Mr. Sean Plankey, ADM Kevin Lunday, MCPOCG Phil Waldron, RDML Zeita Merchant, and BMCM Grant Heffner held a town hall yesterday to discuss the People Campaign of Force Design 2028. With significant changes underway in the Coast Guard—and even more on the horizon—the discussion highlighted key initiatives.
If you want to watch the full video, it is available right here (CAC required).
BMCM Heffner, senior enlisted advisor to Mr. Plankey, offered a note of caution: “We don’t have all the answers yet, but we’re working through them. We have smart teams in place to drive on the initiatives that were outlined in the {Force Design 2028} Executive Plan Summary.”
RDML Merchant, the Flag Champion for the People Campaign, is laser-focused on readiness. “We have ‘done more with less’ for so long,” she said, “that we have forgotten what true readiness feels like, what true readiness is.” Force Design intends to change that.
So let’s get right to it! Here are some key takeaways from the People Campaign’s Town Hall:
Physical Fitness
Before the end of the calendar year, all military members must take a Physical Fitness Assessment (PFA) to determine their personal baseline. The Coast Guard will use the consolidated and anonymized results to determine the future of the fleet-wide Physical Fitness Test.
“Fitness is inherent in our responsibility as a military service,” ADM Lunday said. “And it’s nothing new. We all did a physical fitness test at whatever accession source we came in through.”
Soon, the Commandant and MCPOCG will release their Commander’s Intent about the PFA. Following that, the Deputy Commandant for Personnel will issue an ALCOAST with detailed implementation guidance. For additional updates, members can visit MyCG.
Recruit and Grow
The size of our workforce will finally match the size of our mission. To grow our military workforce by 15,000 members by 2028, we will continue to open new recruiting offices. Since 2023, we’ve opened 15 new recruiting offices and will open six more in the next 10 months alone. Additionally, we are broadening eligibility criteria by removing restrictions that do not accurately predict a recruit’s potential while refusing to lower our standards.
Accommodating 15,000 new service members requires investment in training infrastructure. So, we will invest in Training Center Cape May and the Coast Guard Academy as top locations for developing personnel, while expanding capacity across all of our training centers and beyond.
Our civilian workforce processes are also undergoing transformation. We are modernizing hiring and onboarding to ensure faster, more efficient processes. Soon, new civilian hires will have access to technology on their first day—allowing them to contribute immediately to the mission.
Train and Develop
We are training smarter, not harder by delivering student-focused, technology-supported learning solutions. Step one: identify training needs. ALCOAST 331/25 Force Design 2028 – Mandatory Development of Master Training Lists (MTL) requires program offices to develop MTL for all units, which FORCECOM will validate and use to expand training courses to ensure members receive the right training at the right time. With validated training requirements, we can invest properly to develop the future force.
To modernize our HR systems, the Coast Guard recently issued a Request for Information (RFI) to solicit proposals for a new Human Resources Information Technology (HRIT) system. We will host an industry day this fall where vendors will showcase their commercial products and demonstrate what is possible. Our HR systems – breaking news – are antiquated. We need to close the digital divide between Coast Guard systems and the rest of the world by smartly investing in modern technology.
We’ve moved civilian workforce management functions into the Personnel Services Center to clearly delineate between policy-making (a HQ-function) and operations (a service center-function). We’re working on developing a Civilian Career Progression Framework and increasing access to advanced education, leadership programs, and industry training for civilians.
Sustain and Retain
You can’t perform at your peak without proper support. We’re leaning into new ways to deliver quality health care to you and your families. We’re increasing health care access across the board and expanding telehealth options. We’re upgrading our infrastructure and improving habitability to improve your – and your family’s – quality of life.
ALCOAST 362/25 Reserve Component Mission Types and Utilization of the Force focused the Reserve mission and structure for faster mobilization and better management. This clarity of purpose ensures the Reserve is not “just” filing gaps, but a sustained source of operational depth, ready to surge at scale when the Nation calls.
Looking Ahead
The People Campaign of Force Design 2028 represents a bold vision for the future of the Coast Guard –one that prioritizes the health, growth, and development of its workforce while ensuring alignment with mission demands. From physical fitness assessments to recruitment expansion, smarter training methods, and enhanced support systems, these initiatives are designed to build a stronger and ready force.
Stay engaged, stay informed, and continue to contribute to the success of Force Design 2028. For more updates and resources, visit MyCG or the Force Design 2028 website.
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