Awareness - Current USCGA Operations

Interesting information. While I agree this seems to certainly be cadets venting, if accurate, it is concerning, especially room/meal restrictions.
 
Obviously troll posts by @Col Smith. 2nd time today he has posted and then deleted the same post when it was replied to.
 
The poster deleted it himself/herself, it was not deleted by Admins. There were no Admins/Mods online when it was deleted the 2nd time about 5 minutes ago.

Look at the first one, it is fairly obvious.
 
Fine, then I'll speak about it then. Morale has tanked these past couple of days. We had classes canceled Friday because there were so many positive cases that they had to move cadet out of the first floor of Chase hall and into other rooms, sometimes putting three people into cadets rooms. There are around 100 people quarantined or in isolation in another building. We are eating all of our food in our rooms and there have been no in person classes or labs. We have only been allowed off base one weekend this semester and we could only go to the navy base or do drive through. I'm not saying this to complain. I still want to be here, but I do think any prospective cadets have the right to know what is really happening here. If anyone has questions, feel free to post here or PM me.
 
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So I will say a few things on this.

You cannot moan about the number of COVID cases and lack of liberty in the same breath. The restriction to base is to try and contain COVID and reduce the number of positive cases.

To make a post and then delete it makes one question the real reason for making the post in the first place.

Advice to go to civilian college instead of USCGA in the anticipation that it will be better isn’t accurate. Most civilian colleges have practically no measures in place to restrict the spread of COVID and as such it runs rampant. Furthermore no attempts are made to quarantine positive cases in fact most civilian colleges aren’t even testing for COVID. If your concern is going out every weekend then yes civilian college is the way to go, if your concern is to restrict the spread of COVID then civilian college definitely isn’t the way to go. If your intention is to join the Coast Guard and become an officer then USCGA is still the better option.

My DS went to NAPS last July. He has been off base a total of 3 times and that includes the Christmas Break. On arriving at NAPS he was restricted to his room 23 hours a day for 14 days. When he returned after Christmas he was restricted to his room for 23 hours a day for 14 days. He will not be allowed a spring break as a precaution to COVID.

Is this hard, you bet your ass it is. Will he face harder challenges when he is an officer in the Coast Guard, you bet your ass he will.

If you are having mental health issues because of the situation at the academy reach out to your command, chaplain, coach or any other person in authority. I am confident that they will do their best to help.

My advice is not to post complaints on this forum. They achieve nothing, they certainly aren’t some sort of public service announcement for prospective candidates!
 
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Kaydet2023 said:
Fine, then I'll speak about it then. Morale has tanked these past couple of days. We had classes canceled Friday because there were so many positive cases that they had to move cadet out of the first floor of Chase hall and into other rooms, sometimes putting three people into cadets rooms. There are around 100 people quarantined or in isolation in another building. We are eating all of our food in our rooms and there have been no in person classes or labs. We have only been allowed off base one weekend this semester and we could only go to the navy base or do drive through. I'm not saying this to complain. I still want to be here, but I do think any prospective cadets have the right to know what is really happening here. If anyone has questions, feel free to post here or PM me.
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Col Smith said:
I just spoke with several current cadets in 3 different classes (2021, 2023, 2022), for those of you considering USCGA in the future, right now it is a challenging situation. While soldiers complaining is almost a constitutional right, the current leadership at the Academy is showing signs of being overmatched by events. FYI:

1. They have confirmed positive COVID or contract traced over 100 cadets who are in isolation or quarantine in Munro barracks.

2. Since they ran out of room for isolation cadets in Munro, they just evacuated cadets from the first floor of Chase hall (the main cadet dorm) to make room for the Direct Commissioned Officers who were previously housed in part of Munro that was not used for isolation to make more room for isolation. So, those cadets (50+) who were on first deck in Chase and had not tested positive for COVID as of Friday night (1/29) are spread throughout the other six companies and triple bunking with cadets in rooms some without furniture and beds, but that is being rectified. The cadets I spoke with welcomed their fellow evacuated shipmates, but said it made a mockery out of social distancing to triple bunk them. In their words, "with this triple bunking the health center can expect another 100 to test positive early next week"

3. All classes are online and cadets attend in their room. All meals are brought to their rooms (not just quarantined cadets put the entire corps). You can leave your room for 2 hours between 1600 and 1800 for individual socially distanced exercise.

