The U.S. Coast Guard is a humanitarian and security service. It protects the United States ' borders and economic and security interests abroad; and defends its sovereignty by safeguarding sea lines of communication and commerce across vast territorial waters spanning 95,000 miles of coastline and its Exclusive Economic Zone.
What is the mission of the United States Coast Guard?
The History, Role and Mission of the US Coast Guard. Under the direction of the United States Department of Homeland Security, the United States Coast Guard is the military force responsible for safeguarding the country’s maritime interests at the local, regional, national and international level.
What does the Coast Guard do to protect the environment?
Partnering with a number of state and federal agencies, the Coast Guard enforces marine resource management as to preserve healthy stocks of fish and other living marine resources. The Coast Guard’s stewardship role has also expanded to include laws that help protect the environment for the common good.
What is the largest Coast Guard facility in the US?
It is the largest Coast Guard facility in the US in terms of acreage. Location: Valdez, AK Overall Mission: This unit’s main focus is ice patrolling to observe any unusual changes that might be potentially dangerous.
What does the coast guard R&D Center do?
Overall Mission: This R & D Center offers solutions to the Coast Guard by coming up with technological inventions and projects that help USCG execute its mission. They conduct studies that cover operations of the armed forces including issues with oil spills, safety of the maritime environment, etc.
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Where does the Coast Guard protect?
In this capacity, the Coast Guard protects and defends more than 100,000 miles of U.S. coastline and inland waterways, and safeguards an Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) encompassing 4.5 million square miles stretching from North of the Arctic Circle to South of the equator, from Puerto Rico to Guam, encompassing nine ...
How far does the U.S. Coast Guard go?
The Coast Guard has law enforcement powers within U.S. waters, which covers more than 95,000 miles of U.S. coastline and extends 200 miles from shore, and on international waters. Coast Guard authority supersedes that of the U.S. Navy in terms of law enforcement.
What branch of the military does the Coast Guard belong to?
the NavyPart of the Department of Homeland Security during peacetime, the Coast Guard operates under the Navy during times of war.
Does Coast Guard have jurisdiction on land?
Also, the Coast Guard has full legal law enforcement power on any land under the control of the United States, as needed to complete any mission.
Do coast guards go to war?
As one of the country's six armed services, the U.S. Coast Guard has deployed to support and fight every major U.S. war since 1790, from the Quasi-War with France to the Global War on Terrorism. As of December 2021, the U.S. Coast Guard's authorized force strength is 44,500 active duty personnel and 7,000 reservists.
Why is the Coast Guard not considered military?
Yes! Even though the Coast Guard is not a part of the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD), the Coast Guard is part of the United States Armed Forces (also known as the military). Technically, the Coast Guard is both a federal law enforcement agency and military branch within the Department of Homeland Security.
Do coast guards carry guns?
The United States Coast Guard uses cutters and small boats on the water, and fixed- and rotary wing (helicopters) aircraft in the air. The Coast Guard employs various small arms including handguns, shotguns, rifles, and machine guns.
Does Coast Guard have special forces?
The U.S. Coast Guard has a number of special operations forces, or deployable specialized forces (DSF), organized under its regional commands (Atlantic and Pacific Areas).
Are Coast Guard veterans?
A veteran is a former member of the Armed Forces of the United States (Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, and Coast Guard) who served on active duty and was discharged under conditions, which were other than dishonorable.
How far out does Coast Guard have jurisdiction?
The 1st Coast Guard District is responsible for protecting the American maritime community across eight states in the Northeast, including more than 2,000 miles of shoreline from the U.S.-Canadian border to northern New Jersey and 1,300 miles offshore.
Does the Coast Guard have authority on lakes?
The Coast Guard maintains broad authority over navigation safety in the navigable waters of the United States, including the ability to order vessels to operate as directed.
How far offshore do US laws apply?
In 1983, President Reagan proclaimed the U.S. EEZ, which currently occupies the area between 12 miles (the seaward limit of the territorial sea) and 200 miles offshore for international purposes.
How far offshore do US laws apply?
In 1983, President Reagan proclaimed the U.S. EEZ, which currently occupies the area between 12 miles (the seaward limit of the territorial sea) and 200 miles offshore for international purposes.
