Strengthening the quality of life for Coast Guard members and their families has been a focus of the service’s top officer and enlisted leader, who used a State of the Coast Guard address last month to outline some recent improvements.

Here are some of the topics discussed by Commandant Adm. Karl Schultz and Master Chief Petty Officer of the Coast Guard Jason Vanderhaden during the Feb. 24 speech at Coast Guard Air Station Clearwater, Fla., where Coast Guard aircraft launched in 2021 to provide support to earthquake-stricken Haiti and evacuate 316 Haitians to safety.

[READ THE FULL ADDRESS (PDF) | WATCH THE ADDRESS]

Housing allowance reform. Vanderhaden led off the address by acknowledging the challenges with soaring housing costs. Among the service’s countermeasures: A data-tracking system developed by CS1 Zachary Knapp, a local housing officer at Coast Guard Base Charleston, S.C., that resulted in an increased housing allowance rate for 55,000 uniformed servicemembers in that geographic area. 

Family support. The Coast Guard activates reservists to support its parental leave program. Use of the Reserve, with 50% of its members activated since 2021, communicates support for Coast Guard families and maintains crew integrity without the added pressure for a new parent leaving a gap for their crew. This successful program has contributed to a 28% increase in female midlevel leader workforce compared with four years ago.

Child care. The largest investment in child care in a decade, the service has invested $120 million in construction of child development centers  along with a $6 million increase for the child care subsidy program. Construction and improvements will reach stations in multiple states, including Alabama, Alaska, California, North Carolina, Massachusetts, and Oregon. These improvements come as a lack of childcare had led to record high spousal unemployment, which talented servicemembers must weigh when considering whether to stay with the force.

[TAKE ACTION: Ask Your Lawmakers to Support the Jobs and Childcare for Military Families Act]

Tuition assistance. Schultz announced the service will raise tuition assistance to the maximum-authorized amount of $4,500, up from $3,750, to support professional and educational goals.

Electronic health records. MHS Genesis, the new electronic health record which can exchange information with DoD and eventually will be interoperable with VA’s system, is being implemented this year at Coast Guard clinics and sickbays. MOAA is working on the Hill to ensure the Coast Guard and DoD can effectively use MHS Genesis data to measure access and quality of care.

Family Assessment Support Tool (FAST). The service created FAST in response to Hurricane Ida, a Category 4 storm that hit the gulf region and displaced 1,600 Coast Guard personnel and families last year. The tool helps coordinate medical support and temporary housing; it supported temporary lodging for over 700 people affected by Ida, and coordinated limited emergency medical care.

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Engineers to support construction. The FY 2022 budget added 26 civil engineer positions to the service – positions critical for oversight to address substandard barracks, housing conditions and construction of shore facilities.

Shared Concerns

After the address, crews at Air Station Clearwater were proud to display their equipment and aircraft that performed many lifesaving rescues over the last year. Pride in those missions and accomplishments run deep. With that pride there is also a common concern: When asked to name their top concern,  housing and PCS challenges rise to the top.

In step with those across the uniformed services, housing is a growing problem forcing many to live up to an hour away from their duty station. The housing environment also makes PCS uncertainty hard on families. Every change of station adds to the common stress over finding affordable housing, a good school, child care and continued employment for spouses.

You can follow MOAA’s work to address these challenges at MOAA’s Advocacy News page.