4. All leave continues to be restricted and the entire Corps is confined to base.

5. They continue to test all cadets for COVID twice a week.

6. Moral is in the tank. The cadets were informed by command at least they are not getting "shot at" in a combat scenario and many people have lived through worst conditions. A inappropriate analogy at best for soldiers in a training billet.

7. The Admiral, senior staff and instructors have received a dose of the Covid vaccine. They continue to come and go from base at will, but the cadets are blamed for not "appropriately masking and washing hands" if anyone tests positive for covid. One cadet said they hope to test positive so they can go back to a double room in isolation with a desk and get some of their homework done.

8. Some instructors have asked that if cadets do not get the vaccine if they can remain remote when in person class starts so they don't infect others. Hopefully, command will not endorse this position.

9. One cadet said several others had decided not to sign their commitment papers at the end of their second year due to the increase in mental health concerns and fear of contracting a long-term medical condition that may lead to early discharge for confining so many to Chase hall. While I consider these soldiers venting, it is a sign of extremely low moral for Cadets that have attend for 1 or 2 years to contemplate resigning from the academy. The first-class cadets, who are also restricted, just want to get out ASAP and if they could report to their assignments today and finish the semester on-line, they would.

Certainly these are challenging times, but make your decision to attend the Academy with your eyes open; cadets report the isolation is most challenging and several peers are experiencing significant mental health concerns. While I am sure, similar challenges exist at civilian colleges, it is clear from the 4 cadets I spoke with that the current command is significantly overmatched and struggling. Most things: summer training, moral events, traditions, etc. have been curtailed and cadets locked down; so just know what is ahead, and according to the cadets I spoke with it is not what is in the brochure or USCGA promotional videos.

An alternative to consider is attend civilian college near home, and then apply for USCG OCS for your commission. Same endpoint without the isolation.
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I will quote both posts so they will be here in case they get deleted again (which for the longer one, would be the 3rd time), and say what I said before:

You have identified the same challenges faced by most SAs, colleges and universities (and humanity in general) in the midst of the worst worldwide pandemic in 100 years. The USCGA is keeping in line with almost every single SA, college and university when in the midst of an outbreak, apparently adhering to CDC guidance by keeping the cohorts small and isolated for the 10-14 days required for the virus to die out amongst the isolated cohorts. This includes base restriction, housing and the delivery of meals. You signed up for the military, you were not conscripted against your will, and being confined to quarters and the base is not a foreign concept to anyone. The USCGA cadets are training to be officers in the USCGA, not social media influencers on YouTube from their heated/cooled couches in a $300 sweatshirt.

The Admiral, instructors and most of Admin likely fall within the guidelines to receive the Covid-19 vaccine now whereas 17-24 year olds do not. This is not news, nor is Admin, senior staff and instructors leaving the base as most of them simply do not live there - unlike the cadets.

The other issues listed are the always-present inequities that will exist at every SA and the military in general as between enlisted/officers, faculty/students, ranks, cadets, Admin, etc.; the ups and downs of "morale" waves; and the second-guessing that almost every person faces upon arrival and while attending a SA or while in the military.

As for mental health issues - seek treatment as it is widely available.

Finally, as it has been widely reported, the Covid-19 pandemic will look far different by this summer as the world gets closer to herd immunity with vaccines and community spread. While this may impact Swab Summer and certainly part of Swab year, it should be far less of a hardship by then.

Concerns to be sure? Perhaps, but again, no real news here as this is the military and it is the military during a pandemic.

Carry on.
 
