Outreach pays off in a Diverse Class

Mongo said:
For years I have bemoaned the fact that the socio-economic gap between Service Academy graduates and the enlisted whom they lead has continued to widen. Not too many years ago, 70% or so of all SA attendees were the first generation in their family to go to college. No more. Now they are the sons and daughters of parents, both of whom are college grads and of a much higher socio-economic background than a generation or so ago. Currently, these are the ones who can and do take advantage of the free education. And let's not kid ourselves, a free education is a huge draw for the SAs.

An interesting theory. And one, I think, with a lot of validity.
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I might be taking this the wrong way but "free education?" Each of these individuals have committed 5 years of service to CG because they are given the opportunity for this education and put it into practice by protecting/defending our country...No? We have a saying..."Education is expensive" we define this by learning every day can lead to many opportunities...but we have to sacrifice something for that education whether it be our time, money or overall personal growth...
 
disey3 said:
I might be taking this the wrong way but "free education?" Each of these individuals have committed 5 years of service to CG because they are given the opportunity for this education and put it into practice by protecting/defending our country...No? We have a saying..."Education is expensive" we define this by learning every day can lead to many opportunities...but we have to sacrifice something for that education whether it be our time, money or overall personal growth...
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Of course. However, interview many current SA cadets and past as well as those who went through ROTC and college on the GI Bill -- you will find many who will tell you this was their one and only opportunity for a prestigious college education and for some any college education. It was certainly a sacrifice for them and one they were quite willing to make.

Walk around any SA today and talk to the cadets there - you will find quite a few from middle class backgrounds who are thankful to be receiving a prestigious education they otherwise would not have. Talk to parents and they will tell you they are thankful not to have to 'pay'. Even with government offered financial aid - which is very very small - there is a large cohort of families who are not wealthy but do not qualify.
I was just reading last night about a two wager earner family who each make $60,000/year (total $120,000) - their son is considering an Ivy league college and they just discovered they would have to contribute $28,000 each year prior to any financial aid.

Go to any SA information night and the "free education" for 5 years of a "guaranteed job" is presented as a selling point. This works for the family above but not so much for the very poor, very bright students who can get into a college that will pay his way.
 
FriendofCGA said:
Unless the government funds more of the Coast Guard Academy’s facilities, including recreational, they will have a hard time competing against an Navy alumni annual budget in the 10’s of millions of dollars. The same goes for West Point. You must remember is will be years before Chase Hall even completes the simplest of modern renovations… Air Conditioning. CGA’s total alumni endowment is about 12 million (2008). I agree with other posters. Rep. Cumming’s needs to pony up more cash if he expects the Academy to recruit top candidates who can with stand the rigor without a corresponding decrease in academy standards. If you look at the Academy’s wish list they need the basics like a new pool and a shooting range.
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Son had offers from Air Force and Westpoint, so we actually toured the Westpoint campus. It was huge and very well funded. We really checked out the multi-level sports building which had (2) olympic sized pools, (2) free weight rooms each the size of an entire Chase floor, and so much more. The weight plates even had "Westpoint" emblazed on every single one. But as I was talking with my son, we both knew that the academy is not his end game. He had enough fortitude to realize his career long-term and what he wanted to do with his education from the CGA (which didn't include living on campus for the next 50 years and enjoying the weight room).

It's hard for young kids to see past the bells and whistles of some of these other SA's, and it's certainly hard for me as a new USCGA mom to see the CG being treated like the red-headed step child in the funding department. I'm sure the frustration of the CGA administrators is huge, but I hope they are encouraged that some of these kids who choose the CGA can see well into their futures serving as a CG officers, and that the actual academy part is very short lived.

Please forgive me for detouring from the original poster's topic. -officer
 
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