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Career Counseling

FROM: Raymond C. Birnbaum, DSO-CC 1(SR)
TO: Thomas Venezio, VCO 1SR
SUBJ: CAREER COUNSELING BRIEFING


1. Fall is rapidly upon us and the start of another school year and so the Career Counselors head out to work college and congressional fairs as well as school visits.
2. I submitted a “must have” list of 27 candidates for AIM consideration and 22 were accepted. In addition by lottery about another 35 were selected.
3. I have spoken to many of our AIMsters and they “enjoyed” the experience of Project AIM and the vast majority are making application for the Class of 2010.
4. Statistics from the Class of 2009 which entered on 27 June 2005, show out of an entering class of 304, 46% were former AIMsters, an all time high by a significant margin.
5. There will be new required training for CC Officers in order to do college fairs and other public contact work. Curriculum is being prepared.
6. District (SR) was well represented by Dr. Chester Lowe, George Wirthmann and myself.
7. We are getting numerous contacts from other youth programs to make appearances next Fall to enlighten their charges about the advantages of Project AIM, the Academy and a potential carrer in the Coast Guard.
8. Keep up the good work and Sempur Paratus!
R.C. Birnbaum

18 JUNE 2005


FROM: Raymond C. Birnbaum, DSO-CC 1(SR)
TO: Thomas Venezio, VCO 1SR
SUBJ: CAREER COUNSELING BRIEFING


1. Late Winter and Spring have been a busy time for the Career Counseling Department. The staff has been doing numerous spring college fairs and assisting the CGA admissions officers during these fairs.
2. We received approximately 125 applications in 1SR for Project AIM, less than 2004, but those submitted were of higher quality.
3. I submitted a “must have” list of 27 candidates for consideration and several candidates have contacted me to let me know they were selected. I should have the complete list shortly.
4. The process beyond the “must haves” was by lottery and a large effort will be made this summer to contact all the candidates not selected to remind them to apply for appointments. This and that only 25% of the incoming class, historically, are AIMsters and therefore three SWABS enter the class for each AIMster.
5. There will be new required training for CC Officers in order to do college fairs and other public contact work. Curriculum is being prepared.
6. Dave Williamson has been hired as Associate Director of Admissions for Volunteers, he is a civilian although he served in the Army and was chaplain.
7. Project AIM weeks will kick off on 2, 9 and 16 July and run Saturday through Friday.
8. First District (SR) should be well represented, as usual, on AIM Staff with several members.
9. We are getting numerous contacts from other youth programs to make appearances next Fall to enlighten their charges about the advantages of Project AIM, the Academy and a potential carrer in the Coast Guard.
10. Keep up the good work and Sempur Paratus!
R.C. Birnbaum

6 MARCH 2005


FROM: Raymond C. Birnbaum, DSO-CC 1(SR)
TO: Thomas Venezio, VCO 1SR
SUBJ: CAREER COUNSELING BRIEFING

1. Career Counseling is deep in the midst of the Project AIM evaluation process as candidate packages starting coming in around the end of January. The deadline date is 15 April and 1SR selections must be at CGA by 30 April.
2. AIM 2005 has an on-line application with the original being emailed to the Academy by 15 April with a down-loaded hard copy to the DSO.
3. Once again PSATs or SATs are not required and only the freshman and sophomore grades are required.
4. The dates for the National Career Counseling School are out (see the CGATENEWS.COM) and I encourage all SOs and FSOs to fill out the Short Term Training form and get it in to DIRAUX and attend the school.
5. I cannot stress enough the staffs attending the 5 March Awards Conference Seminar in the Admissions Department at CGA in the morning, from 0900 to 1145, with a walking tour of the Academy after lunch, weather permitting.
6. I have been busy these past weeks calling all potential AIM candidates in 1SR to remind them of their interest and where to find the application on-line.
7. This year, I plan to send out names and info, on AIM applicants, as received to achieve a higher number of candidates interviewed for AIM. This will give us a better relationship with the candidates and increase our ownership in the process.
8. The Academy needs our help just as much as in the past, only the methods and missions have been refined to yield better candidates and participants.


