Cape May Coast Guard Base Tour 2024

Once a year, U.S. Coast Guard Training Center Cape May opens up to the public to allow everyone to come out and see the base.

The day, which is known as the Cape May County Coast Guard Community Festival, took place on Saturday, May 18th.

It was a rainy day but it didn’t stop us from exploring the base.

Some of the events going on included tours of the ships, K9 demonstrations, Trolley Tours of Training Center Cape May, Helicopter demonstrations and more.

The U.S. Coast Guard Training Center Cape May, often abbreviated as TRACEN Cape May, is the primary training facility for the United States Coast Guard’s enlisted personnel.

Located in Cape May, New Jersey, this center serves as the boot camp for all incoming enlisted recruits.

Here are some key details about the facility and its functions:

Historical Significance: Sewell Point, home to the U.S. Coast Guard Training Center in Cape May, has a rich naval history. During the American Revolution and the 19th century, Cape May Sound served as a harbor of refuge.

In 1917, the Navy established a section base in Cape May, converting an old amusement center for military use. After a fire in 1918, the Navy built new facilities, some of which remain today.

Post-World War I, the base hosted dirigibles, including the world’s largest hangar for an airship that ultimately crashed. In 1924, the Coast Guard took over, supporting U.S. Customs and combating Prohibition-era rumrunners.

Although the Coast Guard presence dwindled post-Prohibition, World War II saw a resurgence with an expanded airstrip for training pilots and coastal defense.

In 1946, the Navy handed the base to the Coast Guard, which centralized all east coast recruit training there in 1948 and consolidated nationwide recruit training at Cape May in 1982.

Primary Training Facility: TRACEN Cape May is the only enlisted basic training center for the Coast Guard. All new recruits go through an 8-week basic training program here.

Also See: North Wildwood’s Beach Dredging Project Explained

Training Program: The training program at Cape May is designed to transform cadets into Coast Guard members.

It includes physical conditioning, classroom instruction, hands-on training, and practical exercises. Recruits learn about maritime law enforcement, search and rescue, seamanship, and military customs and courtesies.

Facilities: The campus includes barracks, classrooms, a gymnasium, dining facilities, and various training simulators and equipment.

Graduation: Upon successful completion of the training program, recruits graduate and are assigned to their first units as fully-fledged Coast Guard members.

Community Engagement: The training center is also involved in the local community and often participates in events and activities in Cape May and surrounding areas.

TRACEN Cape May plays a crucial role in preparing individuals for the demands of serving in the U.S. Coast Guard, ensuring they are ready to perform their duties in various maritime environments.

In our video, we got to tour USCGC Angela McShan (2019) and the USCGC Mako, which will be decommissioned in a few months.

Before you watch, please subscribe to our YouTube channel as we try to hit 100,000 subscribers (about 7,200 away).