NEW LONDON, Conn., — Day One of training for the U.S. Coast Guard Academy’s Class of 2028 commenced as 297 young women and men from across the country and around the world arrived on July 1, 2024.
This event marks the start of Swab Summer, an intense seven-week training program designed to transform civilian students into military members ready to accept the challenges that await them in their pursuit to become Coast Guard officers. During their first day at the Academy, the Swabs (as the new cadets are called) cycled through uniform issue, drill practice and various administrative in-processing. Significant changes have been made to the Swab Summer curriculum this year including incorporating the oversight of enlisted Company Commanders from Training Center Cape May to help reinforce the service’s core values of honor, respect and devotion to duty throughout the training evolution.
Approximately 34 percent of the class are from underrepresented minority groups, and 33 percent are women. Also joining the class are 8 international students from the Kingdon of Jordan, the Federated States of Micronesia, and the Republics of Palau, the Philippines, Honduras and the Marshall Islands.
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