R.C. Birnbaum

15 JANUARY 2005


FROM: Raymond C. Birnbaum, DSO-CC 1(SR)
TO: Thomas Venezio, VCO 1SR
SUBJ: CAREER COUNSELING BRIEFING

1. The new calendar year brings new missions and tasks for the Career Counseling Department. Kicking off the year will be distribution of Academy and AIM information to guidance counselors.
2. This year the Class of 2009 must apply on-line and may do so until 1 March 2005.
3. AIM 2005 will also have an on-line application with the original being emailed to the Academy by 15 April with a down-loaded hard copy to the DSO.
4. Once again PSATs or SATs are not required and only the freshman and sophomore grades are required.
5. I am aware of some of the changes in Division Staff Officers. I welcome the new hands and wish to thank those who have given so generously of their time and are now moving on to new positions.
6. First District (SR) should be proud of its efforts in Project AIM as 25 primary candidates were selected by the Auxiliary and an additional 40 by CGA from among the 200 who submitted applications in our District.
7. I cannot stress enough the staffs attending the 5 March Awards Conference Seminar in the Admissions Department at CGA in the morning, from 0900 to 1145, with a walking tour of the Academy after lunch, weather permitting.
8. Also new staff should apply for the National CC School, dates should be available shortly. The three and a half day school with build your information data base and give you tremendous confidence in our missions.
9. This year, I plan to send out names and info, on AIM applicants, as received to achieve a higher number of candidates interviewed for AIM. If you wish to participate in this mission please let me know. This will give us a better relationship with the candidates and increase our ownership in the process.
10. The Academy needs our help just as much as in the past, only the methods and missions have been refined to yield better candidates and participants.
11. I want to thank the staff for their hard work and urge them to keep up the effort in order to meet the challenges in 2005. Semper Paratus!!!

 

Latest Department Briefing
Departmental Directory

19 JUNE 2004
TO: E. Lee Ward, DDO-CG/SS
SUBJ:CAREER COUNSELING BRIEFING

1. Project AIM has reached the notification stage (end of May) as our 22 primary candidates should have been contacted as well as the additional candidates selected from 1SR

2. I feel with our proximity to the Academy, 1SR should provide a goodly number of secondary candidates from among the 300 that the project manager will select.

3. Just about all the Divisions have candidates and there are candidates from Divisions that have not provided one for a while.

4. I know it was tough year with the new selection criteria but I thank you for sticking with the missions and doing an excellent job reaching out to potential candidates.

5. The Academy is again giving back missions as they need our help with programs like appointment presentations
6. Iris Mordaunt and I will once again be part of the Project AIM staff. I will attend the first week of AIM (10-17 July) and both of the weekends that surround it.

7. I want to thank the staff for their hard work and urge them to keep up the effort in order to meet the challenges in 2005. Semper Paratus!!!

R.C. Birnbaum
57 Regent Court
Stamford, CT 06907
rcbirn@aol.com
17 JAN 2004

FROM: Raymond C. Birnbaum, DSO-CC 1(SR)
TO: E. Lee Ward, DDO-CG/SS
SUBJ:CAREER COUNSELING BRIEFING

1. A new year and the Career Counseling Department keeps up the fine
work that historically has made us the “poster children” for the
program.
2. Even without the Finalist interviews this Fall, we kept ourselves busy
with college and Congressional fairs, covering over a hundred in our tristate
area.
3. The fairs and school visits have given us a fine base for Project AIM.
This year’s program will be done in a different manner then in past
years. Candidates will locate the application and instructions on-line at
www.cga.edu and fill it out and print it out twice. One copy goes to the
Academy and the other to the local CC officer. Deadline is 31 March
2004.
4. Instead of the AIM Selection Boards of the past, we will have Division
wide AIM Days. Candidates will be invited to hear about the Academy
and careers in the Coast Guard. Interviews will be one on one and
much less formal then in the past. These interviews will be forwarded to
the DSO with the candidate’s package. AIM Days will be coordinated
and Divisions may combine for the best efficiency, the DSO and ADSOs
will be available to help out with presentations.
5. The DSO and ADSOs will meet and select the District principal
candidates. However, all other qualifying candidates will be forwarded
to CGA as alternates. The reason for this is, there will be three weeks of
AIM this year and 500 AIMsters will be selected. So our candidates will
have an even better opportunity to attend.
6. I want to welcome Joyce Bartlett, SO-CC 15 and George Blessing, SOCC
4, as the newest members of my staff and look forward to finding out
any other new additions.
7. I want to thank Karl Saboda, former SO-CC 15, who is moving on to
another assignment after 10 years of yeoman service. Karl also served
as an ADSO and so I also welcome Chester Lowe as Karl’s relief and as
my newest ADSO.
8. I look forward to an exciting and challenging 2004 and bid the staff,
keep up the good work and Semper Paratus.
R.C. BirnbaumFROM: Raymond C. Birnbaum, DSO-CC 1(SR)
TO: E. Lee Ward, DDO-CG/SS
SUBJ:CAREER COUNSELING BRIEFING

