What are the U.S. Coast Guard Academy's introduction and mission programs like?

Can someone explain what goes on in the U.S. Coast Guard Academy's introduction mission program? I'm looking into it but want to know the main focus and how it helps prepare cadets for future responsibilities.

The U.S. Coast Guard Academy's introduction program encompasses several elements to aid in the preparation of incoming cadets. The program primarily consists of "Swab Summer," a seven-week training period designed to welcome a new class of cadets, alongside their rigorous four-year academic journey.

Swab Summer is designed to transform civilians into Coast Guard men and women. This period is both physically and mentally challenging. Swabs, as the incoming cadets are called throughout the summer, learn about military manners, customs, and the kind of discipline necessary for military life. They engage in intensive physical training, memorize facts about the academy and the Coast Guard, and partake in practical exercises to build teamwork and leadership skills. Swabs do not take academic classes, but get a taste of military life and the responsibilities that come with it.

Alongside introduction programs like Swab Summer, the academy places much emphasis on professional development activities under the title "Mission Programs." These initiatives expose cadets to the operational Coast Guard units and assignments they may find themselves serving in post-graduation. It includes summer assignments in Coast Guard units like cutters, air stations, and sectors. The routines, tasks, and specific operations cadets experience during their missions make significant strides in preparing them for their future roles.

Essentially, these programs serve to immerse cadets into the culture and values of the Coast Guard. Their main focus is to create a foundation of leadership, professional knowledge, and physical fitness that prepares cadets for the challenges they'll face in their future roles within the U.S Coast Guard.