United States Coast Guard Training Center Cape May

US Coast Guard training facility in Cape May, New Jersey

38°56′42″N 74°53′00″W﻿ / ﻿38.94500°N 74.88333°W﻿ / 38.94500; -74.88333

United States Coast Guard Training Center Cape May

United States Coast Guard Training Center Cape May (TRACENCM) is the home of the Coast Guard enlisted corps and is the Coast Guard's only enlisted accession point and recruit training center. It is located at 1 Munro Avenue, Cape May, New Jersey.

## History of the training center

[edit]

Sewell Point, the area occupied by the Training Center, has a long history of naval presence. During the American Revolutionary War and throughout the nineteenth century, Cape May Sound was used as a harbor of refuge. In 1917, the Navy established a "section base" in Cape May to provide training, vessel support and communication facilities for coastal defense. Initially, the Navy converted an abandoned amusement center, built along the oceanfront, for military use. The old skating rink became the mess hall and sleeping quarters, the stage was made into a galley, the "human roulette wheel" – a scrub table and the "barrel of fun" became a brig. When the old wooden structure burned down in 1918, the Navy built standard military facilities along the harbor front (some of these buildings still stand).

After World War I, the base was adapted to accommodate dirigibles. The largest hangar in the world, 700 feet long and over 100 feet tall, was built to accommodate an airship under construction in Britain. However, the R38 (ZR-2) crashed on its test flight and "lighter-than-air" craft were never fully adopted for Navy use.

In 1924, the U.S. Coast Guard occupied the base and established air facilities for planes used in support of United States Customs Service efforts. During the Prohibition era, several cutters were assigned to Cape May to foil rumrunners operating off the New Jersey coast. After Prohibition, the Coast Guard all but abandoned Cape May leaving a small air/sea rescue contingent. For a short period of time (1929–1934), part of the base was used as a civilian airport. With the advent of World War II, a larger airstrip was constructed and the Navy returned to train aircraft carrier pilots. The over the water approach simulated carrier landings at sea. The Coast Guard also increased its Cape May forces for coastal patrol, anti-submarine warfare, air/sea rescue and buoy service. In 1946, the Navy relinquished the base to the Coast Guard.

In 1948, all entry-level training on the east coast was moved to the U.S. Coast Guard Recruit Receiving Station in Cape May. The Coast Guard consolidated all recruit training functions in Cape May in 1982.

It provides seaman apprentices, fireman apprentices, seamen and firemen to the Coast Guard Fleet – generally en route to "A" schools – as well as sending some personnel directly to "A" schools.

Although modern training facilities have replaced most of the original Naval Base buildings, the Coast Guard is respectful of the history of Sewell Point and their host city.[citation needed]

## Additional roles

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A Company Commander marches his company of trainees at Cape May

In addition to its role as the sole accession point for the Coast Guard's enlisted corps, TRACENCM contains the Coast Guard's recruiter and company commander (i.e. "drill instructor") programs.

Personnel from TRACENCM's ceremonial guard are often called upon by various civic and veterans' organizations to provide an active duty, uniformed military presence at numerous functions throughout the year (e.g. Veterans Day, Memorial Day).

The TRACEN maintains its own active duty and reservist staffed military fire and police departments, as well as ambulance service, that are frequently called for mutual aid in the local areas.

TRACENCM is also home for and provides logistical support to over a dozen tenant commands. These tenant commands in turn perform support and operational missions that include: Search and Rescue; Military Readiness; Port & Environmental Safety; Commercial Vessel Safety; Enforcement of Laws and Treaties; Marine Environmental Response; Military Readiness; Recreational Boating Safety; Aids to Navigation; and Waterways Management. Members of the United States Coast Guard Reserve drill at USCG Station Cape May.

Locally, there is a robust United States Coast Guard Auxiliary presence that plays an integral part in many aspects of maritime, navigational and maritime life in the greater Training Center community.[citation needed]

Delaware Military Academy has their Basic Leadership Training at the center.

## Coast Guard Community

[edit]

Recognizing the enduring relationship between the greater Cape May region, on the evening of Friday, 8 May 2015, the Commandant of the Coast Guard, Admiral Paul F. Zukunft, proclaimed Cape May County a "Coast Guard Community", one of 17 in the nation.[1]

Earlier in the year, a resolution drafted by state Assemblyman Bob Andrzejczak and Senator Jeff Van Drew proclaimed the first week of each August as "Coast Guard Week".[2]

## Education

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Cape May City Elementary School is the school for elementary-aged children living at the training center. The Coast Guard financially supports the school

Dependent elementary-aged children on the base attend Cape May City Elementary School, the only school of the Cape May City School District. In previous eras the Coast Guard children made up a smaller portion of the student body. Because property values increased in Cape May, fewer local families could afford housing, and the number of Cape May students declined. Prior to the September 11 attacks there were discussions about reducing employee levels and possibly merging Cape May Elementary and West Cape May Elementary School. After September 11 the Coast Guard presence increased and enrollment increased. The influx of families from the Coast Guard base meant that the school remained open. The Coast Guard officially adopted Cape May Elementary in 2012 and it spends about $700,000 annually to support the school. Richard Degener of The Press of Atlantic City wrote "What has always been a symbiotic relationship has grown downright cozy".[3] Secondary students are zoned to Lower Cape May Regional School District facilities: Richard Teitelman Middle School and Lower Cape May Regional High School.[4]

## Gallery

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* USCGC Rollin A. Fritch at Cape May homeport

* USCGC Lawrence O. Lawson and USCGC Rollin A. Fritch at homeport

## See also

[edit]

Wikimedia Commons has media related to United States Coast Guard Training Center Cape May.

