COAST GUARD VS. OTHER ACADEMIES || Similarities? Differences? Things to Consider 

Erin, I am an AD Senior Chief in the Navy. You are an impressive young woman and I love how you share your faith. I pray my 13 year old son might be inspired by your journey.

This is a fine video. I found it extremely helpful as I am a brand new USCGA admissions partner. I especially like how the USCGA's early action admissions helped one cadet galvanize her decision. Well done Erin.

60 year old prior Coast Guard enlisted. I wish your channel was there when my oldest decided to go Army. I tried to talk her into going Coast Guard, but granddad was Army and that's what she wanted to do. (Didn't help that she would get sea sick out there, so I guess she made the right decision). Love your channel, love your frank and honest delivery, you are definitely an asset to the USCG and thank you for your service and the videos. Gonna watch some more. Godspeed to you and yours. ✌

Hey Erin! I’m a junior in HS in FL and in Sea Cadets, I’m about to make Chief in the program and through it have learned the USNA and CGA are my dream schools! I got into the USNA Summer Seminar, I have applied to the Summer Leaders Experience but have not heard back. AIM was the program I really wanted to go to (and it looks like the only in person one right now!) but I had prior commitments on the dates the sessions were happening. I’m sad that it’s going to be virtual but very excited that I was selected! Your videos are so helpful, please keep making them! It’s great to hear from a girl, and a Christian, that I can relate to! Thank you for all you do! :)

I truly think you are offering fantastic information to those making a decision. I am a USN Veteran and made deployments on Aircraft Carriers. Keep up the good work.

Really good video, especially liked the interviews with the cadets who had done exchange semesters.

Great job Erin and the other cadets! Thank you for putting out these videos. You asked about who your viewers are, some of us are parents of current cadets. I’m 4/c Soca’s mom. Your channel was circulated around some of our Facebook parent groups. Love your weekly videos!

This is a great video Erin, thanks for putting it together and especially for bringing in the exchange cadet input. Well done!

Great video, well done. I was really impressed by you and everyone in the video. Seeing all the midshipmen with such decent values and humility, gives me hope for the future of our armed services.

I’m a grandfather that’s proud of people like you. Tks for letting us into your journey

A/D U.S. Navy here. Love your videos, keep them coming!

Thank you for making theses videos I love them!! I’m a 8th grader but I’ve wanted to go to the coast guard academy since I was in 4th grade

Great job Erin! Perfect for young people who are making decisions. Have a great day.

Erin - thank you for making this video! My son is at AIM now, and I fly up to meet him Friday. He attended USNA and USAFA Summer Seminars last month and is in the middle of the application process now. I appreciate your faith, and this is a key factor in my son's decision as well. I sincerely appreciate each viewpoint expressed in the video, and look forward to what the future holds.

I was in the Navy and was curious how the Coast Guard operated as well! One of my former mentors was in the Coast Guard back in the 1970s really tried pushing me to go USCG over USN but I feel honestly both are similar in a bunch of ways but different in a bunch of ways too. I've also met a handful of people who were in the US Marines then jumped to the USCG afterward so they can have that military feel still and also stay in the USA too. Love your channel and keep up the content!

Just got back from AIM, it was awesome!! Happy to see this on my recommendations

I'm a freshman at Massachusetts Maritime Academy, hoping to commission into the Coast Guard when I graduate

new camera quality likeeeeee 😍

Former Coast Guardsman - 2/C Aviation Survivalman (now AST) 1975 to 1984. My 9 years in the CG was the foundation the rest of my career was built on. Retired in 2007 as a Supervisory Special Agent with the Dept of Homeland Security. The CG was my first step in a long career. Next month my Grand Niece leaves for Cape May to start her career taking the same first step I did. Unbelievably proud 😎 Seeing men and women like you embracing the life of a Coast Guardsman gives this old Coastie hope that America still has good days ahead ! Bravo Zulu Erin ! Never lose the enthusiasm you have now and good luck in the Fleet !

Erins advise is excellent. Its all about the 5+ years of service.

Excellent video!!