How far out to sea does the Coast Guard patrol?
The 1st Coast Guard District is responsible for protecting the American maritime community across eight states in the Northeast, including more than 2,000 miles of shoreline from the U.S.-Canadian border to northern New Jersey and 1,300 miles offshore.
Does the Coast Guard deploy overseas?
Coast Guard personnel can be called upon to serve overseas during time of national emergency or on routine deployments of cutters overseas. In fact, Coast Guard personnel have served in every major conflict including Desert Storm and the Iraq war.
How long do Coast Guard cutters go out to sea?
A NSC also carries enough food and consumables to stay at sea for 60 days and has the ability to conduct vertical replenishment at sea and to refuel at sea in order to extend patrols. A U.S. Coast Guard National Security Cutter is equipped with: MK-110 57mm turret mounted gun.
When was the Coast Guard established?
The Coast Guard is further defined by Title 14 of the United States Code : The Coast Guard as established January 28, 1915 , shall be a military service and a branch of the armed forces of the United States at all times.
How many civilians are in the Coast Guard?
The Coast Guard employs over 8,577 civilians in over two hundred different job types including Coast Guard Investigative Service special agents, lawyers, engineers, technicians, administrative personnel, tradesmen, and federal firefighters. Civilian employees work at various levels in the Coast Guard to support its various missions.
What was the Coast Guard's main purpose?
The Coast Guard traced its roots to the small fleet of vessels maintained by the United States Department of the Treasury beginning in the 1790s to enforce tariffs (an important source of revenue for the new nation). Secretary of the Treasury Alexander Hamilton lobbied Congress to fund the construction of ten cutters, which it did on 4 August 1790 (now celebrated as the Coast Guard's official birthday). Until the re-establishment of the Navy in 1798, these "revenue cutters" were the only naval force of the early United States. As such, the cutters and their crews frequently took on additional duties, including combating piracy, rescuing mariners in distress, ferrying government officials, and even carrying mail. Initially not an organized federal agency at all, merely a "system of cutters," each ship operated under the direction of the customs officials in the port to which it was assigned. Several names, including "Revenue-Marine," were used as the service gradually becoming more organized. Eventually it was officially organized as the United States Revenue Cutter Service. In addition to its regular law enforcement and customs duties, revenue cutters served in combat alongside the Navy in various armed conflicts including the American Civil War.
What is the USCG?
The United States Coast Guard ( USCG) is the maritime security, search and rescue, and law enforcement service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the country's eight uniformed services.
Why is the Coast Guard armed?
Since the terrorist attacks of 11 September 2001, the Coast Guard has developed a more prominent role in national security and now has armed helicopters operating in high-risk areas for the purpose of maritime law enforcement and anti-terrorism.
Where is the Coast Guard Academy?
The U.S. Coast Guard Academy is a four-year service academy located in New London, Connecticut. Approximately 200 cadets graduate each year, receiving a Bachelor of Science degree and a commission as an ensign in the Coast Guard. Graduates are obligated to serve a minimum of five years on active duty. Most graduates are assigned to duty aboard Coast Guard cutters immediately after graduation, either as Deck Watch Officers (DWOs) or as Engineer Officers in Training (EOITs). Smaller numbers are assigned directly to flight training at Naval Air Station Pensacola, Florida or to shore duty at Coast Guard Sector, District, or Area headquarters units.
Where is the new Homeland Security headquarters?
The new Department of Homeland Security headquarters complex is on the grounds of the former St. Elizabeths Hospital in the Anacostia section of Southeast Washington, across the Anacostia River from former Coast Guard headquarters.
What is the Coast Guard doing?
Whether they’re protecting our nation’s ports, conducting search and rescue missions, or stopping illegal drug smugglers in their tracks, members of the U.S. Coast Guard do a surprising number of tasks that are crucial to keeping U.S. waterways safe. In fact, the complete list of jaw-dropping Coast Guard facts required to answer ...
How many people are in the Coast Guard?
Currently, after the Space Force, the Coast Guard is the smallest military branch. 40,992 full-time active-duty service members are currently working in the Coast Guard, along with 7,000 part-time reservists, 8,577 civilians and 31,000 auxiliary Coast Guard volunteers.
