Does the Coast Guard Academy offer specific missions to its students?

I'm curious to know what kind of missions or experiences cadets are involved in at the Coast Guard Academy. How hands-on is the training, and do students get to participate in real missions during their time there?

At the U.S. Coast Guard Academy, the four-year program is indeed quite hands-on, focusing on leadership development and professional training alongside academic studies.

For instance, every summer, cadets participate in a variety of training sessions and missions that provide them with practical experience. During their first summer (known as "Swab Summer"), cadets participate in an intense seven-week training program that aims to transition them from civilian to military life.

In the second summer, as third-class cadets, they participate in a program called "Coast Guard Afloat and Aviation Training". They spend part of this summer at sea on one the Coast Guard's cutters and other part, serving at Coast Guard air stations across the country. They gain direct experience with the vital missions carried out by the Coast Guard such as search and rescue, marine safety, and law enforcement.

During their third summer, cadets serve as cadre and train the incoming class, an invaluable leadership experience. Finally, in their last summer, first-class cadets serve as officers-in-training aboard a cutter, or complete an internship in a Coast Guard specialty of interest such as aviation or engineering.

Post-graduation, cadets receive a commission as ensigns in the U.S. Coast Guard, from where they will continue onto active duty, fulfilling various roles and missions in service to the country.

Just remember, while these summer programs provide valuable, hands-on experiences, they are educational in nature and part of the Academy's training program. Cadets are students first and foremost, so while they do get to take part in real-world operations and get a sense of what a career in the Coast Guard looks like, their main focus is on learning and preparing for their future career as officers.