Hey there in four days I start to go to a boarding school I realized a couple months ago that I wanted to go to the Coast Guard Academy and I needed to prepare for that by getting my grades up so I very thoroughly looked into boarding schools and found the one that I love in Massachusetts I am very excited to spend four years of my life at this boarding school and apply to the Coast Guard Academy and see what happens next thanks for all your awesome videos they’re great to watch

Ex-Army infantry......keep up the great work.

Hi!! I’m a junior in high school looking to go to the academy. Thank you so much for making these videos they’re so helpful:))

I am 70 and worked as a project manager on a large contract developing technology for buoy placement by buoy tenders. I had a couple of very interesting experiences including a technology trial out of Hampton, VA during an overnight up the James River. On the way back we had a steering failure in front of a large cargo ship. Chaos reigned but the Captain was calm and returned steering to the aft hydraulic station and the engineer steered the ship blindly while the captain and navigator provided heading. Quite a time. We had a number of projects at the Coast Guard facility at the UConn maritime center and I got to enjoy the hospitality of the CGA.

Great video. One thing i missed was upon graduation and get sent to the fleet Coast Guard bases are smaller much smaller and many are located in tiny little 2 stop ;ight towns.

I'm a cg reservist with 21 years of military service I'm preparing to retire from the Coast Guard reserves next spring maybe sooner. I did 7 years in the army and deployed twice to combat in Afghanistan. Great video

Well done vid

Retired US Army Master Sergeant never thought of the Coast Guard when I joined.

I'm 68 and Retired US Army(Served 4 yrs Marine Corps then 16 in Army) It is refreshing to see the different views and reasons each person has for joining the military(and their branch) It is hard to know what you want out of life at 17/18 much less work for that goal from back in Jr/Middle High School. Wonder what the percent of Home Schooled are in the different Military Academies?

Semper Paratus shipmate! I can see you being a great officer.

It was so nice meeting you thanks for stopping by. Would love to stay in touch.

Army, Air Force, Navy and Marine Corps 2nd Lieutenants/Ensigns must first attend their job specialty/branch course straight out of Academy/OCS to learn their specific basic job skills (armor, aviation, logistics, etc). The exception to that are some Navy career fields like surface warfare officer, where you just report to a ship and learn On The Job (OJT). In the Coast Guard, unless you’re assigned to aviation school, you’re going to an operational unit to learn OJT and rotate around departments to learn all the skills. As for me, I am prior Air Force enlisted, where I worked as a communications/navigations systems technician on C-17 cargo aircraft. After 6 years there, I chose to volunteer with the Civil Air Patrol, where I worked as a Cadet Programs Officer, Emergency Services Officer, Group Recruiting Officer and a Squadron Commander. I did that for almost 8 years, then chose a new challenge in the Coast Guard Auxiliary at Station New York where I primarily work in Recreational Boating Safety and Environmental Outreach, as well as supporting the Logistics Department and CGPD at Sector NY. At 43, I’m a bit of a youngin in the Auxiliary, but we’re changing that.

I am a 72 yeart ol Air force veteran, an I greqatly appreciate abd resoect what you are doing

Retired from the Canadian Coast Guard with 25+ years of service, including the Canadian Coast Guard College (Officer Training Plan, marine engineering). It was all good fun interrupted occasionally by moments of shear terror!

Enjoyed the perspective of 2022 CGA in several of your videos. This from an Academy Grad, Aviator, MS Degree (CG Sponsored), and Acquisition Manager. Post-CG Consultant.

Hola, I am 32 y/o female. Got discharged from boot camp for X reasons from Hotel 199 last year. I am aiming to go back this year, just started the process of re-enlistment. The goal is CS; A School. Love your videos. Keep it up. God Bless. Btw I am from Puerto Rico. 🇵🇷

I was part of C/O 2001. But was released on a medical. Thank you for making these videos. I like to share them with my daughter to encourage her to embrace a life of adventure. The Space Force academy is where the future lies though! Bc CG is not in Space (YET!!!) (she would be class of 39! or 40!)

