cadet Training handles the other summers. A lot of the "going out to the fleet" part of it depends on logistics issues such as patrol schedules and available number of racks.

2. The criteria for Commandant's List is that you must receive over and 82 on your Cadet Evaluation Report (CER) and also must be in the top 12% of your company in terms of your CER score.

3. Honor's lists aren't published anywhere to the best of my knowledge. When I was a cadet, we logged on to your Cadet Portal (ACADIS) account to see if we had earned any stars. Of course, if you knew your GPA and your PFE score, you knew whether or not you earned a star. The blue star was really the only one you had to wait for.

Currently to get the silver Star you must have a CER that is in the top 25% of your company for your class. Any class two or class one offenses disqualify a cadet (they wouldn't normally get a star anyway) and you must be recommended by your division and higher ups

Hello, my DS tells me now back in Sept he got phone call from USCGA asking him about his college choices. He told them CGA ranked 3rd after USNA & West Point. He now finally completed & submitted his CGA application. Yes he is too honest & naive, we yelled at him for being too honest. Would the best answer have been "it would be honor to serve any way possible." Anyway, after visiting his friend at CGA he loved it there, and feel it's his top school now, will USCGA look negatively on his honest answer???

Blessedmom said:

Hello, my DS tells me now back in Sept he got phone call from USCGA asking him about his college choices. He told them CGA ranked 3rd after USNA & West Point. He now finally completed & submitted his CGA application. Yes he is too honest & naive, we yelled at him for being too honest. Would the best answer have been "it would be honor to serve any way possible." Anyway, after visiting his friend at CGA he loved it there, and feel it's his top school now, will USCGA look negatively on his honest answer???

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IMHO the best answer was his honest reply. I don't believe the CGA records the candidates spontaneous rankings of SAs nor uses naïve answers to black-ball them.

Hi my DS is just finishing up his USCGA application, think deadline is 15th, will having application in last minute give him a fair chance?? I know CGA entering class is small & many already has appointments??? He was so busy applying to other SA & 5 ROTC schools & each school has own application for honors program, it has been so hectic

He will be given the same scrutiny that all applications receive. It may take longer to hear back, as he won't be the only one submitting on the 15th.

I will also add that submitting on the 15 Jan deadline does limit chances because more than 50% of available appointment offers are already out there.