COLLEGE STUDENT PRE-COMMISSIONING INITIATIVE OFFICER CANDIDATE SCHOOL DIRECT COMMISSION PROGRAMS MARITIME ACADEMY GRADUATE COAST GUARD ACADEMY PRE-COMMISSIONING PROGRAM FOR ENLISTED PERSONNEL BLUE 21 FLIGHT INITIATIVE PROGRAM FORMS AND DEADLINES

BLUE 21 FLIGHT INITIATIVE

PLEASE NOTE - CURRENT BLUE 21 ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS AND POLICY ARE IN EFFECT FOR FY2010 ONLY

Qualify for the BLUE 21 Flight Initiative, and you'll get the opportunity to become a Coast Guard aviator through the completion of Officer Candidate School, with a guarantee of an assignment to flight training.

In the exciting and challenging world of Coast Guard aviation, you will have the opportunity to save lives, enforce laws, respond to natural disasters and conduct homeland security operations in addition to providing airborne support for all of the missions of the United States Coast Guard. Coast Guard aviators are assigned to air stations all along the Atlantic and Pacific coasts, Alaska, Hawaii, Puerto Rico and the Great Lakes, where they fly one of five high-tech aircraft.

To be eligible for BLUE 21, applicants must have graduated from a college or university that has a minimum 25 percent minority population, not including international students. Applicants also must meet the academic and physical requirements listed below.

Upon completion of OCS, you will recieve a commission as an ensign in the U.S. Coast Guard Reserve and be assigned immediately to flight training in Pensacola, Fla. After earning your "Wings of Gold," you will be assigned to an air station and begin your career as a Coast Guard aviator.

Those who successfully complete OCS and flight training will incur an active duty obligation of 11 years. Those who complete OCS but are unable to complete flight training will be reassigned to another Coast Guard unit, where they will continue their career as a commissioned officer and complete three years of obligated service in addition to any obligated service incurred during advanced training.

To find out if your school qualifies for BLUE 21, call your local recruiter or click here http://nces.ed.gov/globallocator/index.asp. Follow the link to your school and click on "college overview." Read through the stats on college enrollment to see if your school has at least a 25 percent minority enrollment (not including international students).

Your college or university is not eligible for BLUE 21? You may be eligible for some of the Coast Guard's other commissioning programs, including Officer Candidate School. Attending OCS may even lead to a flight training assignment. Talk to your recruiter or check out all of our officer programs at http://www.gocoastguard.com/find-your-fit/officer-opportunities/programs.

BLUE 21 Eligibility Requirements:

Age:
Reached 21st but not 31st birthday as of 30 September of the fiscal year in which the panel convenes.

Citizenship:
Must be a United States citizen.

Education:
To be eligible, applicants must have a minimum 2.5 GPA and meet one of the following degree requirements:

Have a degree in any aviation, aeronautical and aerospace program from a qualifying four-year institution (one with a 25 percent or greater minority population, not including international students.)
Have a degree in any engineering-related program from a qualifying four-year institution.
Have a degree in any computer-related program from a qualifying four-year institution.
Have a degree in any technical or technology-related program from a qualifying four-year institution.
Have an associate degree in an aviation, aeronautical or aerospace specific program from a junior community college accompanied by a baccalaureate degree in any major course of study from a qualifying four-year institution.
Have a private pilot's license (or higher rating), in conjunction with a degree from a qualifying four-year institution.

Additionally, applicants must meet minimum scores on one of the following standardized tests:
    SAT I -- Combined score of 1100 or greater
    ACT -- Composite score of 23 or greater
    ASVAB -- GT score of 109 (110 prior to July 1, 2004)

Aviation Selection Test Battery

The ASTB is an exam that tests your general knowledge in the areas of math, science, English and aviation. Applicants must receive a minimum academic qualification rating (AQR) of 4 and a pilot flight aptitude rating (PFAR) of 4 in order to qualify for BLUE 21.
The ASTB is administered by the U.S. Navy and must be completed with a passing score prior to applying. This test may be scheduled through local Coast Guard recruiting offices.

Military Service
An applicant with six or more years of non-Coast active duty time is not eligible to apply.

Physical Qualifications

BLUE 21 applicants will be required to pass both a MEPS physical as well as a Class I flight physical conducted by a military flight surgeon. Physicals can be scheduled through your local Coast Guard recruiter.
BLUE 21 applicants must have an uncorrected visual acuity not poorer than 20/50 in each eye with the ability for correction to 20/20 in each eye.

Security Clearance
BLUE 21 applicants must be eligible for a security clearance.

Waivers
No waivers will be granted for age, degree requirements or flight physicals.
Medical waivers will be evaluated on a case-by-case basis.

If you are ready to apply for Coast Guard officer programs, you must download the forms and complete all of those appropriate to the program of interest.

OFFICER OPPORTUNITIES