The algorithm works in weird ways. I'm a West Point grad '84 and my brother is a Navy grad '77. I've met many grads from all the academies during my professional work and all I have to say is that if you choose to go to any Academy you will get an education unlike anything in civilian education system. You will be challenged and tested. You will become a far more confident person in the end. The people that choose to serve are the kind of people are for the most part smart and motivated. I still remember the Coastie that spent a semester in my Company at West Point. He was a blast. Keep up the good work I really enjoyed the video for the most part except when some one actually had the audacity to say "Beat Army." ( Note the sarcasm. ) Beat Navy!

I’m an international cadet applicant so still waiting to hear back from the academy. The waiting is getting to me 😅

Excellent video Erin. I am CGA Class of 1966. My Class had only a General Engineering curriculum, and when we graduated, we all went to sea for a year. Then either flight school, or a year as CO on a 95-footer then a year in Vietnam. Our training prepared us well be competent officers. I eventually became a programmer at age 43 and still program today. Today's CGA Cadets are fortunate to have 9 majors. If I were a Cadet today I would choose Operations Research or Cybersecurity. I originally had hoped to attend West Point but had no congressiinal connections. I liked that (was the same in 1962 as now) that CGA Appointments were all competitive. I took the (then) specific 1.5 CGA competitive exam as part of 60 men in Louisville. After the exam, I thought there

Retired Coast Guard Reservist (SK then BM) with 24 years including six years active. Assigned to MSO/MSU in Huntington WV, Pittsburgh PA and Port Arthur TX.. Inland rivers work is a different environment than ocean patrols( tenders and response boats) but you go home at the end of the day, most of the time, unless you’re on a bouy tender.

I’m through college already and I’m actually in the process of enlisting in the Coast Guard right now

I'm a junior in high school that dreams of attending USCGA when I graduate! We find out if we were accepted into AIM in a few days. Very anxious but excited to know!

Grew up near West Point (USMA), and really wanted to go there after high school. Grew up in a military family so I generally knew about each branch and each academy. Senior year I found out about the coast guard academy. Really fell in love with the branch. Ultimately God had other plans for me, and I’ve been in the Air National Guard ever since. But my guard base is near West Point. However, my best friend lives in new London and I visit the CGA anytime I’m out there. Such a lovely small campus. Anyway, as a recruiter for the air National guard the one thing I’ve noticed is how each branch has a vastly different culture. Something to take into account. I always tell my applicants, If I had to rank the branches. I’d put Air Force and coast guard tied for #1. But actually I believe the coast guard is actually greater than all the branches. Anytime I meet applicants at meps who are going CG, I always tell them they made the best decision. If we are strictly speaking about the academies. Each academy offers something different. Each is beautiful and has their own unique culture. Coast guard is by far the most beautiful, or possibly tied with West Point for that. Air Force is massive. I was vacationing in Colorado and visited it. The size is incomparable. Acres of land. Everything is soooo far apart. As an academy I don’t think it’s that beautiful. As many said in this video, think about the end game. Think about the quality of life, and what that branch can offer you in terms of opportunities. To include post-military opportunities if you decide to leave the military before 20 years.

My daughter just graduated USCGA Class of 2021!

Just to let you know if you didnt...I went to Western Illinois University. We are the only non military school to be able to use the USMC anchor and to be called The Fighting Leathernecks. I'm not military but we alums say that with pride.

Gadzuks isnt there another Service Academy? I think the woman wearing the "secretaries cup" t shirt has a reference to it. I attended that academy and the USCGA was our big football rival so surprised it did not show up. My background: Enlisted USAF, got out, went to USMMA, aborted that for various reasons, got a commission through another door, retired USAF as 06 with 33 years service. Best of luck in your career...as a wise old Chief once told me about handling troops, "Be consistent, Be fair." and God Bless.

I’m a rising freshman in high school, I am a CAP cadet and am interested in the Coast Guard Academy.

38, Bering Sea Commercial Fisherman. I love the coast guard, our angels. The prices fell out fishing not working. My next chapter, I'm gong to save my brother on the see, in gonna be the angel

Army vet here. We love our little coastie siblings.

2nd year of college at a private Christian college prusing vocational ministry. However i originally eanted to go into the Navy

High school junior here 😂 got myself into some leadership positions , I'm the band lieutenant in my school marching band (logistics officer effectively) . Is that good to put on an application to these schools?

