Coast Guard College Student PreCommissioning Initiative

Coast Guard College Student PreCommissioning InitiativeCoast Guard College Student PreCommissioning InitiativeMany people wonder if the Coast Guard has an ROTC program, as do the other military branches. The answer is no. The Coast Guard has an Officer Candidate School, and an Academy, as do the other services, but no ROTC program. What they do have, some might think is a better deal than ROTC The Coast Guard College Student Pre-Commissioning Initiative, or CSPI. Under this program, college sophomores can receive active duty pay at the rate of E-3, as well as a scholarship for their junior and senior year. Upon graduation, candidates attend the 17 week Coast Guard Officer Candidate School and are commissioned as an ensign. After commission, they must remain on active duty for at least three years. Sounds like a pretty good deal, right? Two years of college scholarship, two years of enlisted pay, and a commission, all in exchange for three years of active duty. How can you beat that? Well, there are a couple of catches, which well discuss in a bit. But first, a little bit about the program Program Overview The CSPI is a Coast Guard scholarship program for college sophomores (apply as a sophomore, started the program as a junior). The program provides a monthly salary, full tuition, some fees, and the cost of some books during the students junior and senior year. Members in the program must attend enlisted basic training, and participate in various Coast Guard training events throughout the duration of the program. During their junior year, CSPI students attend the Officer Indoctrination School at the Coast Guard Academy or receive on-the-job training at various Coast Guard operational units. Upon graduation, members are guaranteed the opportunity to attend Coast Guard OCS. If the applicant graduates from OCS he/she is commissioned as an ensign in the United States Coast Guardand is obligated to complete at least three years of active duty. Eligibility Re quirements Score 1000 on the SAT, 1100 on the SAT I, 23 on the ACT, or ASVAB GT of 109 or higherBe between 19 and 27 (applicants must have reached their 19th birthday, but notlage their 28th birthday as of 30 September of the fiscal year in which the panel convenes.)Must be a sophomore or junior (with at least 60 college credits completed toward your degree)Enrolled in a four-year degree program at an approved institution with a minimum 25% minority populationMust be able to complete a bachelors degree within 24 months after entry into the program Must not be a conscientious objectorMeet all physical requirements for a Coast Guard CommissionMaintain a GPA of 2.5 or betterMust be a U.S. CitizenMust be able to obtain a Secret security clearanceDependency - If single, may not have sole or primary custody of dependents.If married, may not have more than 2 dependents (your spouse is considered your dependent, regardless of military status).Financial - Must meet all financial obligations , and not have a debt to income ratio in excess of 30% ratio of debt to projected income at applicants accession level (i.e. at the E-3 level). Benefits Full tuition, some or all of textbook costs and approved fees paid for two yearsMonthly salary of E-3 payMedical ( Tricare ) coverage and Servicemembers Group Life Insurance30 days paid leave (vacation) per year Whats the Catch? College/University Applicants must be a sophomore or junior undergraduate student enrolled or accepted for enrollment in a bachelor degree program at an accredited college or university designated as Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU)Hispanic-Serving Institutions (HSI)Tribal Colleges and Universities (TCU)The following colleges and universities located in Guam, Hawaii, and Alaska- University of Guam- The University of Hawaii at Manoa, Hilo, and West Oahu- Argosy University - Hawaii- Institute of American Indian and Alaska Native Culture Online Degrees Online degrees do not qualify f or CSPI - however, individuals attending an online institution may apply if they have acquired a four-year institutions acceptance to earn their undergraduate degree. Foreign Degrees Applicants possessing an associates degree conferred by a foreign school are required to include in their application a course-by-course assessment from an organization such as Education Credential Evaluators, in addition to the inclusion of the translation of their degree (if in a language other than English). Case-by-Case Consideration Coast Guard Recruiting Command may consider, on a case-by-case basis, schools not included in the above description that has had a minority student population averaging at least 50% of the total student enrollment for the past three years. In order to be approved, the applicant must be currently attending that school. Service Obligation. In order to enroll in the program, you must enlist as an E-3 in the Coast Guard with a four-year active dutyenlistment contract, and a four-year inactive reserves duty obligation. Like all anfangsbuchstabe accessions, your total military obligated service is a total of eight years. Whatever portion of that time is not spent on active duty is spent in the IRR (Individual Ready Reserves). For example, if you spend two years in the program, then three years as a commissioned officer on active duty, and elect to separate, you are then placed in the IRR for the next three years (total of eight years), and can berecalled to active dutyduring that time in the event of war or conflict. Enlistment. As mentioned in the paragraph above, you must first enlist on active duty in the Coast Guard as anE-3and attendCoast Guardenlisted basic training. If you fail to complete any portion of the program, fail to maintain a GPA of 2.5, or drop out of the program, the Coast Guard may (and probably will) reassign you as an active duty enlisted member to a Coast Guard operational unit for the remainder of yourenlistment contract. If you then fail to complete your enlistment obligation, you may be required to reimburse the Coast Guard for any expenses they have paid towards the cost of your college education, in accordance with United States Code,Title 10, Section 2005. Duty Requirements. While in the program, you must wear your Coast Guard uniform at least one day per week while attending college classes. You must maintain Coast Guard weight, fitness andgrooming standards. Additionally, you must be enrolled for a minimum of 12 credit hours, attend all scheduled classes and work a minimum of three hours per week for thelocal Coast Guard Recruiter(performing any and all duties he/she assigns you to do). UCMJ. CSPI students are military members on active duty. As such, they are subject to the provisions of theUniform Code of Military Justice(UCMJ). This means students are subject tocourt-martial,nonjudicial punishment, oradministrative sanctionsshould they commit amilitary offense. For example, while in the program, i f you decide to skip a class because you want to see the latest movie, or feel like sleeping in late, the CG could punish you for Failure to Go, which is a violation ofArticle 86of the UCMJ. If you decide to smoke a little week with your college buddies on the weekend, and the CG finds out about it, you could be punished for a violation ofArticle 112a. If you get a DUIor are caught drinkingunderage, or found to be drunk when you should be in class...well, you get the picture. In addition to such UCMJ punishments, you would also likely be removed from the program and required to perform your remaining active duty time as an enlisted member. Still interested? Then the person to see is your localCoast Guard Recruiter. The recruiter can give you additional details, as well as yearly application date deadlines.