Coast Guard’s recruitment challenge: Photos of the Week

The United States Coast Guard Faces Recruiting Challenges

The United States Coast Guard, like other branches of the military, is currently struggling to attract new recruits. Rear Adm. Shannon Gilreath, commander of the Fifth Coast Guard District based in Virginia, recently spoke to the Washington Examiner about the staffing shortages in the mid-Atlantic region, which have a significant impact on the Coast Guard’s “readiness and resiliency.”

“There is no secret that the Coast Guard is facing our toughest recruiting challenge in more than a decade,” Gilreath said. “Men and women assigned to the Fifth District fill large roles in the mid-Atlantic, from maintaining over 7,900 aids to navigation to patrolling the vast 1.4 million square miles of oceans, bays, and rivers.”

With a relatively small service of 54,000 active and reserve members, and an even smaller workforce assigned to the Fifth District (2,500 active duty, 674 reserve, and 141 civilians), the shortage of staff has a significant impact on their personal and family lives. Gilreath explained that the operational tempo increases, but there is not enough downtime for them to recharge.

To gain a better understanding of the challenges faced by the Coast Guard, the Washington Examiner invited photographer Graeme Jennings to capture training exercises at the United States Coast Guard Training Center in Cape May, New Jersey, and at the Coast Guard Air Defense Facility in Washington, D.C.

Coast Guard Training Exercises

Take a look at these captivating images captured by Jennings, showcasing Coast Guard weapons training, search and rescue missions, and aviation operations.