The Running Light: the Coast Guard Academy swab's book of knowledge

• What it is: The Running Light is "the annual handbook of the Corps of Cadets of the United States Coast Guard Academy." The Academy has published it in New London since 1930. Source: WorldCat record
• When you get it: it's issued on the first day, so you don't need to buy one in advance. A 2017 Parents Association handbook (hosted by the Coast Guard Academy Alumni Association) says most of it "you will memorize during Swab Summer." It also says copies of earlier editions can be bought from the Cadet Store. Source: USCGA Parents Association 2017 Cadet Handbook (PDF)
• Where to buy: the Coast Guard Exchange sells a "Running Light Training Handbook" but doesn't list the edition year. Source: ShopCGX listing
• Swab Summer dates: for the Class of 2030, Swearing-In Day (Day One) was June 29, 2026. Source: USCGA 2025–26 Applicant Handbook

No current table of contents was found online. Cadet posts on uscga.edu describe it as "indoc" (indoctrination) knowledge studied all summer. Cadets often keep it tucked in a sock while moving around campus. USCGA cadet blog, June 16, 2025

A cadet writing on the Academy's own site said the Academy mission and the Coast Guard Ethos "are required to be known by swabs on the first or second day." USCGA cadet blog, June 16, 2025

Another cadet post on uscga.edu advised reading the ethos, mission and core values, and trying to "memorize some rates or ranks if you can." USCGA cadet blog, March 13, 2023

1. USCGA mission:

   "To graduate young men and women with sound bodies, stout hearts, and alert minds, with a liking for the sea and its lore, and with that high sense of honor, loyalty, and obedience which goes with trained initiative and leadership; well-grounded in seamanship, the sciences, and amenities, and strong in the resolve to be worthy of the traditions of commissioned officers in the United States Coast Guard in the service of their country and humanity." USCGA: Mission · USCGA Catalog: About

2. The Coast Guard Ethos. Official copy: the Coast Guard's Recruit Training Pocket Guide on forcecom.uscg.mil. Source: Recruit Training Pocket Guide (PDF)

3. Core values: Honor, Respect, Devotion to Duty. They were promulgated by Commandant Admiral J.W. Kime in April 1994. Source: MyCG (uscg.mil): "Honor, Respect, Devotion to Duty," August 9, 2024

4. Mottos.

   • The Coast Guard's motto is "Semper Paratus." It appears in the Ethos. MyCG (uscg.mil)
   • The Academy's own motto is "Scientiae Cedit Mare," adopted in 1902. USCGA Catalog: About

5. The Honor Concept: "Cadets neither lie, cheat, steal, nor attempt to deceive." Its guiding phrase is "Cadets Revere Honor." Source: USCGA Catalog: About

6. The Creed of the United States Coast Guardsman, written in 1938 by former Commandant Vice Admiral Harry Hamlet. Its opening line is "I am proud to be a United States Coast Guardsman." Source: MyCG (uscg.mil)

7. "Semper Paratus," the service song. The 2017 Parents Association handbook says swabs will be "singing Semper Paratus before you know it." Source: 2017 Cadet Handbook Lyrics aren't reproduced here because their copyright status wasn't confirmed.

8. Coast Guard officer ranks and enlisted rates. Learn the grades and insignia from official Coast Guard sources. Source: USCGA cadet blog, March 13, 2023

9. The Code of Conduct. This is public-domain federal text that applies to all the armed forces. Source: National Archives: EO 10631

10. How the Corps is organized by class. First-class cadets lead the Corps. Second-class cadets serve as Assistant Division Officers. Third-class cadets mentor fourth-class cadets. Fourth-class cadets serve as followers. Source: USCGA: Mission

• Anything the cadre assign from the current Running Light. One cadet warns that reporting in with every word memorized can backfire: "if the cadre figure it out, they'll make you memorize something entirely different." Source: USCGA cadet blog (Emma Deery)
• Daily and unit knowledge: your company, your cadre's names and the day's schedule.

• Know the mission and the Ethos cold before Day One. Then stop. Both cadet accounts above say the rest of the summer is built for learning the book on site.
• Use spaced flashcards for the mission. It's a single long sentence, so learn it clause by clause.
• Learn ranks and rates visually, with insignia images from official sources.
• Break in two pairs of sneakers and train on hills. The campus is hilly. Source: USCGA cadet blog (Emma Deery) · USCGA cadet blog, June 16, 2025

There's a starter deck taken from uscga.edu and official Coast Guard pages. Open the deck below.

• Mission, Honor Concept and Academy motto: uscga.edu and catalog.uscga.edu, checked October 21, 2026.
• Core values and Creed: MyCG (uscg.mil), August 9, 2024.
• Ethos: the Coast Guard Recruit Training Pocket Guide.
• The book itself: the current Running Light edition year and contents weren't confirmed from an official source.
• Advice on what to know by Day One: comes from cadet blog posts published on uscga.edu, not from a formal Academy directive.

This page summarizes and links to official sources. It does not reproduce The Running Light, and Academy Dreams is not affiliated with the U.S. Coast Guard Academy.