When Matthew Whitlow arrived at Coast Guard Station Barnegat Light in 2023, he gave himself a year to get settled before looking for opportunities to become more involved. Now, he volunteers his time focusing on ways to support the junior rank as president of the Chief Petty Officer Association Liberty Chapter.

“I don’t go home early,” he said. “I have my daytime job here and then I am doing CPOA stuff. I go back and forth, especially right now, on a daily basis with the government shutdown…