FIRST ON FOX: US Coast Guard recruits largest class in nearly 40 years, beats goals for third straight year
The Coast Guard enlisted 5,445 active-duty members in fiscal year 2026, its largest class in nearly four decades as Force Design aims to add 15,000.
TL;DR
- The U.S. Coast Guard enlisted 5,445 active-duty members in fiscal year 2026, its largest class in nearly 40 years.
- Recruiting goals were surpassed for the third consecutive year (5,445 in FY26, 5,204 in FY25, 4,422 in FY24).
- The service commissioned 346 active-duty officers, the second-highest total in its history.
- Recruiting efforts were expanded with four new offices opened in Miami, Long Island, Austin, and the Netherlands.
- A $400 million contract was awarded to modernize Training Center Cape May, the sole basic training center for enlisted recruits.
- The recruitment gains support the Force Design initiative, which aims to expand the Coast Guard's military workforce by at least 15,000 members by the end of fiscal year 2028.