Advantages of going to the Coast Guard Academy versus the Navy Academy? difficult choice.

I can't speak to CG personally, as Devil Doc can of Navy, of life in the fleet. But I have gotten feedback from both sons who are, one commissioned and one enlisted. In general there are good and bad officers, and the word gets around. My enlisted son did a lot of checking on stations and cutters before putting in his dream sheet.

The commissioned and enlisted work a lot more closely in the CG. In the smaller cutters there is no separate wardroom, so they eat together on the mess deck. Enlisted son has had a lot of time with officers. Traveling to training, one fixed his frozen brakes after a long deployment (that officer was rated amazing). Both sons have been on 110s where only the captain has a cabin. XOs share with senior enlisted. On black hulls that relationship is pretty close too. I can can only relate one aviation story. When my commissioned son had a medical issue my wife and I went down to stay with him. We took him to medical at Base Portsmouth. Sitting in the waiting area across from us was a man wearing a sweatshirt which read USCG Rescue Swimmer. Eventually a Lieutenant Commander in ODUs came out, saw the swimmer and shouted out to him. They gave each other a big hug then sat and gabbed for 10 or 15 minutes. Is that unusual for the CG? I don't know. But I suspect it would be unlikely for the Navy.
 
I have heard that the CG family is tight and that explains what was seen with the USCG Rescue Swimmer. I have heard the Navy is a little too big an organization for that comaraderie
 
AuxNoob said:
Eventually a Lieutenant Commander in ODUs came out, saw the swimmer and shouted out to him. They gave each other a big hug then sat and gabbed for 10 or 15 minutes. Is that unusual for the CG? I don't know. But I suspect it would be unlikely for the Navy.
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Not unlikely at all.
Quick story. During Commissioning week at USNA, there was a reception at the home of one of the Senior Officers for members of my team and families. The invitation said "informal" so we weren't planning to get dressed up for the reception and then we got bogged down with family and found ourselves almost out of time to get there so just my dad and I went right from our prior stuff. We were wearing open collar (civilian) shirts and casual (long) pants. Nobody was outside the Captain's house so we went up and knocked and someone answered and brought us inside. Before we went much further than the foyer, my dad was looking very closely at some pictures on the wall of the Captain at various stages of his career. All of a sudden, the Captain who was wearing whites came in. By the way, every team member I'd already seen was in uniform and I was feeling mighty worried about being out of uniform. The Captain welcomed us and my dad pointed to one of the pictures and said "that looks like Capt X with you" to which the Captain responded " It is, we were roommates in flight school" and they were off to the races as Capt X had been my (enlisted) father's boss in several squadrons over many years. Over the next few hours, the Capt spent more time with my dad (and me) than the rest of the people combined as he wanted to know more about his long lost friend and tell us stories about him.
As a now retired senior officer, I've had those sorts of relationships with plenty of enlisted/former enlisted.
 
There is an “instant camaraderie” phenomenon in all the services. My DBIL, retired Navy O-6 fighter guy out of NROTC, went with DH, DSIL and me to last Navy-ND football game in Ireland. At the pep rally on St. Stephen’s Green, in a sea of USNA grads, DBIL ran into squadron mates, former students of when he was an instructor, Pentagon buddies - hugs, hearty handshakes, sea stories, meet-ups at bars planned.

The Navy is big, but also small in many ways. There is a lot of unit camaraderie. People stay in touch with shipmates, and tend to meet them again at career junctions like the Pentagon, Naval War College, etc.

With the Coast Guard and its proportionately smaller size, there is more likelihood you will know or have served with people in any given group, which is a great thing. You will also know more of your USCGA classmates and the other classes, because the number is more manageable. The bonds and friendships are just as strong at the DOD Academies, but there will be chunks of classmates relatively unknown. That doesn’t preclude kindling that camaraderie when meeting grads and classmates later in the military or corporate career. One of DH’s best friends is a USNA classmate he didn’t know in Annapolis or the Fleet (different company, sport, ECA, major, warfare specialty) but met in the corporate world years later.
 
