The Coast Guard has fallen short of its recruitment targets for the past four years, according to the Government Accountability Office, as Federal Times reported.

“Competition with higher paying jobs in the private sector, limited opportunities for promotion and long work hours have made it challenging to recruit and retain these personnel,” GAO Director of Homeland Security and Justice Heather MacLeod said in recent Senate testimony.

The Coast Guard has about 46,000 enlistees, in addition to a civilian workforce. The branch, which is part of the Department of Homeland Security, has had trouble staffing up both groups.

Coast Guard photo by Chief Warrant Officer 2 Timothy Tamargo