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TheRightStuff said:
I will quote both posts so they will be here in case they get deleted again (which for the longer one, would be the 3rd time), and say what I said before:

You have identified the same challenges faced by most SAs, colleges and universities (and humanity in general) in the midst of the worst worldwide pandemic in 100 years. The USCGA is keeping in line with almost every single SA, college and university when in the midst of an outbreak, apparently adhering to CDC guidance by keeping the cohorts small and isolated for the 10-14 days required for the virus to die out amongst the isolated cohorts. This includes base restriction, housing and the delivery of meals. You signed up for the military, you were not conscripted against your will, and being confined to quarters and the base is not a foreign concept to anyone. The USCGA cadets are training to be officers in the USCGA, not social media influencers on YouTube from their heated/cooled couches in a $300 sweatshirt.

The Admiral, instructors and most of Admin likely fall within the guidelines to receive the Covid-19 vaccine now whereas 17-24 year olds do not. This is not news, nor is Admin, senior staff and instructors leaving the base as most of them simply do not live there - unlike the cadets.

The other issues listed are the always-present inequities that will exist at every SA and the military in general as between enlisted/officers, faculty/students, ranks, cadets, Admin, etc.; the ups and downs of "morale" waves; and the second-guessing that almost every person faces upon arrival and while attending a SA or while in the military.

As for mental health issues - seek treatment as it is widely available.

Finally, as it has been widely reported, the Covid-19 pandemic will look far different by this summer as the world gets closer to herd immunity with vaccines and community spread. While this may impact Swab Summer and certainly part of Swab year, it should be far less of a hardship by then.

Concerns to be sure? Perhaps, but again, no real news here as this is the military and it is the military during a pandemic.

Carry on.
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A good perspective, and I think it is needed, but at the end of the day you're not here in the barracks and feel the defeat and lack of hope running rampant. I believe senior leadership is working themselves to the bone to try to help us and keep this school running. And while we will complain, there are those of us who are working hard to provide morale. The problem is at morale and mental health are not the same thing. I don't care if people tell us to suck it up and that they've been through worse, they probably have. It still doesn't invalidate our opinions and how we will react to this situation. The strain of the last year or covid policies are starting to show on the corps and everyone is affected. I'm not asking for your sympathy, just providing information.
 
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Kaydet2023 said:
A good perspective, and I think it is needed, but at the end of the day you're not here in the barracks and feel the defeat and lack of hope running rampant. I believe senior leadership is working themselves to the bone to try to help us and keep this school running. And while we will complain, there are those of us who are working hard to provide morale. The problem is at morale and mental health are not the same thing. I don't care if people tell us to suck it and that they've been through worse, they probably have. It still doesn't invalidate our opinions and how we will react to this situation. The strain of the last year or covid policies are starting to show on the corps and everyone is affected. I'm not asking for your sympathy, just providing information.
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Nobody said your opinion wasn't valid, nor did anyone say the concerns listed were not legitimate.

However, you are apparently viewing this from the bubble that is the USCGA. The very same issues exist to a varying degree, and are successfully dealt with, by billions of other students, Cadets, Mids, children and adults all over the planet.

While this may well be the hardest situation you have gone through as of yet in your life, if this is the hardest situation you ever have to go through in the remainder of your life you will be ahead of 99% of the world's population.

You will be fine, keep your chin up and make the best of it.
 
TheRightStuff said:
Nobody said your opinion wasn't valid, nor did anyone say the concerns listed were not legitimate.

However, you are apparently viewing this from the bubble that is the USCGA. The very same issues exist to a varying degree, and are successfully dealt with, by billions of other students, Cadets, Mids, children and adults all over the planet.

While this may well be the hardest situation you have gone through as of yet in your life, if this is the hardest situation you ever have to go through in the remainder of your life you will be ahead of 99% of the world's population.

You will be fine, keep your chin up and make the best of it.
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Thanks, but you telling to keep my chin up isn't going to solve all of my problems. I've been through harder things, and I'll get through this. Yes, others are struggling. The whole world is struggling. I'm just letting prospective applicants get a different picture.
 
Whatever you say @Kaydet2023. You too have now deleted an earlier post, which makes your motives here along with @Col Smith questionable to say the least.

If your aim was to ignore advice that you openly solicited by posting here and also to be snarky and bitter while doing it, you have achieved your goals.

Mods/Admin should just simply shut this thread down and delete it.
 
TheRightStuff said:
Whatever you say @Kaydet2023. You too have now deleted an earlier post, which makes your motives here along with @Col Smith questionable to say the least.

