What's the leadership training like at the Coast Guard Academy?

I'm seriously considering applying to the Coast Guard Academy and I'm curious about the leadership training aspects. How intense is it, and what kind of skills do cadets typically develop? Any insights would be super helpful!

The Coast Guard Academy places a significant emphasis on leadership development as part of its mission to train officers in the U.S. Coast Guard. The leadership training program consists of classrooms, group activities, and real-world training exercises designed to develop critical thinking, decision-making, and teamwork skills among other things.

For first-year cadets, the journey begins with Swab Summer, an intensive seven-week training program that pushes physical and mental boundaries, creating a foundation for resilience, teamwork, and fellowship. You'll learn how to operate as a team, trust your peers, and follow directions meticulously.

As you progress through the Academy, emphasis is placed on leading by example, ethical decision making, and effectively communicating your thoughts and ideas. This is guided by a combination of academic coursework as well as experiential learning, which includes simulator training and summer internships on Coast Guard cutters and at different stations throughout the country. You also will be assigned leadership roles in the Corps of Cadets, providing practical leadership experience.

In your last year at the academy, you'll act as a mentor for underclassmen, putting the leadership skills you've learned into practice, and ensuring a smooth transition for the next cohort of leaders in the Coast Guard.

Overall, the leadership training at the Coast Guard Academy can be intense, but it's highly beneficial and designed to prepare individuals with the necessary skills and character needed in their professional endeavors within the Coast Guard as an officer.