Capt MJ said:
but there will be chunks of classmates relatively unknown. That doesn’t preclude kindling that camaraderie when meeting grads and classmates later in the military or corporate career. One of DH’s best friends is a USNA classmate he didn’t know in Annapolis or the Fleet (different company, sport, ECA, major, warfare specialty) but met in the corporate world years later.
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This in spades!
I've found lots of academy grads that I didn't know at school who became major friends and close confidantes as I moved through my Naval and civilian careers. Just last night I texted the president of our local alumni chapter that the state legislature was crafting a bill to allow USNA grads to have our own license plates fast tracked. The guy writing the bill? A West Point grad who is my state rep and who has become a friend. He gave me the good news at the end of a hour-long teleconf about other matters and also told me that he had lined up as a co-sponsor another state rep who is a USNA grad. I put the two of them together in the first place as I knew them both.
I've found classmates who I didn't know because our majors didn't line up but we now do a lot together.
 
DualAcademyDad said:
I have sons at both academies. They are completely different experiences.

At Navy, you can fly under the radar during Plebe summer as the class is so big. Lots of majors available and ability to switch within first year. Large campus with great athletic facilities. Great town right outside of the yard if you need a break- note, however that Plebes get few opportunities to leave campus even on weekends their first year. Huge faculty, which means my son has had a number of first-year profs who have struggled connecting with students. First class, top tier athletics programs who play top tier competition. Lots of service selections from flying to cyber to intelligence to super-elite special operations. Tradition, history and great speakers who come to campus. Lots of street cred with civilians- "oooh he went to Annapolis." Poorer reputation for USNA graduates in the fleet- sometimes enlisted sailors see USNA grads as elitist / entitled when compared to NROTC officers.

Coast Guard is much smaller so it is infinitely harder to fly under the radar during swab summer. If you mess up, they will see it. Fewer majors. Smaller campus - pretty in its own NE, red brick, kinda way. Not much to do in New London and not much within walking distance to campus. Coast Guard gets MANY more free weekends swab year. (My USNA son was shocked his CGA brother has so many weekends off). Fewer service selections but overall better places where you will be stationed. Overall longevity of Coast Guard officers speaks directly to how the work/life balance of the Coast Guard is better than that of the Navy. Less street cred with civilians (lots of folks, especially not on the coasts, don't know there is a CGA). Better reputation with enlisted sailors as nearly every Coast Guard officer attends the academy.

Great education / academic support: Even
Future civilian career: slight edge to USNA only by reputation.
Future Military Career: slight edge to CGA based on officer tenure
Future work / life balance while in military: CGA
Athletics quality: USNA
Athletcis ability to play: CGA
Facility quality: USNA (apples to oranges)

My summary: if you want a top-tier education and are willing to serve 5 years to get it, you should choose USNA. If you want a top tier education and are even considering a long-term career in the military, CGA is the way to go.
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Nicely said
 
I live in Annapolis, so I'm happy to answer any questions one may have about Naptown life! I can't speak to being a mid, but I can from a resident perspective. There is always something fantastic going on here!
 
Dr.D.OneProudMom said:
I live in Annapolis, so I'm happy to answer any questions one may have about Naptown life! I can't speak to being a mid, but I can from a resident perspective. There is always something fantastic going on here!
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Do mids regularly spend much time doing things in town [during regular, pre-pandemic times]? I'm guessing 4th class mids don't get much liberty to do so, but what about the upperclass? Would I see mids walking around town on the weekends, for example?
 
My DS (USNA 2023) had appointments to both Navy & CG. He also attended both summer program (he said CG was more strict). Ultimately he chose Navy because of the different degree programs (he wanted Oceanography) and Navy missions (he favors EOD, SEALs, USMC-right now). He asked about being a CG Rescue swimmer but thats not available for officers. He also was a good HS runner and wanted to run D1. Interesting his Cousin is a USN CDR (Help pilot) and said to go CG. DS talked to a USCG hellecopeter Pilot that was a USNA grad...he lost a rank when he transferred to the CG. I would encourage thinking about the service missions as your time at the SA will go fast. DS loves the city of Annapolis and surrounding area. Good luck. Nice choice to have.
 
I don’t know what it takes for a thread to be pinned, but this thread has been extremely helpful for me as I approach getting decisions from the academies I applied to. Is there any way this thread could be pinned until May 1st so that others can benefit as I have?

Just a thought...
 
The recently retired Commandant of the jrNROTC high school in Chicago was a Navy LCDR helo pilot. He once told me that, looking in the rear view mirror, he would have chosen to be a helo pilot in the CG.
 
Anyone have any recent 'five and dive' data between USNA and USCGA? I read somewhere that academy officer retention is much higher with USCGA grads.
 
Both are fine paths, with interesting things to do and places to serve. Big family (Navy) pros and cons, smaller family (Coast Guard) pros and cons, but ultimately all one family.