Mods/Admin should just simply shut this thread down and delete it.
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Guess information on a forum is a big no no, sorry. Message says mods have to reapprove it, not deleted. Guess they are active after all.
 
Kaydet2023 said:
Thanks, but you telling to keep my chin up isn't going to solve all of my problems. I've been through harder things, and I'll get through this. Yes, others are struggling. The whole world is struggling. I'm just letting prospective applicants get a different picture.
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A different picture of what? Nothing in the past year has been normal. I think everyone is aware of that. The SAs are doing their best to keep cadets safe whilst continuing their job of preparing future officers.
 
sanman said:
A different picture of what? Nothing in the past year has been normal. I think everyone is aware of that. The SAs are doing their best to keep cadets safe whilst continuing their job of preparing future officers.
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I'm not disagreeing with you. Just because I have shared some of the not great aspects of the academy, doesn't mean you automatically have to go to the defensive position. Look at the academy's website or their youtube videos, life just isn't like that anymore and that's fine. What's done had to be done. I don't want the swabs to come in here with an incorrect idea of what it will be like here. That will just lead to more anger, disappointment and probably lower retention rates. The current 4/c class has already had more people drop out during this academic school year than my class has with our two years already flying by. Be aware of the situation, and you'll be better prepared to succeed here.
 
Everybody knows what Covid looks like all over the world, even the 17 and 18+ year olds applying to the USCGA. All of your posts seem to infer some sort of grand conspiracy by the USCGA Admin to hide the Covid reality from applicants. Nobody thinks USCGA looks today like it did in some video from 2 years ago (and maybe if you actually thought that then the lack of masks and social distancing wasn't apparently enough of a tip off), and we all also know that by next fall or thereafter USCGA will look somewhat like that again.

What is your objective here? Have you personally made a bad choice in attending the USCGA? If so, then by all means move on if you are still able to - Covid or not.

If your posts are a PSA to would-be attendees at the USCGA then consider those would-be attendees to now be informed of the Covid situation at USCGA that exists TODAY (at least as described by you), one that is indeed not so much unlike many other SAs, colleges and universities ALL OVER THE WORLD.

Best of luck to you in all your future endeavors.
 
Kaydet2023 said:
The current 4/c class has already had more people drop out during this academic school year than my class has with our two years already flying by. Be aware of the situation, and you'll be better prepared to succeed here.
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How many 4/c cadets have dropped out? My daughter is a 4/c cadet, and I know they had the highest retention rate over swab summer that USCGA had in many years (according to Admiral Kelly). They had very few drop outs over the summer. She personally only knows of a couple people who have dropped during the academic year, although she obviously doesn't know everyone. Nobody from her company has dropped out. Just wondering what numbers you have for that? Mentally, she's doing fine. She's bummed about restrictions on sports and would really like to compete, but otherwise she's happy to be at the Academy despite the restrictions.
 
@Kaydet2023 I think you're missing the point that this will eventually end. I agree that we are facing what could be among some of the hardest times the Academy has ever seen, along with the rest of the world. Trust me, I get it. My class has waited for four years for privileges traditionally afforded to firsties, and we're all incredibly disappointed in that not coming to fruition. Life is difficult right now, but it won't get easier when you get to the fleet and there's crises to deal with there. The silver lining is that what we're going through right now is forging us in the proverbial fire. I know it's probably sounding like a broken record for you now, but it really is the truth. When you think about it, what more could you really expect from Senior Leadership right now? If they focus strongly on mental health by allowing liberty, eating in the wardroom, etc., then COVID gets ignored. If they focus on COVID, mental health suffers. Damned if you do, damned if you don't. Tough calls have to be made, and I have full faith in the leadership that they are doing the best they can by us. Keep in mind too, everyone at the Academy (and throughout the military) loves to sensationalize their struggles and complain.
 
ProudMom7 said:
She personally only knows of a couple people who have dropped during the academic year
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Right, a couple people dropping from '24 this year is more than have dropped from '23...

We lost quite a bit more over swab summer though, which would explain why we've lost fewer during the school year than '24.
 
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