PEOPLE

FORCE DESIGN 2028

EMPOWERING THE COAST GUARD TO PROTECT THE AMERICAN PEOPLE AND THE HOMELAND

FD2028 - TOWN HALL VIDEO - PEOPLE CAMPAIGN (CAC REQUIRED)

(CAC REQUIRED)

Force Design - People Town Hall

The Coast Guard workforce is at the core of the Service. However, for decades, chronic manning shortages at front-line units have hampered the Service's ability to execute its missions. These gaps also created an unacceptable risk to its personnel and the public. The Coast Guard will restore its most important treasure—our Coast Guard men and women that make up the total workforce of Active Duty and Reserve military personnel, Civilian employees, and Auxiliary volunteers. 

The Coast Guard is not right-sized for its missions. The Service will grow its military workforce by at least 15,000 members by the end of Fiscal Year 2028 to restore readiness, operate a growing fleet, and deploy new capabilities to meet the increasing and evolving threats. 

The Service will also fix the mismatched balance across grade levels and specialties by recognizing that leveraging the right talent means moving the Coast Guard away from the outdated and ineffective 50-year-old pyramid workforce structure. 

Key Initiatives Include: 

  • Transform the workforce into a stronger, more ready and capable fighting force

    The Coast Guard will fully align with the President’s Executive Order on “Restoring America’s Fighting Force” to focus on selection and promotion by merit, prizing leadership and unit cohesion. It will also institute a physical fitness test for all its military members because overall readiness starts with personal readiness.

  • Restoring a skilled and ready enlisted workforce

    The Coast Guard will modernize and expand accessions for the Active Duty and Reserve components. It will attract patriotic young Americans looking to serve their country by investing in recruiting incentives, marketing research, and personnel support. 

  • Invest in future officer leaders

    Although much of the growth will be in the enlisted ranks, the Service will also grow its officer corps through investments in the Coast Guard Academy, Officer Candidate School, and direct commissioning programs to attract talent from entry level to lateral entry from competitive fields in the private sector. 

  • Revitalize the Coast Guard Reserve

    The Coast Guard will focus the Reserves on preparation for full-scale mobilization in a time of war, national emergency, or major contingency. A renewed focus will enable the Coast Guard to better structure and ensure readiness of the Reserve force to mobilize and respond at speed and scale to enable the Service to win.

  • Transfer operational and service-delivery functions out of Coast Guard Headquarters
    Removing non-headquarters personnel and functions from the St. Elizabeth’s campus to other established locations will enable a more decisive, agile, and effective Coast Guard. 

     

  • Remove unnecessary bureaucratic hurdles for the civilian workforce

    The Coast Guard relies heavily on the dedication and expertise of its civilian workforce. The Coast Guard will remove obstacles that hinder their success by restructuring the workforce management system and providing leadership training and opportunities to attract and retain the best patriots our Nation has to offer.