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APPLICATION PROCESS FOR NON-ACADEMY OFFICER PROGRAMS
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EXTRA STEPS REQUIRED FOR CSPI
If you're applying for CSPI (College Student Pre-commissioning Initiative) your application must also include a number of items besides those required for OCS and the other programs. These other items are:
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proof of enrollment or acceptance in a qualifying school,
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a degree outline,
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degree requirements as published in your college's catalog,
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a statement from your school stating the tuition cost and your eligibility for in-state tuition,
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a page 7 (CG-3307) in which applicants acknowledge that they may not use GI Bill benefits for courses being paid for by the Coast Guard as part of CSPI, and
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a copy of the CSPI Statement of Understanding.
Proof of Enrollment/Acceptance
CSPI applicants have to be admitted as a student by a school that meets the program's qualifications. The only schools which qualify are those which have been designated as
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one of the following colleges and universities located in Guam, Hawaii, and Alaska:
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Argosy University - Hawaii
This means you'll have to apply for admission and be accepted at whichever school(s) you'd like to attend to finish your degree. This will likely mean spending money out of your own pocket (although CGMA or the Coast Guard Foundation grants may partially reimburse you).
Degree Plan
The degree outline, essentially, is the school's acknowledgement that you only have to complete a certain number of credits in certain courses before you graduate. Having it prevents the school from moving the goal posts as you near graduation, e.g., "Ooops, we forgot to tell you you have to take another course before you can graduate." It also gives you a list of courses to check off as you complete them, so you know how close you are to finishing your degree. Give the CSPI "Student Information and Degree Plan" form to your school counselor to complete, sign, and return to you. You then sign it and stick in into your application folder.
Degree Requirements
A photocopy of the page(s) in one of your college's publications (e.g., catalog, course guide, etc.) or print-out from your school's web site is sufficient, as long as it lists all courses required for the degree you're completing through CSPI.
Statement from School
You'll also need something official from your school stating what your total tuition will be and that you are eligible for the in-state tuition rate. This should be on the school's letterhead.
Page 7
The purpose of this Page 7 is to make sure you, as a CSPI participant, know you can’t receive GI Bill benefits for the same courses the Coast Guard is paying for. Prohibiting you from doing this is actually a benefit to you since, as an officer, you’re likely going to need a graduate degree to get promoted to higher ranks. Because you won’t be spending down your GI Bill benefits while you’re finishing your bachelor’s degree, you’ll have that money available to use for graduate school costs later on if you need it.
Signing this form will not make you ineligible for the GI Bill benefits in the future.
The text of the statement on the Page 7 should read something like:
I acknowledge that I am prohibited from filing a claim for _________ education benefits for courses taken as part of the CSPI (College Student Pre-commissioning Initiative.
In the first blank space above, insert the name(s) of the program(s) you're currently eligible for:
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Ch. 30 Montgomery GI Bill - Active Duty (MGIB-AD),
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Ch. 33 Post-9/11 GI Bill,
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Ch. 1606 Montgomery GI Bill - Selected Reserve (MGIB-SR),
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Ch. 1607 Reserve Education Assistance Program (REAP).
Statement of Understanding
Finally, you must complete and enclose the Statement of Understanding, which you can find at the Recruiting Command's web site.