August M
The U.S. Coast Guard has recorded its strongest year of recruitment since 1991, bringing in more than 5,200 new active-duty service members in fiscal 2025, according to Military Times.
If the service-members in the U.S. Coast Guard have a hard time remembering the names of all their new colleagues, it’s understandable.
The service announced that it recruited 5,204 new active-duty enlisted personnel during fiscal year 2025 — far surpassing its goal of 4,300 and marking the highest total since 1991. Adm. Kevin Lunday, the acting commandant, said the results reflect growing enthusiasm among Americans to join the force.
“More Americans want to serve in the Coast Guard than ever before,” Lunday said in a statement cited by Military Times. “We aren’t just growing – we are bringing in the best talent from across the United States and building the workforce of the future.”
This is the second year in a row the Coast Guard has met its active-duty recruitment target, after enlisting 4,422 new service members in fiscal 2024.
Growth across all branches
According to the statement from the Coast Guard, it also achieved record results in its officer and reserve programs. The service commissioned 371 new officers — the largest number in its recorded history — and enlisted 777 reservists, surpassing its goal of 750.
It marks the third consecutive year that the Coast Guard has met or exceeded its reserve recruitment goals, demonstrating consistent momentum amid broader military recruitment challenges affecting other U.S. armed services.
Expanding recruitment reach
To sustain the surge, the Coast Guard opened seven new recruiting offices in fiscal 2025.
The new locations include Miami, Los Angeles, Cincinnati, Long Island (New York), Austin (Texas), Grand Rapids (Michigan), and Davenport (Iowa), according to the report.
Preparing for Force Design 2028
The recruitment success coincides with the service’s broader transformation effort, known as Force Design 2028 — a plan launched in May by Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem to build “a more agile, capable, responsive fighting force”, according to a release from the U.S. Coast Guard at the time.
An executive report outlining the initiative includes creating the first-ever Coast Guard service secretary, modernizing contracting and acquisitions, integrating advanced technologies, and phasing out outdated programs.
The plan calls for increasing the military workforce by 15,000 personnel by fiscal 2028 to strengthen national readiness and operational capacity.
Sources: Military Times, U.S. Coast Guard Public Affairs, Department of Homeland Security.
This article is made and published by August M, who may have used AI in the preparation
