Coast Guard units will be temporarily deactivated in a consolidation this year as the service grapples with one of the largest workforce shortages in its history.
What this means for Hampton Roads — home to the Coast Guard City of Portsmouth and a hub for the service’s Atlantic operations — is unknown, an official said.
“While there is new stress with change, the Coast Guard cannot maintain the same level of operations with a workforce shortfall of this magnitude. We cannot do the same with less people,” said Lt. Luke Pinneo, public affairs officer for Portsmouth-based District 5.
The deactivation is part of a servicewide “force alignment initiative” that will begin taking effect this summer. Across the Coast Guard, units with redundant capabilities nearby will be consolidated for the foreseeable future. Members assigned to the affected units will be “strategically relocated” in the coming months.
The Coast Guard has reported missing its recruiting targets for four consecutive years, and as of April 2023, the service was understaffed by 10% — or around 5,000 members. The shortage exceeds 10% in some mission-critical jobs, such as cyberspace, specialized forces and marine inspectors.
“This is a dynamic, challenging, and changing situation,” Pinneo said. “We recognize it as a multiyear challenge and expect that shortage to grow throughout 2024. Exact numbers are unknown as decisions…