1. A new year and the Career Counseling Department keeps up the fine
work that historically has made us the “poster children” for the
program.
2. Even without the Finalist interviews this Fall, we kept ourselves busy
with college and Congressional fairs, covering over a hundred in our tristate
area.
3. The fairs and school visits have given us a fine base for Project AIM.
This year’s program will be done in a different manner then in past
years. Candidates will locate the application and instructions on-line at
www.cga.edu and fill it out and print it out twice. One copy goes to the
Academy and the other to the local CC officer. Deadline is 31 March
2004.
4. Instead of the AIM Selection Boards of the past, we will have Division
wide AIM Days. Candidates will be invited to hear about the Academy
and careers in the Coast Guard. Interviews will be one on one and
much less formal then in the past. These interviews will be forwarded to
the DSO with the candidate’s package. AIM Days will be coordinated
and Divisions may combine for the best efficiency, the DSO and ADSOs
will be available to help out with presentations.
5. The DSO and ADSOs will meet and select the District principal
candidates. However, all other qualifying candidates will be forwarded
to CGA as alternates. The reason for this is, there will be three weeks of
AIM this year and 500 AIMsters will be selected. So our candidates will
have an even better opportunity to attend.
6. I want to welcome Joyce Bartlett, SO-CC 15 and George Blessing, SOCC
4, as the newest members of my staff and look forward to finding out
any other new additions.
7. I want to thank Karl Saboda, former SO-CC 15, who is moving on to
another assignment after 10 years of yeoman service. Karl also served
as an ADSO and so I also welcome Chester Lowe as Karl’s relief and as
my newest ADSO.
8. I look forward to an exciting and challenging 2004 and bid the staff,
keep up the good work and Semper Paratus.
R.C. BirnbaumDepartment Mission

The Career Counseling Department is perhaps one of the most diverse in terms of tasks in the Coast Guard Auxiliary. Many of our missions are well known but some are new and are unknown to the membership.

  1. Project AIM is the one week summer introduction to cadet life offered to high school juniors. The students compete through application in a manner similar to the senior application process. Students are selected based on PSATs, grade point average, rank in class, sports, activities, essay, letters of recommendation and community service. 220 students report to the Coast Guard Academy for a week in late July and live the life of a SWAB (freshman cadet). They are introduced to early reveille, educational opportunities, physical training, sports, SWAB poop (information), square meals, square racks (beds) and square corners. After a week, the students know if the Coast Guard Academy is truly for them .
  2. Project MITE (Minority Introduction to Engineering) a similar program to AIM for diverse cadet candidates. Run as two one week sessions.
  3. Finalist Interviews are offered to any senior who applies to the Academy and whose SATs and rank in class will cause their file to be read by the Cadet Candidate Evaluation Board. This interview is non binding and is followed by a public relations meeting with the candidate and his/her family for questions and answers.
  4. Appointment presentations are offered to any cadet appointee who accepts their appointment and wishes the certificate presented at an awards assembly or graduation by a member of Team Coast Guard.
  5. College Fairs are attended by Career Counseling staff to acquaint the public with the benefits of Coast Guard educational programs such as the Academy, enlisted service, Officer Candidate School, reserve service and direct commission.
  6. High school visits are also undertaken to acquaint guidance counselors and students with Coast Guard educational programs.
  7. Congressional college fairs allow Coast Guard Academy representatives to join with other U.S. military academy representatives to showcase our educational and service opportunities to students who are already inclined toward a military education. Frequently done with Coast Guard Academy admissions officers and cadets.
  8. The Recruiting Assistance Program has staff officers acquainting students with the enlisted service opportunities available to them as well as Officer Candidate School, reserve service and direct commission. Opportunities exist to work at recruiting stations and qualify as a Coast Guard Recruiter by passing Personal Qualification Standards.
  9. Project AIM staff opportunities are available to qualified staff members to attend and participate in Project AIM.

If any of these tasks or missions appeal to you, the Auxiliarist, feel free to contact Ray Birnbaum, DSO-CC e.mail me at RCBIRN@aol.com.

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