The Coast Guard met its fiscal year 2024 recruitment target, as Military.com reported. It is the first time in six years the branch has met its goal, recruiting 4,442 active duty enlisted personnel and 737 reservists.

The Coast Guard had added 100 additional recruiters and 13 new recruit stations.

“It’s really made a big difference for us. One of the battles we face is a brand awareness problem, having an understanding of what the Coast Guard is and does,” Keffer said. “[We needed to look at messaging] when we’re interacting with young people looking to join the military,” Capt. Ben Keffer, commander of Coast Guard Recruiting Command, said.

Coast Guard photo by Petty Officer 2nd Class Gregory Schell