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 duty enlistment contract, and a four-year inactive reserves duty obligation. Like all initial 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 be recalled to active duty during 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 an E-3, and attend Coast Guard enlisted 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 your enlistment 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 and grooming 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 the local 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 the Uniform Code of Military Justice (UCMJ). This means students are subject to court-martial, nonjudicial punishment, or administrative sanctions should they commit a military offense. For example, while in the program, if 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 of Article 86 of 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 of Article 112a. If you get a DUI, or are caught drinking under age, 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 local Coast Guard Recruiter. The recruiter can give you additional details, as well as yearly application date deadlines.
