The stamp celebrates all the cadets whose dedication embodies the Coast Guard motto: Semper Paratus (Always Ready)

NEW LONDON, Conn., Sept. 12, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — The Postal Service continues its tradition of honoring American military academies by issuing a stamp commemorating the 150th anniversary of the U.S. Coast Guard Academy. A dedication ceremony for the stamp was held today at Custom House Pier in New London.

“U.S. postage stamps celebrate the very best of America, and we are proud to feature the U.S. Coast Guard Academy on millions of letters that will be sent across the country,” said Marc McCrery, USPS customer experience vice president and dedicating official. “I hope this stamp will serve as a reminder of how the cadets who graduate from the academy will serve with bravery and excellence and follow the Coast Guard motto: Semper Paratus — Always Ready.” 

Joining McCrery were Rear Adm. Gregory C. Rothrock, U.S. Coast Guard Academy superintendent, and Capt. Kristopher Ensley, the USCGC Eagle training vessel’s commanding officer.

The academy educates young cadets and provides them with the skills and experience they need to successfully lead others as officers in the U.S. Coast Guard. The academy develops leaders of character who will shape the future of the service as it transforms into a more agile, capable and responsive fighting force ready to meet the complex global challenges of the 21st century.

“We are incredibly proud that the Postal Service has chosen to honor the Coast Guard Academy with this stamp,” said Rothrock said. “This recognition highlights the critical importance of the Coast Guard to our nation’s security and our unwavering commitment to developing the next generation of Coast Guard officers.”

The Academy’s History

On July 31, 1876, Congress passed legislation authorizing what would become the U.S. Coast Guard Academy. Originally named the Revenue Cutter School of Instruction, it started with no real campus in the traditional sense.

Instead, on May 25, 1877, nine cadets joined three officers, a surgeon, six warrant officers and 17 enlisted crewmen for an extended training mission aboard the topsail schooner James C. Dobbin. This established a core principle that remains true today: The sea is the ultimate proving ground for a Coast Guard officer. Over the course of their journey, the cadets learned the foundational navigation and sailing skills that would prepare them for careers securing the nation’s ports and waterways as officers in the Revenue Cutter Service.

The following year, a new three-masted barque — the cutter Salmon P. Chase — replaced the aging Dobbin. The Chase would go on to serve as the school’s primary training vessel for nearly three decades, cementing a proud legacy that later training ships such as the Itasca and Eagle would carry into the future.

The Revenue Cutter School of Instruction moved ashore in 1900, first taking up residence in Curtis Bay, MD. In 1910, it moved to Fort Trumbull outside of New London. The school became known as the U.S. Coast Guard Academy after the merger of the Revenue Cutter Service and the Life Saving Service formed the Coast Guard in 1915. Additional maritime agencies combined with the organization over the years to form the Coast Guard of today. In 1932, the school outgrew the confines of Fort Trumbull and moved to a new campus two miles up the river. In the years since, it has grown to include more than 30 buildings across 103 acres. The academy began accepting women into its ranks in 1976.

Today, the academy boasts a student body of around 1,070 cadets. Applicants must meet high academic standards, display strong ethics and pass a physical fitness exam before earning a spot. Cadets can select one of 10 majors, including government, marine and environmental sciences, cyber systems, and several engineering disciplines. Additionally, like their predecessors aboard the Dobbin and the Chase, all cadets gain firsthand knowledge of seamanship aboard “America’s Tall Ship,” the barque Eagle, sometimes on weekslong cruises that carry them across oceans.

Each graduate commits to at least five years of service and earns both a Bachelor of Science degree and a commission as an ensign in the U.S. Coast Guard. Most elect to serve beyond their initial commitments. As officers, graduates take leadership roles among the Coast Guard’s many essential missions, which include defending the nation, protecting the marine transportation system, regulating and safeguarding ports and waterways, maritime drug interdiction, and securing the maritime border.

Graduates will serve aboard the most technologically advanced vessels in Coast Guard history, providing key contributions demonstrating the Coast Guard’s essential role in protecting our nation’s interests at home and abroad. While the Coast Guard works primarily in and around U.S. waters, it also conducts international operations, including foreign port security inspections and polar icebreaking.

The Art of the Stamp

The stamp art features photographs of the barque Eagle, the academy’s primary training vessel since 1946, and USCGC Bertholf, a Legend-class national security cutter whose missions include maritime drug interdiction and securing the maritime border.

Antonio Alcalá, an art director for USPS, designed this stamp. The Eagle photo was taken by Coast Guard Petty Officer 2nd Class Matthew Thieme and the Bertholf photo was taken by Coast Guard Petty Officer 1st Class Steven Strohmaier.

“Eagle is more than just a beautiful ship; it is a vital floating classroom where cadets forge the leadership and seamanship skills required to lead in today’s Coast Guard,” Ensley said. “We deeply appreciate Eagle being featured on this stamp, honoring the rigorous training that ensures our service remains always ready.”

The stamps come in panes of 20. As Forever stamps, they will always be equal in value to the current First-Class Mail 1‑ounce price. News of the stamp is being shared with the hashtag #USCoastGuardStamp.

Postal Products

Customers may purchase stamps and other philatelic products through The Postal Store at usps.com/shopstamps, by calling 844-737-7826, by mail through USA Philatelic, or at Post Office locations nationwide. For officially licensed stamp products, shop the USPS Officially Licensed Collection on Amazon. Additional information on stamps, first-day-of-issue ceremonies and stamp-inspired products can be found at stampsforever.com.

National contact: David P. Coleman
david.p.coleman@usps.gov 
202-425-1476
usps.com/news 

Connecticut contact: Amy Gibbs
amy.n.gibbs@usps.gov 
347-668-6709

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SOURCE U.S. Postal Service