A nervous 19-year-old from St. Petersburg, the scion of a Russian naval family, has become the first citizen of his country ever to enroll at a U.S. service academy.
Kirill Goussev will be treated as "just another swab" in his four years at the U.S. Coast Guard Academy, said Rear Adm. Paul E. Versaw, the academy's superintendent.Goussev was pale but composed as Versaw welcomed him as a member of the class of 1997. During a swearing-in ceremony Wednesday, Goussev promised he would not divulge any information of military value that he might pick up.
"Kirill, you are the first Russian cadet we've ever had at any of our military academies," Versaw said. "I can tell you personally that at times when relations between our countries were not good, we in the Coast Guard maintained open lines with your country so we could cooperate in search and rescue operations."
Goussev arrived in the country on Sunday, after his first trip by airplane. He was feeling extremely nervous but happy, he said. "I'm glad to be here," he said. "I think it's important for our countries to make connections."
He said his father and grandfather, both Russian naval officers, supported his decision to come to America. Goussev will major in naval engineering.
"Goussev will be treated as just another swab," the rear admiral said. "We're very glad to have him, but he has some catching up to do."
Goussev was a member of the Russian Frontier Forces, the country's equivalent of the Coast Guard, at the time he was selected from 12 Russian candidates to attend the academy, Petty Officer David Santos said.
He will return to the frontier forces after he gets his bachelor's degree, Santos said.
Four other international recruits, from Cameroon, Thailand, Poland and Panama, also were sworn in Wednesday.