News

04.15.2026

The Shutdown Didn’t End When Pay Resumed

What the 2026 Government Shutdown Revealed About Financial Stress At 5:30 a.m., a Coast Guard civilian employee in Houston gets ready for work. He helps direct vessel traffic in one of the busiest energy ports in the world, responsible for $1 trillion in economic activity each year. The Houston port system depends on him being sharp, […]

03.18.2026

Retired Coast Guard Admiral Riding 2,000+ Miles for Coast Guard Families

One man. One mission. Helping our own. At 70 years old, Vice Admiral Manson K. Brown, USCG (Ret.), is taking on an extraordinary challenge, not for himself, but for the Coast Guard community. Vice Admiral Manson K. Brown, USCG (Ret.), the first African American to achieve the rank of vice admiral in the Coast Guard, […]

03.18.2026

From Crisis to Confidence  

Rethinking Financial Resilience for Coast Guard Families By Donnie Brzuska, Coast Guard Mutual Assistance On a Tuesday morning in Alaska, a petty officer checks his bank account before leaving for work. His car needs a new transmission. His spouse lost her job during their last PCS move. Childcare costs more than rent.  None of these problems are unusual for Coast Guard […]

02.03.2026

Ready to support Coast Guard workforce during government shutdown

CGMA’s mission has been and always will be to support the financial resilience of the Coast Guard workforce. Once again, Coast Guard Mutual Assistance is prepared to provide an interest-free loan to Coast Guard members and employees if they experience a lapse in pay due to a government shut down. Financial Assistance is available Who […]

01.28.2026

Strengthening How We Help Our Own

CGMA receives a $4 million grant from Lilly Endowment Inc. to better support the Coast Guard community. We have good news to share. Coast Guard Mutual Assistance has received a $4 million grant from Lilly Endowment Inc.—an investment that will help us better serve the growing Coast Guard community for years to come. This grant […]

11.13.2025

When the Coast Guard Needed Support, CGMA Delivered — With Speed, Scale, and Compassion. 

The federal government is poised to reopen after the historic 2025 shutdown — the longest in U.S. history. For hundreds of thousands of federal workers, this moment brings tremendous relief. For the last 43 days, uncertainty loomed large. Coast Guard civilians missed two paychecks, faced rising bills, and made hard choices — but our Coast […]

10.23.2025

CGMA Leads the Way: The Only Aid Society Supporting the Coast Guard’s Total Workforce 

As the government shutdown enters its 23rd day, Coast Guard Mutual Assistance (CGMA) remains on watch — ensuring no one in our Coast Guard family faces financial hardship alone. While Active Duty members received their last paycheck, hundreds of Coast Guard civilian employees continue to go without. Since October 10, CGMA has received more than […]

10.16.2025

A Home Within Reach: CGMA Helps a Coast Guard Family Find Stability

The High Cost of a Coast Guard Move When PO3 Danny Ramirez received transfer orders to Long Island, his family felt both excitement and worry. The housing market near his new station was intense—upfront costs often exceeded $9,000 before move-in. “The stress was taking a toll on all of us,” Danny said. “We worried about […]

10.14.2025

Standing Watch in a Moment of Loss: How CGMA Helped PO3 Nicholas Say Goodbye

An Emergency Far From Home As a Coast Guard family stationed in Kodiak, Alaska, PO3 Austin Nicholas, his spouse, and their three young children know the meaning of resilience. Living in such a remote, high-cost area leaves little room for emergencies—every paycheck is stretched thin across rising costs of groceries, utilities, and childcare. So when […]

01.10.2025

How CGMA Helped BM2 Willhoitte After Hurricane Helene

When disaster strikes, Coast Guard Mutual Assistance is ready to help Coast Guard members and their families begin recovering. For BM2 Logan Willhoitte and his family, that support became essential just days after they arrived at a new duty station. A New Home, Then Disaster BM2 Willhoitte had recently reported to U.S. Coast Guard Station […]

09.09.2024

Intern Highlight: Dallas Goble

This summer, Coast Guard Mutual Assistance (CGMA) had the pleasure of welcoming Dallas Goble as an intern. Throughout his internship, he engaged in a variety of projects, gaining hands-on experience and contributing to our ongoing efforts to provide critical assistance to those who serve. Join us as we highlight Dallas’s journey, his contributions, and the […]

10.04.2023

Carlie’s Story: CGMA Assists with Service Dog for USCG Family

Military life can bring significant changes for Coast Guard families. For Carlie, becoming a Coast Guard spouse meant moving far from home while also managing a serious health condition. A Challenging Move As a new Coast Guard spouse, Carlie left her beloved small hometown in Maine and moved across the country to bustling, humid Miami. […]