What is the difference between the Navy and the Coast Guard?
The main difference of the Coast Guard vs the Navy lies in their contrasting geographic scopes, distinct core operations and vastly different sizes. The Coast Guard mainly operates within the U.S. and its waterways, whereas the Navy’s missions require its personnel, vessels and aircraft to travel all around the world.
When was cocaine seized by the Coast Guard?
According to the Coast Guard, the organization’s overarching mission is organized into six smaller areas of operational focus: Coast Guard Cutter Munro crew members transfer bales of cocaine on June 6, 2019. The cocaine was seized by Munro’s crew following an interdiction of a suspected drug smuggling boat in international waters ...
Is it easy to get into the Coast Guard?
Getting into the Coast Guard is a simple enough process – but that doesn’t mean it is easy. Just like joining any other branch of the military, anyone wanting to get into the Coast Guard must first talk to a recruiter to begin the process and answer any questions.
Is the Coast Guard a part of the military?
Department of Defense (DoD), the Coast Guard is part of the United States Armed Forces (also known as the military). Technically, the Coast Guard is both a federal law enforcement agency and military branch within the Department of Homeland Security. Throughout its long history, the Coast Guard ...
What is the Coast Guard?
The Coast Guard enforces federal laws on U.S. territorial waters and administers laws as well as enforcing regulations that promote the safety of property and life along the United States coast. It also operates navigation equipment to maintain the safety of high sea vessels and ports in U.S. territorial waters.
What is the mission of the Coast Guard?
Overall Mission: It supports Coast Guard operations and objectives in the US including ice patrolling, conducting search and rescue mission in high seas, hunting oil spills, and carrying out law enforcement activities. It is the largest Coast Guard facility in the US in terms of acreage.
What is the mission of the USCG?
Overall Mission: It hosts multiple schools for training and also acts as a Coast Guard recruiting center. It serves as a gateway to anyone aspiring to join USCG since it is where first training sessions are held.
What is the USCG?
The United States Coast Guard (USCG) is one of the United States’ five military services and is tasked with the responsibility of enforcing maritime laws. Consisting of approximately 35,000 enlisted personnel and officers, the Coast Guard protects personal safety, the marine transportation system and the territorial properties ...
Why is the Coast Guard base in Alaska important?
This Coast Guard base also ensures environmental safety since Alaska is home to many oil companies. Therefore, they must always explore the area for any potential oil spills or any hazardous substances that may pose danger to marine life as well as humans in the area.
Where is the USCG Air Station?
USCG Air Station Clearwater. Location: Clearwater, FL. Overall Mission: It is home to the largest busiest Air Station in the Coast Guard. It oversees air space and territorial waters around Florida to safeguard personal safety by helping to combat drug and human trafficking in US and international waters.
Where is the Coast Guard station in Valdez?
Coast Guard Station Valdez. Location: Valdez, AK. Overall Mission: This unit’s main focus is ice patrolling to observe any unusual changes that might be potentially dangerous. It was mandated to oversee the area after the luxurious ship, Titanic, hit an unusual iceberg and sank.
Where is the Coast Guard located?
The headquarters of the Coast Guard is located at 2703 Martin Luther King Jr Avenue SE in Washington, D.C. The Coast Guard relocated to the grounds of the former St. Elizabeths Hospital in 2013.
What is the rank of the Coast Guard?
Admiral. Flag of the Commandant of the United States Coast Guard. The commandant of the Coast Guard is the Coast Guard's most senior officer, who, by law, holds the rank of admiral. The commandant is selected for a four-year term, which may be renewed for additional four-year periods.
What is a Coast Guard commander?
Coast Guard commanders (Pay grade O-5) may head departments in large operational units or staff positions, or they may be the commanding officer of a medium-sized unit. The term commander is also associated with specific commanding officer positions, such as sector commander (usually a captain) or district commander (usually a rear admiral ).
What is the name of the person in charge of the Coast Guard boat?
However, in current usage, the person in charge of a Coast Guard or Coast Guard Auxiliary small boat is the " coxswain " (pronounced cok-sun).
