There is no doubt about who's in charge. During the eight week period, some people will give up, some will suffer the heartbreak of wanting to stay but will be released for medical reasons and others will be reverted or rephased to other companies. I'm going to push them to their limits. Most Coast Guard recruits are able to deal with the physical and mental strains of boot camp. They adapt to the lifestyle and start getting the idea of what it's like to pull together.
Recruits spend many hours in the classroom and on the fourth week, they'll face the mid-term exam.
This will cover their knowledge of seamanship, military customs and courtesies, and Coast Guard history. On the eighth week the recruits face the final academic and physical fitness tests. They take an exam that covers all they've learned during boot camp. Those who fail, are retested. If they fail that, they're reverted to the next company to begin their training all over again.