Swab Summer
Encyclopedia
The United States Coast Guard Academy
's Swab Summer is a seven-week initiation through which all Cadets are required to pass. It is the Academy's boot camp. Swab Summer is a unique nickname for the program at the Coast Guard comparable to Cadet Basic Training (Beast Barracks) at the United States Military Academy
and Plebe Summer at the United States Naval Academy
.
The program is intended to emphasize the principles of follower-ship, teamwork, seamanship and military life. It also introduces Cadets to the Coast Guard core values of Honor, Respect, and Devotion to Duty. During the summer, Swabs are both physically and mentally tested. They will run obstacle courses, complete ropes course challenges, and of course do numerous pushups. However, Swabs will also have to be able to learn indoctrination and Coast Guard History extremely quickly, all under the watchful eye of their cadre. Swab Summer is run by 2nd class Cadets (Cadets entering their Junior year) who themselves had just experienced Swab Summer two years prior. These cadre are personally trained on how to lead a boot camp by the Cape May Company Commanders (The men and women who run Coast Guard Enlisted Boot Camp), and are tested themselves during the 100 Week Program to see if they are ready to train the incoming Swabs. At the end of the six weeks, Cadets also spend a week sailing aboard the Academy's cutter USCGC Eagle
, the only tall ship in America's active forces.
United States Coast Guard Academy
Founded in 1876, the United States Coast Guard Academy is the military academy of the United States Coast Guard. Located in New London, Connecticut, it is the smallest of the five federal service academies...
's Swab Summer is a seven-week initiation through which all Cadets are required to pass. It is the Academy's boot camp. Swab Summer is a unique nickname for the program at the Coast Guard comparable to Cadet Basic Training (Beast Barracks) at the United States Military Academy
United States Military Academy
The United States Military Academy at West Point is a four-year coeducational federal service academy located at West Point, New York. The academy sits on scenic high ground overlooking the Hudson River, north of New York City...
and Plebe Summer at the United States Naval Academy
United States Naval Academy
The United States Naval Academy is a four-year coeducational federal service academy located in Annapolis, Maryland, United States...
.
The program is intended to emphasize the principles of follower-ship, teamwork, seamanship and military life. It also introduces Cadets to the Coast Guard core values of Honor, Respect, and Devotion to Duty. During the summer, Swabs are both physically and mentally tested. They will run obstacle courses, complete ropes course challenges, and of course do numerous pushups. However, Swabs will also have to be able to learn indoctrination and Coast Guard History extremely quickly, all under the watchful eye of their cadre. Swab Summer is run by 2nd class Cadets (Cadets entering their Junior year) who themselves had just experienced Swab Summer two years prior. These cadre are personally trained on how to lead a boot camp by the Cape May Company Commanders (The men and women who run Coast Guard Enlisted Boot Camp), and are tested themselves during the 100 Week Program to see if they are ready to train the incoming Swabs. At the end of the six weeks, Cadets also spend a week sailing aboard the Academy's cutter USCGC Eagle
USCGC Eagle (WIX-327)
The is a barque used as a training cutter for future officers of the United States Coast Guard. She is one of only two active commissioned sailing vessels in American military service, the other being the USS Constitution....
, the only tall ship in America's active forces.