Junior Naeema Ahmed is using her summer vacation to test the waters of her future with the Coast Guard Academy.
“It’s known as AIM, Academy Introduction Mission, where you live life as a cadet for about a week,” Ahmed said, “You’re living life as a cadet so you’d have drill marches, where you’d have to get up really early in the morning, and then you’d follow a strict exercise regimen…they also have engineering competitions. On top of that, you’d go out to sea to do a little exploratory work.”
Ahmed got involved with the program after the academy caught her eye with a brochure, one that sparked her interest.
“I looked more into it and got more interested, so then I applied. It was a tedious application process, so it was almost like I was applying for college,” said Ahmed, with a chuckle.
Coming from a military family, the Coast Guard Academy seemed like a perfect fit for Ahmed.
“I’ve always wanted to be in the military. So when I heard about the Coast Guard I thought, ‘This has what I want to do.’ My grandfather and my father are both veterans from the Indian military. They were both in the armed forces for a long time,” Ahmed said.
The intensity of the program is undeniable, but Ahmed looks forward to it with no fear.
“You get up at six o’clock in the morning and then you have drills, competitions, until 10 o’clock at night,” said Ahmed, “I’m really excited.”
The program is unlike anything Ahmed has done before.
“I’ve done camps over the summer, but I’ve never done an intense overnight camp where you’re on the campus of a federal agency,” said Ahmed.
Ahmed will be in Connecticut for the program for one week in July.