Navy Veteran. Recently joined CGAUX

Active Duty army enlisted.

BZ US Coast Guard Auxiliary Div 6

Coast guard all the way former coast guard stationed in Juno Alaska

Former Navy. You do some very cute and sweet videos.

any advice for high schoolers and how to prepare?

Former Member USCG Aux

I was watching a interview one time with one of the coast guard commandant years ago, I forget which one. The reporter asked the commandant why we needed a Coast Guard Academy when we had a Navy Academy. What was the difference that we needed both. The commandant said because ALL of our graduates WILL go to sea. The Navy Academy can't say the same thing. That has always stuck with me.

"You may need to take a life" did we forget about the AFSOC PJ's?

I was in the Coast Guard during the Reagan administration , A different ball game all together, We were a Search and destroy with extreme leathel Force hunter killer task force , 🌊🌊🌴🇺🇸🌊🌊♥️‼️

Ex-Air Force. I had appointments to USAFA, USCGA, and USMMA. I appreciate that you included interviews with students who each spent a semester at USMA, USAFA, or USNA. I like what the USMA exchange student said: I thought I was in shape; I wasn't.

But I always wanted to go to a service academy

Retired CG Chief! Make us proud.....

Is there anything specific you would recommend getting involved in to build my resume? I am hoping to apply next year for the Class of 2027.

A correction to your statement about the Coast Guard not being part of the military. The President of the USA, in a time of national emergency (ie. such as in WW 2), can transfer the Coast Guard's assets, human and otherwise, to the Navy. So, not immune from taking lives in defense of the nation. Also, interdicting drug smugglers is another example of potential self defense of Coast Guard personnel.

My son said the Coast Guard Academy had the best food..he has been to USNA, VMI and USCGA, he is awaiting to hear the decision......

Thank you Coast Guards for the doughnuts, they are delicious. From Mariner

I am a former cost guardsmen. enlisted in 1966. loved most of it. Boot camp was a B*$#@ in those days. Went to GM. school in Groton and served in Nam on the USCGC Klamath WHEC66. Your life looks much different than when I was active. Later. Guns

Old-Salt here (QM, FC USCG Aux, USCG Pipe Band), I must disagree with one aspect of your presentation. At any given time there are one or more cutters embedded in a Navy Fleet (Shhh, 'cause there is stuff the CG can do that the Navy can't) so there are chances to make a foreign port. There are 11 Costies assigned to Her Royal Navy to ensure that the assets are sea-worthy. At one time there were as many as 500 Costies doing port security in Kuwait. Got to love SAR's out of Bermuda. South American ports of call are becoming more usual especially if you are doing a six month deployment in the South Pacific and your homeport is in Miami. And don't forget your sun-soaked cruses to the North and South Pole and the Kiddie Cruise.

Ex-Coast Guard, thank you

You forgot about the US Merchant Marine Academy

Thank you for having this RU-vid Channel. I am interested in pointing my granddaughter toward the Coast Guard Academy (Department of Homeland Security). Her name is Leeanne Rory Nolen. She lives in San Antonio, Texas 78247. She is seven years old, a good student, and a good athlete. So, I wait and hope.

former military

Wheres USMMA???

Class of 86

What about the US maritime academy? Did you consider it when preparing this video?

Mom of a Class of 2020

7 grade

I don't know...this video was filled with a lot of kids who sounded like they settled to be a Coastguardmen but really wanted to be at one of the bigger service academies. That one kid with the Navy shirt on while sitting in a coast guard academy dorm was cringeworthy.

coast guard is dod and home land security

College Reapplicant

Parent of a 10 year old male ❤ Army Vet

Coastguardsmen are never in a position to take a life??? Really. Not in my experience with drug interdictio, smuggling, etc.

You forgot to mention USMMA!

You left out USMMA?

How you going to forget USMMA when we disrespect you in football every single year?

Wear point is the only United States Military Academy

I’m a high school jr

Channel is a joke. Forgot 5th Academy...USMMA [United States Merchant Marine Academy @ Kings Point].