The officer career paths for all services offer plenty of opportunity for grad school in a variety of ways. There are multiple threads on that topic.

Focus on the missions, career paths and culture of the service itself, as a place where the officer will be spending a minimum stretch of years.
 
Gunny@143 said:
My DS has visited both. I just want him to make his own decision, that he feels awesome about!
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If he is accepted to both, I would have him look further into the organization is which he is choosing to be a part of: Navy or Coast Guard. The mission of the two are different. My DD was sold on USNA in her freshman HS year, but after becoming a part of Naval Sea Cadets and diving into various trainings, she found USCGA's mission involving service to country and humanity far outweighed the goal of preparing for war. CGA also has a better statistic amongst academy graduates regarding enrollment for a second term of service). She also liked that at USCGA, upon graduation you are ready to go out and work in the fleet unlike the other academies where there is more training needed in regards to your billet. This was evident in last year's graduations amongst the academies. CG could not waste time for the cadets to come back to the academy for graduation and then go on to their billets so they did a virtual graduation and went straight to work.
Have him research the military branch before committing to an academy. The academy is 4 years, but the service could be 30 years if its the right fit.
 
From a parent who visited both, has friends with kids at both and son's with options... but I didn't go to either school.

USNA
-High prestige and history
-More 'military'
-D1
-More degrees
-Close to major urban areas
-Nice climate
-Jets and battleships

USCGA
-Very nice campus. I was shocked.
-Highest girl/guy ratio. I think 40% girls. For boys this is a plus.
-Good selection of degrees with excellent academic reputation
-Family feel
-Mission seems much more fun and fulfilling. You're out there saving people daily.
-Bases in great locations
-Best probability to be a pilot

My son had a chance to go to USCGA but passed to my disappointment. Coming from a 50 year old guy I'd choose USCGA hands down. I think you'll have a great experience at the school and while serving. But... both schools are great and you can't go wrong.
 
I currently have a son at NAPS who will be going to USCGA this year. The biggest attraction for him was that the Coast Guard has a humanitarian mission at its core. He found that more appealing than the services with a combat mission at their core.

As a parent a couple of things appeal to me about the Coast Guard. The vast majority if not all of his postings will be in the US which means we will be relatively easily accessible. No first hand experience on this one but I have seen it repeated multiple times; because of its size the Coast Guard has a much more family feeling. It is unusual not know at least one person irrespective of where you are posted. The Coast Guard prides itself on this feeling of family and it is pervasive through the service in how they operate.
 
tycarpen said:
The more I learn about USCGA I wonder if it's A LOT OF BIG FISH in a small pond.
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Ah yes, once you get there you feel like a small fish again.... all impressive classmates. I've been interacting with classmates more now as we prepare for the 15 year reunion and it's great to see how sharp people still are.

Try them both out. I chose between CGA, USNA, USMMA and it came down to what felt right. The Coast Guard Academy is small.... there's no blending in and getting by (the entire school is the size of a class at USNA). You'll know all of your classmates, all of the cadets from your adjacent classes, most of the cadets two years ahead and two years behind you, and many of the cadets three years ahead and three years behind you. It's also a small service. If you don't know someone, you know someone who does. And this is even more pronounced in the officer corps, when 45% of officers commission through the Coast Guard Academy.

I liked the mission of the Coast Guard. I liked the closeness of the Coast Guard Academy. And I liked how CGA felt like this small, good place to be (but it was miserable to be a cadet). CGA looks better before you report and after you've graduated. While you're there you don't appreciate the opportunities. I honestly feel, looking back now, that I missed some much as a cadet.

If you felt smart and successful in high school, you'll feel pretty average, or worse, at the Coast Guard Academy (and that takes some adjustment).

My advice, visit both school, stay overnight with a cadet or midshipman if he can, and see what feels right. All five service academies are good places, so it's about what feels right for you.

My best friend was my classmate and roommate and we talk often, despite being six hours apart, and it isn't like anything's changed, despite relationships and moves and kids.
 
AuxNoob said:
I don't want to stray too far from the real point of the thread. Life after the Academy and the missions of the service are really what needs to be considered. The Coast Guard isn't entirely about Search and Rescue, and there are billets that can be less than exciting. Generally speaking Coasties can have a decent home life, but the NSCs and Polar Rollers can be underway for months at a time. The four big services are about dropping ordinance on the enemies of our country. But when I am representing USCGA at events I tell people if you're the type of person who would rush into a burning building to save someone, then we want to talk to you.
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Only one polar roller now!
 
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