BLUE 21 FLIGHT INITIATIVE
Qualify for the The BLUE 21 Flight Initiative, and you'll get the opportunity to become a Coast Guard Aviator through completion of Officer Candidate School and the 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.
The goal of the BLUE 21 Flight Initiative is to build greater diversity in the aviation community through targeted recruitment at colleges and universities with strong minority populations.
To be eligible for BLUE 21, applicants must have graduated from a college or university with a minimum 25% minority population of U.S. citizens in addition to the academic and physical requirements listed below.
Upon completion of OCS, you will receive a commission as an Ensign in the U.S. Coast Guard Reserve and be assigned immediately to flight training in Pensacola, FL. After earning your "Wings of Gold," you will be assigned to an Air Station and begin your career as 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. Enter your school's name in the search window and click "results." 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 25% minority enrollment (not including international students).
Your college or university 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.
BLUE 21 Eligibility Requirements:
Reached 21st but not 31st birthday as of the selection panel convening date
Must be a U.S. 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 (25% or greater minority population of U.S. citizens)
- 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's 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
- SAT --- Combined score of 1000 or greater
- SAT I --- Combined score of 1100 or greater
- ACT --- Composite score of 23 or greater
- ASVAB --- GT score of 109 (110 prior to 1 July 2004)
BLUE 21 applicants will be required to pass both MEPS physical as well as a Class I Flight Physical conducted by a military flight surgeon. Physicals can be scheduled through a local Coast Guard recruiter.
BLUE 21 applicants must be eligible for a security clearance.
No waivers will be granted for age, degree requirements or flight physicals. Medical waivers will be evaluated on a case-by-case basis.
