This year's class is about one-third women, a higher percentage than at any of the other military academies. The Coast Guard is the only military service where woman can do any type of job, and that's a big appeal for many.
Before the school year starts at the academy, young men and women report in for their first day of 'swab summer' — a sort of pre-freshman boot camp. They need to learn how to stay 'braced up' — head in, chest up, eyes center. Tough older cadets make sure the newbies get it.
'Sound off!' commands one cadet. 'Yes sir!' shouts the 32-member company.
The Coast Guard is the only military service that women can do any type of job, while all the other ones have something specific that women cannot do. So I think that's a real lure for the women to go to.
- Casey Fall, a high school senior visiting the Academy
Women are some of the toughest instillers of military discipline on the campus. The cadets march up and down the ranks of new recruits, inspecting each swab. 'Get it together, Swab Vallo,' barks one, her face just inches away. 'I'm sick of you looking around!'
