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USCG Enlisted to Officer Commissioning Programs
The U.S. Coast Guard offers Enlisted servicemembers several
ways to earn a  commission
and join the Officer Corps. The following are descriptions of each
of the Coast Guard Enlisted to Officer Programs:
The U.S. Coast Guard Academy
Pre-commissioning Program for Enlisted Personnel
Officer Candidate School (OCS)
Coast Guard Direct Commission
Programs
The
U.S. Coast Guard Academy
The U.S. Coast Guard Academy is unique among the service academies
in that we educate the leaders of a humanitarian force. The United
States Coast Guard is the oldest life-saving service in the world.
As a commissioned officer in the Coast Guard, you will be leading
a force of men and women who are continually called on to serve
their community, country and fellow citizens.
Admission to the Academy is based on nationwide competition. An
average of 290 students enter the Academy each year out of approximately
6,000 applicants. Midyear students are not accepted. The student
body, known as the Corps of Cadets, consists of approximately 850
cadets made up of approximately 30 percent women and 20 percent
members of minority groups, plus international students representing
various countries.
Any young American who is eligible may apply. You are eligible if
you are:
A U.S. citizen
Unmarried with no dependents or financial debt
17-22 years of age (you may not be 23 by 1 July of the year of
entry)
A High School graduate
To Apply Online:
The USCGA application for the Class of 2009 will be available
online later this spring. The application form is accessed through
a secured server. When you submit your application, the data will
be transferred in an encrypted format. Only those persons at the
Academy responsible for processing and reviewing your application
will have access to the information you provide.
The application is free so apply
now! The application for the class starting in the summer of
2005 will be available soon.
Pre-Commissioning Program for Enlisted Personnel
(PPEP)
PPEP is an outstanding opportunity for top performing enlisted
personnel to complete their Bachelor’s degree, attend Officer
Candidate School (OCS), and receive a Coast Guard Commission.
The Coast Guard will pay all tuition, books, and lab fees in addition
to regular pay and allowances.
Upon graduation, you will attend OCS. Once you
graduate OCS you will receive a Commission in the Coast Guard at
the rank of Ensign. You may be assigned to a ship, flight school,
or an operations ashore billet. However, first assignments are based
on the needs of the Coast Guard. Your personal desires and performance
are considered. .
To be eligible you must:
- Be at least 21 years of age, but not have reached their 30th
birthday as of the date of the selection panel.
- Have at least 4 years active service in any military branch.
At least two of those years must have been with the Coast Guard.
- Provide a qualifying score on the SAT, ACT, or ASVAB.
- SAT: Combined score of 1100 on math and
verbal
- ACT: Composite score of 23
- ASVAB: A score of 110 on the General Technical
portion. This score is a combination of Arithmetic Reasoning
(AR) and Verbal Ability (VE).
- Provide Official transcripts from all colleges and universities
attended are required.
- Have a minimum Grade Point Average (GPA) of 2.5 on a 4.0 scale.
- Applicants must be able to complete Bachelor degree requirements
within a 24-month window.
- The applicant must submit a letter of acceptance from the
school they plan to attend as well as a degree outline.
Note: Waivers are not granted for these requirements.
To apply:
You should speak to your ESO for application details, deadlines
and the required PPEP
forms and program requirements.
Officer
Candidate School (OCS)
OCS is a rigorous seventeen-week course of instruction which prepares
candidates to serve effectively as officers in the United States
Coast Guard. In addition to indoctrinating students into a military
life-style, OCS also provides a wide range of highly technical
information necessary for performing the duties of a Coast Guard
officer.
When you graduate from the program you will receive a commission
in the Coast Guard at the rank of Ensign and are required to serve
a minimum of three years of active duty. You may be assigned to
a ship, flight training, to a staff job, or to an operations ashore
billet. However, first assignments are based on the needs of the
US Coast Guard. Your personal desires and performance at OCS are
considered.
To be eligible you must:
- Be between the ages of 21 and 26. Applicants may exceed this
age limit by the number of months, up to 60, served on active
duty in any Armed Forces branch.
- Provide a release from all other service obligations prior
to entering the Coast Guard. (If applying from another Armed
Forces Service)
- Be United States citizen
- Provide a qualifying score on the SAT, ACT, or ASVAB. No waivers
will be considered.
- Minimum qualifying scores are as follows:
- SAT: combined score 1000 on verbal and math
- SAT 1: combined 1100 on verbal and math
- ACT: 23
- ASVAB: 110 on ASVAB General Technical Aptitude Area
A full medical screening will be conducted in accordance
with your application.
- Active duty Coast Guard personnel E-5 and above with at least
four years of active duty in any Armed Forces have different
educational qualifications. Contact your unit Educational Service
Officer.
To Apply:
You should speak to your ESO for application details, deadlines and the required OCS
Forms and program information.
Direct Commissioning Program
The Coast Guard has opportunities for people with special training
and skills to become Coast Guard officers through direct commissions
in the following fields
Aviator
Engineer
Environmental Manager
Intelligence
Lawyer
You will have the privilege of being a Coast Guard officer from
the outset. No boot camp. DCOs are required to complete a 3-5 week
course, depending on their past military experience. For completely
new personnel, the 5-week course includes a rigorous military indoctrination
period during which trainees will be expected to meet strict standards
of conduct, uniform appearance, and military bearing.
You will receive an active duty contract for a period of three years.
After which, you may apply for extensions. Based on experience,
education and qualifications, selected applicants will either be
commissioned as a Lieutenant (junior grade) or Ensign in the Coast
Guard Reserve. If you elect to remain in the Coast Guard after your
original three-year contract, you may integrate into the regular
Coast Guard after selection for Lieutenant.
To Apply you must:
- Be at least 21 and less than 34 years old as of 30 September
during the year the panel convenes.
- Have a bachelor's degree or higher in Architecture, Communications
Engineering, Computer Engineering, Computer Science, Command
and Control, Electrical Engineering, Electronics Engineering,
Engineering Management, Engineering, Information Technology,
Industrial Management, Information Resource Management, Information
Technology Management, Marine Engineering, Mechanical Engineering,
Network Engineering, Naval Engineering, Naval architecture,
Software Engineering, Systems Engineering, Telecommunications
Engineering, and Telecommunications Management.
- Not be an officer on active duty in any other U.S. Armed Service.
- You can, however, apply while on active duty, provided you
submit a statement from your service indicating an approved
release date.
- Pass a Coast Guard Pre-commissioning physical.
- Be a U.S. Citizen.
- Be able to perform unrestricted service on a 24-hour, 7-day-per-week
basis.
Contact your Coast Guard Recruiter to get more information.
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