Morale and Wellness

Strong morale and overall wellness are essential to a ready and resilient Coast Guard. The Coast Guard Foundation supports programs that promote physical health, mental wellness, spiritual resilience, and family connection — especially during long deployments, remote assignments, and stressful periods of service. These investments help members and families stay healthy, connected, and mission ready.

Supporting readiness through well-being

The demands of Coast Guard service can take a real toll on members and families. Long hours, frequent moves, time away from loved ones, and service in isolated locations can affect both physical and emotional health. The Coast Guard Foundation helps meet these challenges by investing in morale and wellness programs that strengthen individuals, families, and the broader Coast Guard community.

These efforts are designed to support the whole person. From recreation and fitness resources to chaplain-led programs, youth enrichment opportunities, and unit-based community events, the Foundation helps create healthy environments where members and families can recharge, connect, and thrive.

Promoting physical and mental wellness

Physical readiness is critical to service, but so is mental resilience. The Foundation supports Coast Guard units across the country with exercise equipment, sports and recreation resources, outdoor spaces, and updated morale areas that help members relieve stress and maintain readiness for duty.

At the same time, the Foundation invests in initiatives that promote mental health and emotional well-being. By partnering with Coast Guard leadership and the Chaplain’s Office, these programs help address isolation, build resilience, and support suicide prevention efforts in meaningful and practical ways.

Building connection and community

Morale is strengthened when members and families feel connected to one another. The Foundation funds community spaces, holiday gatherings, Coast Guard Day celebrations, family events, and unit-based activities that bring people together and reinforce support networks. These moments of connection are especially important during difficult periods, including government shutdowns, disaster recovery, demanding operational tempos, and remote assignments.

Whether it is a crew lounge that gives members a place to recharge during long duty periods or a unit event that provides relief during a stressful season, these investments help foster camaraderie, reduce isolation, and build a stronger Coast Guard community.

Supporting youth and Coast Guard families

Morale and wellness also extend to Coast Guard children and families. Through youth enrichment grants, the Foundation helps Coast Guard children attend summer camps and access opportunities that support learning, confidence, and social growth outside the classroom. These experiences help children build new skills, develop friendships, and stay engaged even as military family life brings frequent change.

By supporting families alongside service members, the Foundation strengthens the resilience of the entire Coast Guard community.

Chaplain-led resilience programs

In partnership with the Coast Guard Chaplain’s Office, the Foundation supports programs that help members and families navigate some of the most demanding aspects of service. These chaplain-led efforts include suicide prevention training, marriage enrichment workshops, spiritual fitness events, and resilience-focused programs held at units across the country.

These programs create meaningful opportunities for reflection, support, and connection. They meet Coast Guard families where they live and serve, helping them build stronger relationships, healthier coping strategies, and a greater sense of stability.

Impact

The Foundation’s investment in morale and wellness reaches Coast Guard units and families nationwide. In 2025, the Foundation supported:

• 247 morale and wellness projects nationwide
• $1.4 million in direct support for morale and wellness projects
• 921 youth enrichment program grants
• 58 chaplain-led programs funded
• $416,000 for Coast Guard families for summer camps
• 7,100 Coast Guard participants in chaplain-led programs

Across all morale and wellness programs, the Foundation delivered $2.3 million in support in 2025, helping improve healthy living, spiritual resilience, family connection, and suicide prevention efforts throughout the service.

A strong Coast Guard depends on strong people, strong families, and strong communities. Through morale and wellness initiatives that support physical health, mental resilience, family connection, and spiritual well-being, the Coast Guard Foundation helps ensure members and their loved ones have the support they need to stay ready, connected, and cared for.