Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

Personnel Shortage At U.S. Coast Guard Sinks 10 Cutters, 29 Stations
Forbes ^ | 11/06/2023 | Craig Hooper

Posted on 11/06/2023 9:55:04 PM PST by SeekAndFind

Recruitment and retention challenges have led the U.S. Coast Guard into a system-wide service retreat. A 3500-person shortfall—a nearly 10% shortage in the enlisted ranks—is forcing the Coast Guard to take ten cutters out of service, transfer five tugs to seasonal activation, and shutter 29 boat stations.

The moves, couched as a bland “AY 24 Force Alignment Initiative”, present an unprecedented loss of maritime capability at a time when the United States is facing an array of complex challenges at sea. But the Coast Guard simply “cannot maintain the same level of operations” going forward. Behind the scenes, the service is using the crisis to advance an array of modern management and personnel initiatives to help bring more people into the Coast Guard—and keep them there.

The cuts, coming as the Coast Guard has, according to Coast Guard Commandant Admiral Linda Fagan, “never been in greater demand around the world,” will hurt, but leaders were quick to assure the realignment will not cause a decay in existing Search and Rescue capabilities. But, at a minimum, the Coast Guard’s retreat does reduce redundancy and raises risk.

The cuts will roil the enforcement of America’s maritime border, opening new and dangerous opportunities for migrants, drug smugglers and criminal networks.

The Coast Guard’s emergency service drawdown, however painful, is necessary. The Coast Guard’s underfunded and overworked force of 57,000 active duty and reserve personnel have been stretched thin for a long, long time. But Fagan’s decisive action, coming just days after the Coast Guard was boxed out of a $100 billion funding supplemental for security and the border, is more than just a prudent effort to redirect Coast Guard personnel towards 1700 mission-critical billets. It is a cry for help.

(Excerpt) Read more at forbes.com ...


TOPICS: Business/Economy; Extended News; Foreign Affairs; Government; News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: coastguard; labor; maritimesecurity; portsecurity; shortage
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first 1-2021-33 next last

1 posted on 11/06/2023 9:55:04 PM PST by SeekAndFind
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | View Replies]

To: SeekAndFind

And now, collapsing of our maritime borders.

Why even pretend to be a “country”?

/s


2 posted on 11/06/2023 9:58:12 PM PST by lightman (I am a binary Trinitarian. Deal with it!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: SeekAndFind

I don’t think many Americans want to be the Coast Guard’s new Eco-Warriors floating around counting penguins and Cola bears.


3 posted on 11/06/2023 9:59:32 PM PST by FlingWingFlyer ('Build Back Better' is a Bidenskyyyyyyism for 'we gotta get rid of all dem white peoples'.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: FlingWingFlyer
I don’t think many Americans want to be the Coast Guard’s new Eco-Warriors floating around counting penguins and Cola bears.

I just watched a Scottish Comedian saying when he was swimming in the ocean with plastic trash hitting him in the back of his head, it occurred to him that they need to make plastic heaver so that it would sink to the bottom of the ocean.

4 posted on 11/06/2023 10:06:38 PM PST by higgmeister (In the Shadow of The Big Chicken! )
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 3 | View Replies]

To: SeekAndFind

Looking more and more like the fall of the Soviet Union every moment of every day


5 posted on 11/06/2023 10:11:58 PM PST by Karliner (Heb 4:12 Rom 8:28 Rev 3, "...This is the end of the beginning." Churchill)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: SeekAndFind

My nephew is in the Coast Guard, and says it’s affecting the way they can respond to emergencies.


6 posted on 11/06/2023 10:14:31 PM PST by Mark17 (Retired USAF air traffic controller. Father of USAF Captain & pilot. Both bitten by the aviation bug)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: SeekAndFind

Shows how many people want to be in the U.S. military under Mr. Potato Head as CIC and Austen/Milley.


7 posted on 11/06/2023 10:21:46 PM PST by EinNYC
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: SeekAndFind

People may not want to be in ships with all of the wokeness in the military services.


8 posted on 11/06/2023 10:33:04 PM PST by Dr. Franklin ("A republic, if you can keep it." )
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: SeekAndFind

9 posted on 11/06/2023 10:44:20 PM PST by Governor Dinwiddie (LORD, grant thy people grace to withstand the temptations of the world, the flesh, and the devil.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: SeekAndFind

Patriots need to be home, not in ships promoting the trans life-style.


10 posted on 11/06/2023 10:49:25 PM PST by 13foxtrot
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: SeekAndFind

$2 trillion annual deficit, $34 trillion debt, so what do we cut? Protecting our border, naturally. Our goose is cooked


11 posted on 11/06/2023 11:01:03 PM PST by ProtectOurFreedom (“Occupy your mind with good thoughts or your enemy will fill them with bad ones.” ~ Thomas More)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: SeekAndFind

https://youtu.be/p8ctKIwCUhc?si=aYC3XkjhQEeQrLtX

Bobby Knight marine recruitment ad.


12 posted on 11/06/2023 11:23:29 PM PST by TornadoAlley3 ( I'm Proud To Be An Okie From Muskogee)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: SeekAndFind

“...according to Coast Guard Commandant Admiral Linda Fagan”

At least they quickly get to the rut of the problem (a little Rush Limbaugh lingo there).


13 posted on 11/07/2023 12:06:06 AM PST by BobL (I eat at McDonald's and shop at Walmart, I just don't tell anyone)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: SeekAndFind

the folks are getting out al because of uncle joe.


14 posted on 11/07/2023 12:48:25 AM PST by Terry L Smith
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: SeekAndFind

Lack of people willing to associate with requirements of President B. Hussein Obama and President[s] Joseph [Stalin, Lenin, Mao, ‘Jim’ Acosta, Panetta, Podesta, Blumenthal, Clinton, Harris . . . ] Biden, tha

ALL MUST OBEY and TOLERATE:

- homosexuals
- transvestites
- women in combat and command


15 posted on 11/07/2023 12:59:12 AM PST by linMcHlp
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: SeekAndFind

“...using the crisis to advance...”

Wouldn’t want to let it go to waste.


16 posted on 11/07/2023 1:44:48 AM PST by one guy in new jersey
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: SeekAndFind

Oh, sure. Need to make political fodder and can’t find the funds to Build Back Better? Let’s totally revamp the Coast Guard. That should do it.


17 posted on 11/07/2023 1:49:52 AM PST by Delta 21 (If anyone is treasonous, it is those who call me such.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: SeekAndFind
Somebody didn't think through this plan:

Army starts no-penalty purge of ‘ineffective’ recruiters

18 posted on 11/07/2023 3:22:00 AM PST by Timber Rattler ("To be prepared for war is one of the most effectual means of preserving peace." --George Washington)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: SeekAndFind

Like the 3% cut in Spec Op forces due to lack of meeting diversity quotas, is this the cause of CG’s problem aslo?


19 posted on 11/07/2023 3:56:21 AM PST by PIF (They came for me and mine ... now its your turn)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: EinNYC

The CG is DHS, not military.


20 posted on 11/07/2023 3:58:15 AM PST by PIF (They came for me and mine ... now its your turn)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 7 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first 1-2021-33 next last

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson