<p>My son has received an Appointment to both CGA and USNA. They were the only two he applied to. What are your thoughts for choosing one over the other?</p>
<p>I think an important statistic is that after graduation and the required 5 yr contract agreement, Something like 85 % of the CG Academy graduate re-enlist. The naval academy re-up # is something like 15-20%. I feel that reflects job satisfaction and quality of life, and upward mobility for CG Officers. Also consider the future of the CG [Homeland Security]. While the other services have experienced cuts in funding, the CG is due to receive more ships and more homeland defense responsibility. Hopefully that translates into more opportunities to command. Just some thoughts your son might want to consider.
Good Luck</p>
<p>While ultimately, there is more time spent in the service AFTER the Academy, look at the size of school. Is your student a big school person, or would he fit in better in a small school? Look at the possible places to be stationed after the Academy--all over the world, or closer to home?</p>
<p>I feel that the biggest consideration is size. Both are located in historic cities, both produce officers for sea-going services, and both graduate top notch men and women. I would say that Navy is more difficult to get into if you live on the eastern seaboard or west coast, but much more diffiult if you live the mid-west, deepsouth, or far north. That said, the quality of education is very similar. One thing to note is that now is the best time in history to join the Coast Guard. Four years ago I was gung-ho Navy, but I took a 180 and decided that the Coast Guard is really the better option for three reasons. First and foremost is money and assets. Under Homeland security, the Coast Guard i literally hemoraging money. Before, they coulddn't afford new assets, and now they are overhauling the entire fleet with super modern multi-task cutters under the Integrated Deepwater systems. Overseas travel is more available in the Coast Guard, and the Coast Guard has a very good record for paying for graduate school</p>
<p>The academics at CGA is more demanding I would say. Even though Navy has a higher Engineering ranking, at the CGA you can not fly under the radar, there's always constant academic pressure on you (One of Princeton review's schools where students never stop studying) </p>
<p>However, the alumni connection one has when graduating from the naval academy is undeniable. Although (arguably) the USAFA and the USCGA are the two emerging service acadmies of the future, and WP and USNA are considered to be on the decline and some consider them a 2nd rate school (and only thrive b/c they're living off of their name) the Harsh reality is some times the 'name' of the school is important. </p>
<p>You also have to consider what your son wants to do when he graduates? - This i believe should be the deciding factor, b/c The acadmeis all have pros and cons which all make the unique and none better than the other</p>
<p>Thanks to all of you for your comments. He has a tough decision in front of him and I believe needs all the input he can get.</p>
<p>plrs </p>
<p>what does your son want to do in the military? </p>
<p>the CG is unique in that it's the only service which is allowed to arrest people, a great majority of CGA graduates considered a career in law inforcement. The bad thing about the CGA is that once you graduate (unless you're at the top of your class) you will most likeley only have two options, A deck watch officer, or an engineering officer in training. You must serve under one of these two branches first before you can apply for other branches such as aviation, etc </p>
<p>They navy had a greater selection - Militarty intelligence, Engineering, Submarines, Marines, etc.... Also the Navy has a strong/tight/historical alumni connection that cannot be denied.</p>
<p>Well, he chose Navy and I'm still a fan of CGA. But, it's his education and future. One of his friends made the best observation for comparing the two; one that I thought would sway him back to the CGA. That was that the CGA and the CG was/is the only service academy that directly and exclusively serves and protects the US Citizens - all the time.</p>
<p>It's my understanding few graduates get into military intelligence right out of the naval academy. Oddly enough at the USNA website, under the Restricted Line and Staff Corps.... it states....Midshipmen who are "not physically qualified" to serve in the warfare areas but who can be commissioned as active duty officers can choose from a wide variety of alternatives........, Restricted line and staff corps officers may choose careers in the fields of intelligence, cryptology........,</p>
<p>The website sort of makes it sound like these are the people that don't cut it for warfare fields. </p>
<p>Another important thing to remember about the CGA and a normal career pattern is: It is possible and likely that as a LT you could be the CO of a boat. Opportunities for command will come sooner for a Coast Guard Officer than a Naval Officer. </p>
<p>One of the reasons I chose the CGA over the Naval Academy is because of my desire to possibly work with the Intelligence Community. Quite a few future cadets have stated the same at the CGA 2009 website. Since the CG's responsibilities and duties have increased since 9-11 and being in the Dept. of Homeland Security, it's a definite possibilty. </p>
<p>Yes you can't deny the naval academy alumni connection, The naval academy is quite famous for that. However, I have already met and have been contacted by quite a few the CGA Alumni, granted the CGA Alumni Association isn't as big as the Naval Academy alumni association, but it is just as strong & tight. </p>
