US Coast Guard enlists 5,445 in fiscal 2026, its largest class in nearly four decades

Right · 2The US Coast Guard enlisted 5,445 active-duty members in fiscal year 2026, its largest enlisted class in nearly four decades, and surpassed its recruiting goals for the third consecutive year. 1 2 Right · 2The figure compares with 5,204 enlistees in fiscal 2025 and 4,422 in fiscal 2024. 2 1 Right · 2The service also commissioned 346 active-duty officers, the second-highest total in its history. 1 2

Right · 2Vice Commandant Adm. Tom Allan said the Coast Guard surpassed its goals because "Americans are ready and willing to serve", and thanked recruiters for their results. 1 2 Right · 1Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin said in a statement that the numbers show "the call to serve still resonates deeply across our country". 1 Right · 2During the year the Coast Guard opened four recruiting offices, in Miami, Long Island (New York), Austin (Texas) and the Netherlands. 1 2

Right · 2It also awarded a $400 million contract to modernize Training Center Cape May in New Jersey, its sole enlisted basic training center and the largest shore construction award in its history. 1 2 Right · 2The gains come under Force Design, a modernization initiative that aims to grow the Coast Guard's military workforce by at least 15,000 members by the end of fiscal year 2028. 1 2 Right · 1Just the News, carrying a Center Square report, ties the recruiting record to nearly $25 billion allocated by the Trump administration and Congress through the "Big Beautiful Bill", which it says is funding an estimated 17 new icebreakers, 21 new cutters, more than 40 helicopters and six C-130J aircraft. 2

Right · 1That report also lists recent operations, including four new "Customs Enforcement Areas" set up in August that extend enforcement from 12 to 24 nautical miles, and Operation Pacific Viper, in which it says 200,000 pounds of cocaine were seized. 2