How long have captains been in the Coast Guard?
Captains also direct most headquarters, area and district staff elements. Most captains have served in the Coast Guard for 21 to 30 years. By maritime tradition, the commanding officer of a ship is also called "captain", regardless of actual rank held.
How many admirals are there in the Coast Guard?
There are approximately 48 rear admirals in the Coast Guard who are either in the rank of rear admiral or rear admiral (lower half). Positions held by rear admirals include the commanders of each of the nine Coast Guard Districts, the nine assistant commandants, and the deputies to each of the vice admirals. They are also located at Coast Guard Headquarters, Department of Defense commands, and other Coast Guard commands.
Where is the USCGC Thetis?
For example, USCGC William Trump (WPC-1111), a Sentinel-class cutter based in Key West, Florida, reports to Coast Guard Sector Key West, while USCGC Thetis (WMEC-910), a larger Famous-class cutter also based in Key West, reports to the Atlantic Area Commander.
Waterway and port security
Waterway security is one of the Coast Guard's primary security missions. The Coast Guard ensures the safety of marine trade and those who live near the coastal areas. By protecting the United States' waterways, the Coast Guard also can help prevent acts of terrorism and prepare for when potential attacks might occur.
Drug interdiction
The Coast Guard functions as one of the first lines of defense against illegal drug activity in the United States. Communicating closely with other federal agencies, the Coast Guard patrols and evaluates millions of square miles to help halt drug trafficking into the country.
Search and rescue
Besides waterway security, search and rescue (SAR) operations remain one of the Coast Guard's primary responsibilities on the United States' coasts. The Coast Guard handles missions such as helping boats in distress, preventing property damage and searching for missing persons.
Navigation aid
The Coast Guard helps maintain navigation aid for all United States marine vessels. They maintain signs, buoys, symbols, markers and lighthouses to ensure they function according to regulation standards. By maintaining these navigation aids, both commercial and recreational boaters can navigate waters safely.
Marine safety
Besides ensuring marine safety by operating rescue missions, the Coast Guard helps promote safe boating practices by managing various mariner responsibilities. They license mariners, track various ships and create safety programs. The Coast Guard investigates any marine accidents, evaluating marine facilities, merchant vessels or drilling units.
Migrant interdiction
Since the Coast Guard is the primary law enforcement agency for the U.S. coasts, they help enforce immigration laws at sea. By conducting patrols, the Coast Guard works to stop human smuggling operations.
Defense readiness
As an extension of the military, the Coast Guard serves to protect the United States from threats such as terrorism. The Coast Guard has four general defense objectives, including:
What is the role of the Coast Guard?
Armed Forces and falls under the jurisdiction of the Department of Homeland Security. The Coast Guard's responsibilities include search and rescue (SAR), maritime law enforcement (MLE), aids to navigation (ATON), ...
Is the Coast Guard the least flashy branch?
The Verdict: The Coast Guard is by far the least "flashy" of the branches. It gets little time in the limelight. It is also probably one of the tightest-knit "families" among the services. By and large, the Coast Guard focuses on law enforcement, not large-scale military operations.
What is the Coast Guard?
Under the direction of the United States Department of Homeland Security, the United States Coast Guard is the military force responsible for safeguarding the country’s maritime interests at the local, regional, national and international level.
Why is the Coast Guard important?
Because our nation’s waters are crucial to our economy and our country’s well-being, the Coast Guard plays an active role in protecting our marine environment, one of the most valuable natural resources on the planet. As such, the Coast Guard serves as the primary agency for at-sea fisheries enforcement. Partnering with a number of state and federal agencies, the Coast Guard enforces marine resource management as to preserve healthy stocks of fish and other living marine resources.
When was the Coast Guard Women's Reserve founded?
In 1942, the Coast Guard Women’s Reserve, nicknamed the “SPARS,” was founded. Roughly 10,000 women volunteered to serve in the SPARS between 1942-1945. Fun fact: the nickname “SPARS” comes from the acronym for the Coast Guard’s motto – Semper Paratus, Always Ready. The SPARS was formally disbanded in 1946, but the work and legacy of these women laid the foundation for the successes of women serving in the Coast Guard Reserve today.
