From Alaska to Miami: Coast Guard cadets learn their assignments
Mar. 7—NEW LONDON — The auditorium in the Coast Guard Academy's Leamy Hall on Thursday night was a sea of blue uniforms.
It was Billet Night, the annual event in which senior cadets learn what assignment they will have upon graduating May 22.
Most of the over 200 cadets will be going to cutters with a few others assigned to cybercommand and other special billets, while 20 cadets got the most sought after assignment ― attending flight school in Pensacola, Fla.
Master of Ceremonies Capt. Jessica Rozzi-Ochs, a commanding officer of Coast Guard Barque Eagle began the ceremony. She congratulated the cadets, and expressed her excitement over getting to hand out some "great billets."
"No matter where you go, all of your missions are important, and collectively make us the greatest coast guard in the world," Rozzi-Ochs said, adding that "each and every one" of the cadets would play an important part in national security.
During the first half hour of the ceremony, she cracked jokes aimed at cadets and administrators.
She joked that even the longest serving Coast Guard aviator ― who is given the Ancient Albatross award ― Rear Admiral Christopher A. Bartz, had likely bragged to cadets about his award "many times tonight."
Bartz graduated from flight school in 1994. He was standing just off-stage to greet about the 20 cadets who were assigned to flight school. As those cadets came to greet him, each one was given a pair of aviator sunglasses. Each time an announcement was made for flight school, nearly every cadet was on their feet cheering.
Cadets were just as happy to cheer on their classmates on stage.
Public Affairs Officer David Santos said Billet Night signifies the end of a 200-week program.
"You've been here close to four years and you're finally knowing where you'll be," he said.
He explained that achievement in the classroom and militarily factors into whether a cadet is assigned to one of their top choices.
Around 80% of the billets are for assignments on cutters, a one-and-a-half to two-year assignment. Santos said after graduation, cadets are required to fulfill five years of service.
At that point, he said the cadets will have spent nine years with the Coast Guard.
Before the ceremony, 22-year-old Cooper Pavlovich, of Old Saybrook, said his four years at the academy had gone by fast, and it felt surreal to finally be learning his assignment.
He was hoping to join a 418-foot cutter in Charleston, S.C., as an engineer, which he'd gotten to work aboard last summer.
"No matter where you get sent, you meet awesome people and have great experiences," he said, adding sometimes it's better for cadets to get sent to the place they weren't hoping for.
"At the end of the day, the service is surrounded with great people," he added. "You're in good hands no matter where you go."
Brigid Kunka of Stonington and four of her fellow cadets fist-pumped and hugged as they learned they'd were assigned to the Coast Guard Cutter James, based in Charleston, S.C. It was Kunka's first choice.
Kunka cried as she stepped away from the stage.
"I'm so excited," she said. "I've been looking forward to this for so many days and it's so incredible."
The 22-year-old said she'd wanted to go somewhere interesting, and far from home.
"And I got everything I wanted," Kunka added.
Rory McPherson, 22, of Kittery, Maine, was assigned to the Robert Yered, a cutter in Miami, Fla. It's where her uncle, Brendan, who is currently stationed with the Coast Guard in California, will be transferring this summer.
McPherson, said she was "so, so excited" she not only got her top choice but will be stationed in the same place as her uncle. Her uncle and father, a retired Coast Guard captain, where just off stage to congratulate her.
While Brendan will be serving on land, Rory will be at sea. But Brendan said if he could, he would "switch with her, cause I'd love to go back to a ship."
