CAPE MAY – U.S. Coast Guard recruits undergo a grueling eight-week training program at the Coast Guard Training Center Cape May (TRACEN), designed to prepare them for service at home and at sea in the U.S. Coast Guard. Recruit training develops entry level apprentices for service in the Coast Guard; Coast Guard members engage in law enforcement, search and rescue, aids to navigation, marine and environmental safety, ice patrol and recreational boating safety, among other duties.
Recruits typically get very limited leave from the base, which is located on Cape May Harbor here, often not until the final weeks of their training. Shown here, members of M 177 and N 177 Companies enjoy a rare break off base Saturday evening Aug. 4 and do some shopping in Rio Grande, Cape May County’s retail center. These recruits will graduate Friday, Aug. 10.
Graduation ceremonies are open to family members of graduates and are held on Fridays. After graduation, each newly promoted seaman apprentice or firemen apprentice gets 10 days of leave, and then reports to his or her new duty station.
Normally the base is not open to the public without special permission.
But during the summer, a series of Sunset Parades are held on base, and these are open to the public. The Sunset Parades are colorful, inspiring military ceremonies, honoring the lowering of the National Ensign. The ceremony features the Recruit Band, Drill Team, marching troops, cannon fire, and a low level fly over by a Coast Guard helicopter. The ceremonies take place on the Training Center parade grounds. There is no admission cost and no reservations. Children of all ages are welcomed to attend, but must be accompanied by an adult. Guests are to be seated five minutes prior to the beginning of the ceremony.
The next Sunset Parade is Sunday, Aug. 5. Guests should be seated by 7:40 p.m.
The final Sunset Parade of the season is Sept. 2. Guests should be seated by 7 p.m.
For more information call CWO Bill Carson at 609-898-6969.
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