When did the Coast Guard stop operating?
Thanks to downsizing, among other factors, in 1994 the Coast Guard Reserve stopped operating its own all-reserve units, except for Port Security Units (PSUs), and instead integrated its personnel into established active-duty Coast Guard units.
What did the Coast Guard do during Hurricane Katrina?
From responding to flooding in the Midwest during the 1980s, to assisting in the Exxon Valdez oil spill cleanup, to serving in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, Coast Guard reservists have selflessly served to help our nation in times of need.
Overview
The United States Coast Guard (USCG) is the maritime security, search and rescue, and law enforcement service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the country's eight uniformed services. The service is a maritime, military, multi-mission service unique among the United States military branches for having a maritime law enforcement mission with jurisdiction in both domest…
Mission
The Coast Guard carries out three basic roles, which are further subdivided into eleven statutory missions. The three roles are:
• Maritime safety
• Maritime security
• Maritime stewardship
History
The Coast Guard traced its roots to the small fleet of vessels maintained by the United States Department of the Treasury beginning in the 1790s to enforce tariffs (an important source of revenue for the new nation). Secretary of the Treasury Alexander Hamilton lobbied Congress to fund the construction of ten cutters, which it did on 4 August 1790 (now celebrated as the Coast Guard's official birthday). Until the re-establishment of the Navy in 1798, these "revenue cutters" …
Organization
The new Department of Homeland Security headquarters complex is on the grounds of the former St. Elizabeths Hospital in the Anacostia section of Southeast Washington, across the Anacostia River from former Coast Guard headquarters.
The fiscal year 2016 budget request for the U.S. Coast Guard was $9.96 billion.
Personnel
The Coast Guard has a total workforce of 87,569. The formal name for a uniformed member of the Coast Guard is "Coast Guardsman", irrespective of gender. "Coastie" is an informal term commonly used to refer to current or former Coast Guard personnel. In 2008, the term "Guardian" was introduced as an alternative but was later dropped. Admiral Robert J. Papp Jr. stated that it w…
Equipment
The Coast Guard operates 243 Cutters, defined as any vessel more than 65 feet (20 m) long, that has a permanently assigned crew and accommodations for the extended support of that crew.
• National Security Cutter (WMSL): Also known as the "Legend"-class, these are the Coast Guard's latest class of 418-foot (127 m) cutter. At 418 ft. these are t…
Symbols
The Coast Guard, like the other armed services of the United States, has a set of core values that serve as basic ethical guidelines for all Coast Guard active duty, reservists, auxiliarists, and civilians. The Coast Guard Core Values are:
Honor: Integrity is our standard. We demonstrate uncompromising ethical conduct and moral behavior in all of our personal actions. We are loyal and ac…
The Coast Guard, like the other armed services of the United States, has a set of core values that serve as basic ethical guidelines for all Coast Guard active duty, reservists, auxiliarists, and civilians. The Coast Guard Core Values are:
Honor: Integrity is our standard. We demonstrate uncompromising ethical conduct and moral behavior in all of our personal actions. We are loyal and ac…
Uniforms
For most of the Coast Guard's history its uniforms largely mirrored the style of U.S. Navy uniforms, distinguishable only by their insignia. In 1974, under the leadership of Admiral Chester R. Bender, the initial versions of the current Coast Guard Service Dress Blue and Tropical uniforms were introduced. This represented a major departure from many common conventions in naval and …
What Does The Coast Guard do?
Is The Coast Guard Part of The Military?
- Yes! Even though the Coast Guard is not a part of the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD), the Coast Guard is part of the United States Armed Forces (also known as the military). Technically, the Coast Guard is both a federal law enforcement agency and military branchwithin the Department of Homeland Security. Throughout its long history, the Coast Guard has also been a …
What Is The Difference of The Coast Guard vs Navy?
- Considering the Coast Guard’s maritime mission and its role as part of the military, it might seem hard at first to see the difference between the Coast Guard and the Navy. However, the two organizations couldn’t be more different. The main difference of the Coast Guard vs the Navy lies in their contrasting geographic scopes, distinct core operations and vastly different sizes. The C…
Speaking Of, How Many People Are in The Coast Guard?
