Purpose
To provide and perpetuate a new tradition involving Coast Guard Academy alumni in a mentoring and advisory role to cadets by linking classes spanning 50 years.
Concept
Academy alumni of classes approaching their 50th anniversary of graduation will become reasonably active in communicating with cadets (and their parents) on a personal basis, sharing advice, ideas, and an historical perspective on the Academy and the Coast Guard.
This “linkage” is created between classes separated by 50 years.
A similar program has been in place at the Naval Academy since 2001.
Status
The program has been initiated by the Class of 1961, whose members have begun interaction with cadets of the Class of 2011.
The Class of 1962 has been asked by ’61 and the Alumni Association to continue this new tradition through sponsorship of the Academy Class of 2012.
The class Link in the Chain steering committee volunteers are Harvey Wahnquist, Chuck Morgan and Jeff Bull. They will coordinate all class Link activities. Class mini reunion at CGA on Sunday June 29th and Monday June 30th to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the class of 1962 swearing in and to witness the swearing in of the class of 2012.
Opportunities
The following events that will involve the Class of 2012 will provide opportunities for the Class of 1962 to interact:
• Reporting-in day & Swearing-In ceremony (29 & 30 June 08)
• Informal weekend meetings at Stonington Lodge
• Fourth-class shoulder board ceremony
• Swab Summer parade review for ’62 members
• “Promotion Ceremony” at the end of swab year
• “112th Day”—a new tradition at CGA? (*)
• Mini-reunions of CGA ’62 held at CGA
• Others TBD in consultation with CGA administration
Of course, opportunities for interaction exist during all four years of the cadet experience of members of ’12, right up to graduation. These include billet night (quite a change from the procedure of 1962), ring dance, dining-in, etc. The scope is open to suggestions!
Contact Elsewhere
In addition to events at the Academy:
• ’62 members can arrange to meet with ’12 members in local geographical areas while cadets are on leave.
• CGC EAGLE port visits where ’62 members reside
• E-mail communications
Experience
Thus far, members of the Class of 1961 have:
• Attended reporting-in and swearing-in for 2011
• Found that there is great interest on the part of parents
• Found that “sea-stories” (cleaned up!) are of interest to cadets
• Plans to attend a fourth class formal dance
• Participated in an oral history program organized by a CGA instructor in conjunction with the “Link” program
Organization
Activities will be facilitated by the Alumni Association’s Member Services staff as appropriate.
A single point of contact in the Academy’s staff is desired, preferably under the Commandant of Cadets and/or the class advisor.
A single member of ’62 should act as point man for communications. The suggestion from ’61 is that he reside close to the Academy, and at least in New England.
Miscellaneous
The program has the full support of the Superintendent.
Funding for travel, etc. is borne by members of the Class of 1962.
Even if you did not have a 20+ year USCG career, your life experience can be of value in many ways.
A coin has been designed by a cadet member of ’11, and has been distributed by ’61 to members of ’11 as a token of the “Link”. This would be perpetuated by ’62 and funded through the Class Gift Fund (not the Endowment).
General
“Mother Hen” or “Father Confessor” or “Big Brother”? Probably some of each but not all of one. It remains to be seen.
The program is obviously in its infancy. The Class of 1962 can be instrumental in its full development into a long-lasting tradition at CGA.
Congratulations to the Class of 1961 for taking a big step in implementing the Link in the Chain program. As we have heard often, “Sixty-One, Never Outdone”. Perhaps we can do something about that?
(*) 112th Day? The class of 2011 decided that they would celebrate 111th day – the 111th day before graduation to coincide with their class year 2011. It was an event to celebrate class spirit. They also decided to use the celebration, a dinner, to kick off the Link in the Chain project for their class. Each person who attended the dinner got a commemorative coin, they had a slide show with photos of ’11 during the summer and ’61 when they were cadets, and remarks from the Commandant of Cadets, ’61, and the LT in charge of the oral history project. This was a class event, as opposed to an Academy event, it might not happen with the class of 2012.