* Training Center Petaluma
* Training Center Yorktown

## References

[edit]

1. ^ "Capt. Prestidge Tells meaning of 'Coast Guard Community'".
2. ^ "NJ Resolution Declares Annual Coast Guard Week". Archived from the original on 4 February 2017.`{{cite news}}`: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
3. ^ Degener, Richard (2013-01-08). "Coast Guard Training Center in Cape May's presence helps city school thrive". The Press of Atlantic City. Retrieved 2021-06-06. \- In print as "Coast Guard a lifeline for Cape May Elementary A school's best friend"
4. ^ School Choice Brochure, Lower Cape May Regional School District. Accessed March 21, 2018. "Lower Cape May Regional High School is a four-year comprehensive public High School that serves students from Cape May, West Cape May, Lower Township, Cape May Point and now Choice School students."

## External links

[edit]

* Official website
* Virtual tour
* Recruit Training
* Tours, graduation, sunset parades. Cape May Times

* v
* t
* e

Cape May, New Jersey

Landmarks|

* United States Coast Guard Training Center Cape May

* Cape May Historic District
* The Chalfonte Hotel
* Carroll Villa
* John B. McCreary House
* Congress Hall
* Episcopal Church of the Advent / St. John's Chapel
* Emlen Physick Estate

Transportation|

* Cape May City Rail Terminal
* Washington Street

Education|

* Cape May City School District
* Lower Cape May Regional School District

Media|

* Cape May Times
* WCFA-LP

Culture|

* Cape May Stage
* Harriet Tubman Museum
* On the Way to Cape May

This list is incomplete.
Cape May Lighthouse and Cape May Airport are in Lower Township
Cape May diamonds are found at Cape May Point.
Cape May Bird Observatory has facilities in Cape May Point and Middle Township.
Currently the Cape May Warbler birds live outside of Cape May.
Our Lady Star of the Sea School in Cape May merged into what became Wildwood Catholic Academy.

* v
* t
* e

United States Coast Guard

* Category:United States Coast Guard

Leadership|

* Secretary of Homeland Security
* Commandant of the Coast Guard
* Vice Commandant of the Coast Guard
* Master Chief Petty Officer of the Coast Guard

Organization|

* Missions
* Reserve
* Intelligence
* Investigative Service
* Legal Division
* Police

Areas
* Districts
* Sectors
* Stations
* Air Stations
* Radio stations
* Shipbuilding Yard
* National Ice Center
* Research and Development Center
* Coast Guard Auxiliary

Personnel and training|

* Personnel
* Officer ranks
* Enlisted ranks
* Ratings
* Coast Guard Academy
* Training Center Cape May
* Training Center Petaluma
* Training Center Yorktown
* Maritime Law Enforcement Academy
* Joint Maritime Training Center
* Aviation Association
* Chaplain of the Coast Guard
* Four-star admirals
* Three-star admirals

Uniforms and equipment|

* Uniforms
* Awards
* Badges
* Cutters
* List of cutters
* Ship commissioning
* Ship decommissioning
* Equipment

History and traditions|

* History
* Coast Guard Act
* Coast Guard City
* Life-Saving Service
* Revenue Cutter Service
* Lighthouse Service
* Steamboat Inspection Service
* Bureau of Navigation
* "Semper Paratus"
* Flag
* Ensign
* Racing Stripe
* United States Coast Guard Band
* United States Coast Guard Ceremonial Honor Guard
* United States Coast Guard Pipe Band
* Fleet Week
* Coast Guard service numbers
* Coast Guardsman's Creed
* United States Coast Guard Cutters
* Coast Guard Bears
* SPARS

Battles and operations|

* Quasi-War
* War of 1812
* West Indies anti-piracy operations
* Capture of the schooner Bravo
* Ingham Incident
* Amistad Incident
* Great Lakes Patrol
* Mexican–American War
* American Civil War
* Battle of Fort Sumter
* Battle of Pig Point
* Battle of Galveston Harbor
* Battle of Portland Harbor
* Overland Relief Expedition
* Spanish–American War
* Battle of Manila Bay
* Battle of Cárdenas
* Ice Patrol
* World War I
* 1st Battle of the Atlantic
* Great Mississippi Flood
* Rum Patrol
* World War II
* 2nd Battle of the Atlantic
* Battle of Guam
* Operation Overlord
* Korean War
* Vietnam War
* Coast Guard Squadron One
* Operation Market Time
* Operation Sealords
* Action of 1 March 1968
* Persian Gulf War
* War on terror
* Afghanistan War
* Iraq War
* Operation Enduring Freedom HOA

