LOS ANGELES (May 26, 2025) A U.S. Coast Guard MH-60T Sikorsky Jayhawk helicopter conducts an aerial search and rescue demonstration for Los Angeles Fleet Week, May 26, 2025. Nearly 1,000 Sailors, Marines, and Coast Guardsmen will showcase their capabilities and equipment, participate in various community service events, and enjoy the hospitality of Los Angeles during the event. (Navy photo by MCS Seaman Shepard Fosdyke-Jackson) The appearance of U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) visual information does not imply or constitute DoD endorsement.
By: FEDweek StaffThe Coast Guard needs to take additional steps to resolve its recruitment and retention issue, according to the top federal watchdog agency.
“It’s hard [for the Coast Guard] to retain personnel because they face frequent relocations, their work environments are demanding, and pay and benefits may be better in the private sector,” the Government Accountability Office stated in a recent report.
The Coast Guard has taken steps to address the issue, with monetary and nonmonetary incentives – as well as a Career Intention Survey. However, more data is needed in order to better target personnel the service wants to attract and retain, and provide them with the skills and training they need to perform their missions, according to GAO.
It said the service lost more than 3,800 enlisteds in fiscal 2023 (Oct. 1, 2022-Sept. 30, 2023) while attracting only 3,126. It also mentioned that the numbers improved for fiscal 2024, with the service enlisting 1,000 more than it lost. “However, even with this gain, it remained approximately 2,600 enlisted service members short of its enlisted workforce target,” the report stated.
It said the Coast Guard also should develop “a clear plan that aligns initiatives with strategic objectives [that would include] time frames and milestones,” to give the recruitment and retention effort a better means of measuring its efforts to bolster strength.
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