- Currently, after the Space Force, the Coast Guard is the smallest military branch. 40,992 full-time active-duty service members are currently working in the Coast Guard, along with 7,000 part-time reservists, 8,577 civilians and 31,000 auxiliary Coast Guard volunteers.
Is It Hard to Get Into The Coast Guard?
- Getting into the Coast Guard is a simple enough process – but that doesn’t mean it is easy. Just like joining any other branch of the military, anyone wanting to get into the Coast Guard must first talk to a recruiter to begin the process and answer any questions. Then, upon completing a pre-screening, new applicants will be sent to the closest Military Entrance Processing Center (MEPS…
What Celebrities Or Other Famous People Served in The Coast Guard?
- Golfer Arnold Palmer, author Alexander “Alex” Haley, actor Jeff Bridges, National Football League (NFL) player Emlen Tunnel, actor Cesar Romero, National Hockey League (NHL) player Art Coulter and boxer Jack Dempseyare among a slew of other stars who served in the U.S. Coast Guard.
What Is Some Other Interesting Coast Guard Trivia?
- Did you know that Walt Disney created a special logo for the Coast Guard’s Corsair Fleet during World War II, or that the oldest-serving Coastguardsman was 105 years old? Check out this list of Coast Guard trivia factsto dive even deeper into the military branch. -This article was originally published in 2020. It has been updated for 2021.
Overview
This article covers the organization of the United States Coast Guard.
The headquarters of the Coast Guard is located at 2703 Martin Luther King Jr Avenue SE in Washington, D.C. The Coast Guard relocated to the grounds of the former St. Elizabeths Hospital in 2013.
Regional responsibilities - Areas, Districts, and Sectors
Since most Coast Guard operations are domestic, the service has always been organized along regional lines. The Coast Guard's shore establishment divides the continental United States and its territories into two area commands--Coast Guard Atlantic Area and Coast Guard Pacific Area—each commanded by a vice admiral. The area commands are divided into districts, each commanded by a …
Flag officers[2]
The Commandant of the Coast Guard is the Coast Guard's most senior officer, who, by law, holds the rank of admiral. The commandant is selected for a four-year term, which may be renewed for additional four-year periods. The current incumbent is Admiral Linda L. Fagan, who replaced Admiral Karl L. Schultz on June 1, 2022.
Senior officers
Coast Guard captains, like their Navy counterparts, rank immediately below rear admiral (lower half). Coast Guard captains command most large operational units—sectors, large cutters, large air stations, integrated support commands, training centers and large headquarters units. Captains also direct most headquarters, area and district staff elements. Most captains have served in the Coast Guard for 21 to 30 years.
Junior officers
The other commissioned officer ranks are (from most senior to least senior)
• Lieutenant commander: Examples of positions held by a lieutenant commander include command of some Coast Guard cutters, executive officers of larger cutters, or departmental oversight positions at Coast Guard Sector commands.
• Lieutenant: Examples of positions held by a lieutenant include command of small boat stations, command of Coast Guard patrol boats, an…
Chief warrant officers
The Coast Guard has three active grades of chief warrant officers. Chief warrant officers are commissioned officers, and are promoted from senior enlisted ranks. The grade of warrant officer (WO1) is not used in the Coast Guard. Although authorized in 1994, the Coast Guard does not currently use or have any active CWO5 grade. The three grades in use are (from most senior to least senior):
Chief petty officers
As in the Navy, Coast Guardsmen in the rates of Chief Petty Officer (E-7), Senior Chief Petty Officer (E-8), and Master Chief Petty Officer (E-9), are collectively called "chiefs," and serve as the service's senior non-commissioned officers. The Coast Guard is often short of officers, therefore Chiefs often fill roles that would normally be filled by commissioned officers in other branches. Chiefs serve as officers-in-charge of Coast Guard Stations and recruiting offices, command or serve as …
Coast Guard Sectors
Within each District, large operational shore-side units known as Sectors are responsible for mission execution within their area of responsibility. Sectors were formed when "groups" were merged with what were formerly known as Marine Safety Offices. Coast Guard small boat stations are called Stations and report to Sectors. Each Sector Commander reports to the appropriate District Commander.