* v
* t
* e

United States Armed Forces

Legend
A = Army
MC = Marine Corps
N = Navy
AF = Air Force
SF = Space Force
CG = Coast Guard

Leadership|

* President of the United States
* Secretary of Defense
* Deputy Secretary of Defense
* Secretary of Homeland Security
* Deputy Secretary of Homeland Security
* Joint Chiefs of Staff:
* Chairman
* Vice Chairman
* Committees on Armed Services
* Senate
* House
* Active duty four-star officers
* Active duty three-star officers
* United States military seniority
* National Security Act of 1947
* Goldwater–Nichols Act

Components|

| Military departments|

* Department of Defense
* Secretary
* Department of the Army
* Secretary
* Department of the Navy
* Secretary
* Department of the Air Force
* Secretary
* Department of Homeland Security
* Secretary

|

Service branches and heads|

* Chief of Staff of the United States Army
* Commandant of the Marine Corps
* Chief of Naval Operations
* Chief of Staff of the United States Air Force
* Chief of Space Operations
* Commandant of the Coast Guard

Reserve components|

* Reserves:
* A
* MC
* N
* AF
* CG
* National Guard:
* A
* AF

Civilian auxiliaries|

* Military Auxiliary Radio System
* Marine Corps Cyber Auxiliary
* Merchant Marine
* Civil Air Patrol
* Coast Guard Auxiliary

Unified combatant command|

* Africa
* Central
* European
* Indo-Pacific
* Northern
* Southern
* Space
* Cyber
* Special Operations
* Strategic
* Transportation

Structure|

* United States Code
* Title 10
* Title 14
* Title 32
* Title 50
* The Pentagon
* Installations
* Units:
* A
* MC
* N
* AF
* SF
* CG
* Logistics
* Media
* Unit mottoes

Operations
and history|

* Budget
* Current deployments
* Conflicts
* Wars
* Civil affairs

History|

* A
* MC
* N
* AF
* SF
* CG

Timeline|

* Colonial
* World War II

By ancestry|

* African Americans
* Asian Americans
* Buddhist Americans
* Jewish Americans
* Muslim Americans
* Sikh Americans
* Hispanic Americans
* Civil War
* Air Force
* Coast Guard
* Marine Corps
* Navy
* Academy

History centers|

* Army Center of Military History
* Marine Corps History Division
* Naval History and Heritage Command
* Air Force Historical Research Agency

War artists|

* Army Art Program
* Air Force Art Program

Personnel|

| Training|

* Service academies:
* A (prep)
* MC/N (prep)
* AF/SF (prep)
* CG
* Merchant Marine
* ROTC
* A
* MC/N
* AF/SF
* Officer candidate/training school:
* A
* MC
* N
* AF/SF
* Warrant officer:
* A
* MEPS
* ASVAB
* The Basic School (MC)
* Enlisted recruit training:
* A
* MC
* N
* AF/SF
* CG
* Other education

|

Uniforms|

* Uniforms:
* A
* MC
* N
* AF
* SF
* Awards & decorations:
* Inter-service
* A
* MC/N
* AF/SF
* CG
* Foreign
* International
* Devices
* Badges:
* Identification
* A
* MC
* N
* AF
* SF
* CG

Ranks|

* Officer:
* A
* MC
* N
* AF
* SF
* CG
* Warrant officers
* Enlisted:
* A
* MC
* N
* AF
* SF
* CG

Other|

* Oath:
* Enlistment
* Officer
* Creeds & Codes:
* Code of Conduct
* NCO
* A
* MC
* N
* AF
* CG
* Service numbers:
* A
* MC
* N
* AF
* CG
* Military Occupational Specialty/Rating/Air Force Specialty Code
* Pay
* Uniform Code of Military Justice
* Judge Advocate General's Corps
* Military Health System/Tricare
* Separation
* Veterans Affairs
* Conscription
* Chiefs of Chaplains:
* A
* MC
* N
* AF
* CG

Equipment|

* A (Designations)
* MC:
* vehicles
* weapons
* other
* N
* AF
* CG

| Land|

* Individual weapons
* Crew-served weapons
* Vehicles (active)

|

Sea|

* All watercraft
* Ships:
* A
* N
* active
* future
* AF
* CG
* MSC
* Weapons:
* N
* Reactors

Air|

* Aircraft
* World War I
* active
* future
* Aircraft designation
* Helicopter arms

Other|

* WWII equipment
* Nuclear football
* Electronics (designations)
* Flags:
* A
* MC
* N
* AF
* SF
* CG
* Ensign
* Jack
* Guidons
* Food
* WMDs:
* Nuclear
* Biological
* Chemical

* Category
* A
* MC
* N
* AF
* SF
* CG
* Navboxes
* A
* MC
* N
* AF
* SF
* CG

Authority control databases

International|

* VIAF

National|

* United States

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