Parent's take on "Swab Summer"

bearbit · 08-18-2007, 05:57 PM

With the conclusion of sea trials yesterday my swab was happy to report that Swab Summer is officially over. But he was quick to add that the strict regimentation was far from over, not for the next academic year anyway. The CGA seems to hold the line as old school when it comes to regimental discipline. It was explained to me that basically they have to be so strict since the Coast Guard is such a small service and they cannot afford to absorb anyone that is not with the program. But I believe the attrition rate has dropped dramatically since the days of losing more then 50% of the class by the time graduation comes around. This in part is due to the CGA command family support encouragement and the USCGA Parents Assoc. support group. Fall sports season is a added relief to the conclusion of swab summer also. The upperclassmen of the swab’s associated athletic program seem to mentor the new 4th class cadets. The head football coach told us new swab parents on R-Day that Admiral Thad Allen had told him that he thought about quitting the academy five times, but he didn’t due to the camaraderie of his team sport.
I guess my boy’s high point of Swab Summer was the week aboard Barque Eagle, aside from the challenges from Eagle...tying clove hitches with one hand in a stiff breeze 130 plus feet in the air while dangling on the mast’s rigging, manning the ship’s wheel at night and taking triangulation readings for the ship navigational plotting....it was a break from the rigors of swab summer. My son told me that friendships develop quickly and is a necessity in the first summer.

Luigi59 · 08-19-2007, 08:33 AM

Congrats to your son, you must be very proud of him.

Many "plebe logs" on the USCGA web site state a similar feeling about sailing the Eagle - that it was THE BEST part of swab summer. My guess is that the much longer Eagle summer cruises to foreign ports are even better!

Bossf51 · 08-22-2007, 10:30 AM

You are correct in that it's just beginning for your son...but he will survive and thrive in a tough environment and make you even prouder. My son is entering his 2/c year and has done more in the past two years than I have in my whole life.
Interesting to note that the drop out rate this summer was less than 10%, a very good showing.

Good luck to your son and maybe I'll see you on Parents Weekend.

BTW Luigi my son went to Madiera, Portugal on his swab summer cruise. They go to Europe only once every four years.