GALVESTON — As summer approaches and crowds begin to swell, Galveston Island Beach Patrol is ramping up efforts to hire seasonal lifeguards, hoping to close a staffing gap that has persisted for several years.

Acting Chief Lt. Austin Kerwin told The Galveston County Daily News the patrol needs about 120 lifeguards to be fully staffed during peak season, but hasn’t reached that number in recent years. This year, he’s aiming to hire between 20 and 40 more guards, with a goal of hitting the higher end of that range.

“We’re expecting another busy summer,” Kerwin said to the Daily News. “Tourism has nearly doubled since I joined in 2006, and our responsibilities have only grown with beach expansions and reconstruction efforts.”

The hiring push comes amid leadership changes, as long-time Chief Peter Davis remains on unpaid leave pending an investigation into a 2024 incident involving Chilean lifeguards who were housed at the now-demolished Stewart Beach Pavilion.

While it’s typical for Beach Patrol to be hiring at this point in the year, Park Board spokesman Chris Stanley noted that the demand for lifeguards is particularly high this season.

To qualify, applicants must complete a rigorous nine-day rookie school, a 56-hour emergency medical responder course, and pass a challenging 500-meter swim in under 10 minutes. During training, participants earn minimum wage, but once certified, new lifeguards start at $18 an hour and work five nine-hour shifts each week. Those who reach 500 hours over the season can earn a $2-an-hour bonus.

Before taking full responsibility, rookie graduates spend two to three days shadowing experienced lifeguards. On Tuesday, five recruits participated in run-swim-run drills at Stewart Beach Park as part of their training.

“We work with rookie school students to help them succeed,” Kerwin told the Daily News. “But if they can’t make the swim time, they don’t pass.”

The Beach Patrol has 11 tryout dates remaining this season, including two this month. The next sessions are scheduled for 9 a.m. on May 11 and May 18 at the UTMB field house pool at 215 Holiday Drive.

In addition to local hires, the patrol plans to bring on several foreign lifeguards working under J-1 visas, who will arrive later in the summer.

At the height of the season, as many as 90 lifeguards can be on duty across Galveston’s beaches on a busy weekend. For Kerwin, the most rewarding part of the job is seeing the team in action.

“I like watching the machine work,” he told The Daily News. “When it clicks, it clicks.”