Uniforms
All students will wear the Operational Dress Uniform (ODU), Monday through Friday, with the exception of the last Monday of each month. Unit ball caps are authorized unless it is faded or soiled. On the last Monday of the month, all students at the Defense Information School (DINFOS) will wear Tropical Blue Long with either the garrison or combination cover. Additionally, all BPASC students will wear Service Dress Blue for their graduation ceremony. BPASC students will also wear Coast Guard PT clothing while working out or on days indicated by their instructor.
Physical Fitness
All BPASC students will complete a physical fitness plan upon check-in with the Coast Guard detachment staff. All PT will be documented on a PT tracking sheet. Students must accumulate no less than 20 points per week. Tracking sheets will be turned in to one of the Coast Guard detachment petty officers every Friday. All other Coast Guard students are encouraged to continue their PT regiment while at DINFOS. Ft. Meade offers two gymnasiums, one of which includes an indoor swimming pool. Members are also encouraged to PT with BPASC students if time permits. Please see a Coast Guard detachment staff member if you would like to PT with BPASC students
Weight Standards
All students are expected to arrive and remain within the Coast Guard weight standards. Any student suspected of not meeting this standard may be sent to the Coast Guard Yard Medical Clinic for an assessment. By Coast Guard policy, any student exceeding their maximum allowable weight will be sent back to their home unit.
Personal Mail
BPASC: During your in-processing at the Marine Student Detachment you will be assigned a Post Office Box located at the detachment. The MARDET staff at that time will inform you of your mailing address while at Ft. Meade. For "C" school students who are enrolled in long courses, such as IPC: Mail may be sent to the attention of the Coast Guard student detachment at:
6500 Mapes Road
Fort Meade, MD 20755
Please ensure your name is on any mail you may be expecting and notify the Coast Guard staff at DINFOS of any expected mail.
Meals and Dining
Meals are available to all students at the Chesapeake Dining Facility, located near the student service detachments roughly one block from DINFOS.
Hours are as follows:
Monday – Friday
Breakfast: 6 a.m. – 8 a.m.
Lunch: 11:30 a.m. – 1 p.m.
Dinner: 5 p.m. – 6:30 p.m.
Saturday – Sunday
Breakfast: 8 a.m. – 9:30 a.m.
Lunch: 11:30 a.m. – 1 p.m.
Dinner: 5 p.m. – 7 p.m.
BPASC Students will be issued meal cards upon arrival at Fort Meade. All other students may pay for meals at the military meal rate.
Smoking
While it is not encouraged, smoking is permitted only in the smoking area at DINFOS. The smoking area is located in the gazebo outside The Cup coffee shop. Exit through the glass doors next to The Cup. Smoking is only authorized inside the gazebo. All areas outside the gazebo are non-smoking areas. Covers and salutes are not required in the smoking area or outside areas around the gazebo.
Emergency Contact Information
The Coast Guard Liaison staff can be contacted at:
(301) 677-4472/4947
Before you leave your home unit be sure to provide your family with a contact number, such as cell phone. As a final option, family may contact the CG Liaison staff at the numbers above in the event of an emergency.