Three Filipino cadets were deployed by the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) to the United States Coast Guard Academy (USCGA) in New London, Connecticut to train and enhance their skills which they can use once they come back to the Philippines.
(Photo: Philippine Coast Guard)
Cadets Princess Kristel Carreon, Kirsten Heather Reyes, and Daniel Francis Sales officially became part of the USCGA Class of 2027 as part of the PCG's International Cadetship Program during a swearing-in ceremony held last week.
It also marked the first day of "Swab Summer," a seven-week orientation program incorporating cadets with general military skills, physical and mental conditioning, military bearing, and esprit de corps.
The new cadets were received by third-class PCG Cadets John Rex Gaviola and Keith Nico Carreon, who are also training at the USCGA. Third-class cadets, known as "cadres," are responsible for training the new class.
“Upon graduation, PCG-sponsored cadets will be commissioned into the Coast Guard service with the rank of ‘ensign’ and will render at least eight years of continuous active service,” PCG spokesperson Rear Adm. Armando Balilo said in a statement on Tuesday, July 4.
The three Filipino cadets are among the eight foreign nationals who compose the 300-member USCG Class of 2027. Other nationals are from the Republic of Madagascar, the Republic of Ecuador, the Federated States of Micronesia, and Panama.
Since 1975, the USCG has supported the International Cadetship Program to promote cooperation with national governments and maritime organizations.
The USCGA offers a four-year international cadetship program with an intensive undergraduate curriculum leading to a Bachelor of Science degree.
Its curriculum is weighted heavily toward mathematics, science and engineering courses. The academy offers nine major degrees focusing on civil engineering, cyber-systems, electrical engineering, government, management, marine and environmental sciences, mechanical engineering, naval architecture and marine engineering, and operations research and data analytics.
The program also consists of formal classroom training in subjects such as navigation and law enforcement supplemented by summer programs that include general shipboard and aviation training, seagoing experience aboard the USCG training ship Barque Eagle, military training, and other operational experience.