"Behind every saved life, enforced fisheries treaty, foiled drug smuggling attempt, and safe port are high-performing Coast Guard people." Coast Guard 2020

The Coast Guard's Advanced Distributed Learning Strategy (CGADLS) sets forth a new paradigm intended to provide access to the highest quality education and training that can be tailored to individual needs and delivered cost effectively, whenever and wherever it is required. The Coast Guards vision harnesses the power of the Internet and other virtual or private wide-area networks to deliver high quality learning. The CGADLP employs a low cost, hybrid approach to using technology by bringing together intelligent tutors, distributed subject matter experts, real time, in-depth learning management, and a diverse array of support tools to ensure a responsive, high quality "learner-centric" system.

To make best use of the technologically advanced equipment the service is deploying on its boats, ships and aircraft, the Coast Guard must have personnel who are just as technically sophisticated and who can access the information they need to operate and maintain this equipment to its best advantage. The Coast Guard's Advanced Distributed Learning Plan is its response to the challenge of providing the information and learning its personnel expect and deserve as they confront their future operational challenges.