US Coast Guard may open doors to Pinoy cadets

MANILA, Philippines - Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) commandant Admiral Wilfredo Tamayo said the United States Coast Guard Academy (USCGA) may again open its doors to Filipino cadets.

The USCGA relayed the message in response to Tamayo’s request that the institution resume its program for Filipino cadets. Tamayo made the request 13 years after the last Filipino cadet graduated from the institution.

Tamayo, a graduate of the USCGA class 1979, said that he made the request in a letter dated Sept. 19 to USCG commandant Admiral Robert Papp Jr.

“The US Coast Guard would be pleased to see the Philippine Coast Guard again nominate students to the international cadet program,” USCG Reserve and Leadership director Rear Admiral Sandra Stosz replied on behalf of Papp.

She also furnished him a copy of USCGA’s latest solicitation for international cadets and said they would “ensure our liaison is informed of your interest and given the point of contact information for Cdr Balbino (Commander Jose Balbino Luspo, PCG Guard Staff for Education and Training deputy chief).”

Tamayo, in his request, said a cadetship program for Filipinos “would foster better, stronger cooperation between the two countries.”

“It can establish more areas of cooperation in terms of training and technical assistance,” he said.

He said stronger ties and closer cooperation among the world’s coast guards might be the answer to challenges confronting international shipping.

“You would also get to learn more about the systems, about the operations of the US Coast Guard, which may be applied at the PCG,” Tamayo told his men.

The PCG chief said he is hoping at least two to three Filipinos would be taken in by the USCGA.

Tamayo said he would still have to consult the Department of Transportation and Communications (DOTC) regarding details of his plan, including choosing who can qualify. 

“I have optimistically considered the possibility of further strengthening partnership between the PCG and the USCG hopefully through revival or availment of the cadetship and mobile training programs of the USCGA,” Tamayo said in his letter to Papp.