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Commentary | May 12, 2026

Help select the next generation of Coast Guard officers

By Coast Guard Accessions Service Center

Members of Coast Guard Officer Candidate School (OCS) Class 1-25 and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Basic Officer Course (BOTC) 144 reported for training at the Coast Guard Academy, July 23, 2024. The future officers will go on to serve their respective branches across the nation as pilots, sailors, and scientific specialists. (U.S Coast Guard photo by Petty Officer 3rd Class Matt Thieme.)We need your experience and help shaping the future of the U.S. Coast Guard’s Officer Corps.  

Your experience is mission-critical; the strength of the U.S. Coast Guard lies in its leadership. To maintain our readiness and meet the challenges of tomorrow, we must ensure that only the most qualified and dedicated candidates are commissioned into our Officer Corps.  

This is your opportunity to step forward and play a pivotal role in selecting the future leaders of the Coast Guard. There are two ways you can make an impact today. You can participate in an Officer Applicant Interview Board, the process through which candidates’ qualifications and skills are assessed. Officers with direct experience conduct specialized interviews for Aviation, Law, and Health Services. Alternatively, you can join an Officer Selection Panel. Convened by the Accessions Service Center (ASC), these panels select applicants for all officer commissioning programs (excluding the Coast Guard Academy). 

The Officer Applicant Interview Board is challenging to organize; interview boards must be completed within weeks of when applications are submitted. That’s why recruiters across the country need your help to staff these interview boards. Active Duty and Reserve Officers can be interview board members. To make it as easy as possible for you to volunteer for interview boards, we have developed a new platform. This tool is available now on the ASC Homepage and direct link for any officers who are interested.  

To volunteer for an Officer Selection Panel, please e-mail ASC at smb-cgasc-parts@uscg.mil. Include your current unit and your primary officer specialty in your e-mail. You must be an O-3 or above to be on a Selection Panel (O-2s will be considered for certain selection panels). ASC does not fund travel for Selection Panel participation, so preference will be given to officers in the Washington, D.C. metro area, or officers whose unit will fund this professional development opportunity. 

This is more than a duty; it is your chance to leave a lasting impact on the service. By participating, you ensure that the Coast Guard's future leadership reflects the highest standards of professionalism, integrity, and readiness.  

Step up. Lend your voice. Shape the future. 

If you have any questions, please contact ASC: 

  • CDR Roger Barr, CGASC Chief of Operations 

  • LCDR Angel Serrano, Jr., Recruiting Office Hampton Roads 

  • LTJG Diamond Webb, Recruiting Office New Orleans 

 

-USCG- 


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