<p>I am still taken by the fact that so many CGA graduates make a career out of the CG. Maybe, there isn't much talk about their civilian networking because they are happy staying in the CG, for twenty or thirty years. </p>
<p>My father (retired Navy) said something the other night I felt really put things in perspective: The Navy spends most of it's time practicing and preparing for war whereas the Coast Guard performs what it's trained for every day at any given post. </p>
<p>plrs: I really like the way you put it: The CG directly and exclusively serves and protects US citzens- all the time.</p>
<p>Some important questions are:... Where do you hope to be 5-10 years from now? Are you looking for a career or just a "Knocker" ? Are you hoping to make a difference or just be part of an association? Most of all: Will you love what you do or just serve your time?</p>
<p>Regardless: Both academies offer incredible opportunities, it all depends on you own motivation and discipline. </p>
<p>Good Luck plrs & son!</p>
<p>Coast Guard is the "Brown Water Navy"</p>
<p>Nice one Amandrew. I have heard more than that. Boy scouts of the sea, shallow water sallows, bay watch, hooligan navy. The Coast Guard doesn't get the proper respect in my opinion.</p>
<p>However, check this. My dad served four years right out of high school cause he got bad grades in school. He chose telephone technician (no longer exists) as his specialty because it was either that or in the middle of the atlantic at a radio station. His college was paid for (though he only pursued an associates degree) and now he is the regional Director for all Siemens telecommunications in the Midwest starting from Texas to the whole east coast living in the top tax bracket.</p>
<p>Still in telephones. Maybe that is why the coast guard has such a low retention rate among enlisted, the career opportunites after service.</p>
<p>However, the CG is coming up in terms of its notoriety. They are now all over the world as the world's premier port security force, the Navy doesn't train for that. Also, the CG is very close to the FBI, CIA, and DEA. There are some amazing intelligence jobs available post service.</p>
<p>The Navy does hold more prestige, but that isn't everything. I too wil be making the difficult decision, but I at least put it in perspective.</p>
<p>I would just like to take issue with tbby2's comment, even though this is an dead topic. There is no way to say that USMA or USNA are 2nd Rate Schools. Check out the number of Rhodes and Marshall Scholars coming out of there, the entering class profiles, even the winner of last seasons Apprentice, for God's sake. The Academies are all phenomenal schools, some of them with a more deep rooted history, but I can't see the argument here; if anything ,USMA has gotten much more difficult to get into, despite the fact that every day, soldiers are being lost to enemy action in Iraq. Bottom line: there is no "harsh reality." The reality is that the USMA and USNA have gotten tougher to get into and that they are producing some great officers who have been doing a superb job in a new and unbelievably complex war. The aforementioned post was simply a completely baseless statement.</p>
<p>I never said that the acadmies were a 2nd rate school. All 5 acadmies are as good as you can get in Engineering. </p>
<p>My harsh reality statement was refering to the USNA's prestige compared to the USCGA, although they are both service acadmies with excellent engineering programs, the HARSH REALITY I was refering to was in reality the Naval academy does hold prestige due to it's 'name' over the CGA does. in the real world the 'name' of a school does mean alot in the post-military job market. </p>
<p>the 2nd rate school comment was mention b/c of the constant conflicts that the service academies had. They want to boost their stats, and also get the top kids in the nation. at the same time they would like officers in the miltiary for 10-20 years, but the point is, the caliber students who do get an apopintment usually five and fly (do their 5 years and get out). the acadmeis have had trouble determining who really wants to be in the military and serve, rather than just get the degree. They want the top kids in the nation but usualyl (not always) the top quality kids are the ones who want to get out and make money. </p>
<p>Some people consider the older military acadmies, not so much USNA but I've heard people talk about USMA in the same breath with Cornell, although they are very traditionally prestigious schools, they are considered on the decline (educaion quality etc) one of those schools where every wants to go to for the sake of the name, not so much the education. They are falling behind some of the more cutting edge schools such as USAFA. </p>
<p>I am purley taking about the quality of the school on an education level. on the military side, yes if you want to be an officer in the united states military, there is no better place to be than the 5 service academies, and they do a great job training them and they are doing a great job overseas</p>
<p>I made those comments on a purely Academic point of view, however in the grand scheme of things, I believe the academies teach you more than just science and the humanities, it teaches you life lessons that are priceless. </p>
<p>Other schools do not teach you how to be part of a team, how to lead a team and how to depend and trust your team mates. </p>
<p>If you put everything that the military aspect into focus with the academics, the acadmies I believe gives one THE best education, not just in acadmiecs but in life</p>