United States Coast Guard

The United States Coast Guard (USCG) is the maritime security, search and rescue, and law enforcement service branch of the United States Armed Forces. It is one of the country's eight uniformed services. The Coast Guard is unique because it has duties in both domestic and international waters, and it also helps make and enforce rules as a federal regulatory agency. It is the largest coast guard in the world.

The U.S. Coast Guard protects the United States' borders and helps keep the country's economic and security interests safe. It also defends the country's sovereignty by protecting important travel routes and trade across U.S. territorial waters and its Exclusive Economic Zone. The Coast Guard has people all over the world and can respond to natural disasters and other emergencies both in the U.S. and abroad.

The U.S. Coast Guard operates under the U.S. Department of Homeland Security during normal times. During wars, it can be moved to the U.S. Department of the Navy under the Department of Defense by order of the U.S. president or by act of Congress. It was created in 1915 by combining the U.S. Revenue Cutter Service and the U.S. Life-Saving Service. Since then, it has been part of every major U.S. war, from the Quasi-War with France to the Global War on Terrorism.

Today, the U.S. Coast Guard has about 44,500 active duty members and 7,000 reservists, along with many civilian workers and volunteers from the U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary. It has a large fleet of ships, including about 250 cutters and nearly 2,000 small boats. It also has more than 200 helicopters and airplanes for missions at sea. Even though it is one of the smaller U.S. military branches, the Coast Guard is the 12th largest naval force in the world.

Mission

Main article: Missions of the United States Coast Guard

Role

The Coast Guard has three main roles, which are part of eleven important jobs. These roles are:

• Maritime safety
• Maritime security
• Maritime stewardship

The Coast Guard is known for being quick and flexible in handling many kinds of emergencies. In 2005, after Hurricane Katrina, a writer for Time magazine said the Coast Guard is very good at changing plans and working hard in tough situations. Wil Milam, a rescue swimmer from Alaska, told the magazine, "In the Navy, it was all about the mission. Practicing for war, training for war. In the Coast Guard, it was, take care of our people and the mission will take care of itself."

Missions

The Coast Guard has eleven main jobs, split into two groups: homeland security jobs and jobs that are not about homeland security.

Non-homeland security missions

• Ice operations, including the International Ice Patrol
• Living marine resources (fisheries law enforcement)
• Marine environmental protection
• Marine safety
• Aids to navigation
• Search and rescue

Homeland security missions

• Defense readiness
• Maritime law enforcement
• Migrant interdiction
• Ports, waterways and coastal security (PWCS)
• Drug interdiction

Search and rescue

The U.S. Coast Guard is very well known for its Search and Rescue (CG-SAR) work. The National Search and Rescue Plan says the Coast Guard is the main group for water search and rescue, while the United States Air Force handles search and rescue on land. Both groups have centers to organize this work and they teach together at the National Search and Rescue School. The school used to be on Governors Island, New York, but now it is at Coast Guard Training Center Yorktown in Yorktown, Virginia.

National Response Center

The Coast Guard runs the National Response Center (NRC). This is the only place in the U.S. Government where people can report spills of oil, chemical, radiological, biological, and other harmful substances into the environment, anywhere in the United States and its territories. The NRC collects and shares information about these spills and helps organize the response. It also gets reports about unusual maritime activities.

National Maritime Center

The National Maritime Center (NMC) is part of the Coast Guard and works to make sure sailors have the right credentials. Its job is to give out licenses to qualified sailors in the United States.

Authority as an armed service

A picture of a Maritime Security Response Team West training for a pretend terrorist attack on a ship.

Maritime Safety and Security Team members work in the Gulf of Aden in 2009 as part of Combined Task Force 151, a group of many countries working together to stop pirates near the coast of Somalia.

The law says the Coast Guard is one of the armed forces of the United States, along with the Army, Marine Corps, Navy, Air Force, and Space Force. The Coast Guard is a part of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, but in special cases, like during war, it can work with the Department of the Navy.

Coast Guard members are part of the military and follow the same rules as other military members. They have served in every major U.S. conflict since 1790, including D-Day and World War II, the Vietnam War, and Operation Iraqi Freedom. In 2007, the Coast Guard joined the U.S. Navy and U.S. Marine Corps in a new plan to work together to stop problems before they start, as well as to react quickly if they do happen.

Authority as a law enforcement agency

The Coast Guard has the power to enforce U.S. laws. All Coast Guard officers can carry guns, make arrests, and do other law enforcement jobs when needed. This is different from other parts of the military, which usually cannot do law enforcement work. The Coast Guard can also work as customs officers, which gives them extra powers to enforce laws about imports and exports.

History

Main article: History of the United States Coast Guard

The Coast Guard began with small ships kept by the United States Department of the Treasury in the 1790s to help collect taxes. On August 4, 1790, the government agreed to build ten special ships, and this day is now celebrated as the Coast Guard's birthday. Before the Navy was re-started in 1798, these ships were the only naval force of the United States. They had many jobs, like stopping pirates, helping sailors in trouble, carrying important people, and even moving mail.

At first, these ships were not a formal group but operated under local officials. Over time, they became more organized and were called the United States Revenue Cutter Service. They helped in many wars, including the American Civil War.

Another group, the U.S. Life-Saving Service, formed to help sailors whose ships crashed into rocks. In 1871, a man named Sumner Increase Kimball helped organize this service into a proper group with paid workers.

In 1915, these two groups joined to form the United States Coast Guard. Later, they also took in the Lighthouse Service and the Bureau of Marine Inspection and Navigation. In 1967, the Coast Guard moved to the U.S. Department of Transportation, and in 2003, it joined the U.S. Department of Homeland Security after the terrorist attacks of 11 September 2001.

During wars, the Coast Guard can work with the Navy. This happened in the War of 1812, the Mexican–American War, the American Civil War, and World War II. In World War II, about 250,000 people served in the Coast Guard. Special beach teams watched the shores of the United States.

The Coast Guard also served in the Vietnam War. Two special groups, Squadron One and Squadron Three, helped stop enemy supplies and gave support to friends along the coast.

Deployable Operations Group/Deployable Specialized Forces

Main article: Deployable Specialized Forces

The Deployable Operations Group (DOG) started in July 2007 to quickly give the Coast Guard and other departments special teams for jobs like keeping ports safe, stopping pollution, and diving. The DOG was later changed into Deployable Specialized Forces (DSF) units in 2013.

Planning for this group began after the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001. It included over 25 special teams, such as groups for keeping ports safe, enforcing laws on ships, and helping in disasters. The DOG also helped choose Coast Guard members to join Navy teams.

Organization

Main articles: Organization of the United States Coast Guard and List of United States Coast Guard units (2019)

The United States Coast Guard is part of the military and works on water to keep people safe and enforce laws. It has special offices and units spread across the country to do its work.

Districts and units

The Coast Guard has 9 main areas, called districts, named after places to make them easier to remember. These districts cover different parts of the water around the United States.

Former U.S. Coast Guard Districts

In the past, there were two more districts, the 15th and 16th. The 15th was around the Panama Canal Zone, and the 16th was in the Philippines. These districts are no longer used.

Shore establishments

The Coast Guard also has offices on land to support its work at sea. These include places for training new members, fixing equipment, and keeping records. One important training school is the United States Coast Guard Academy, where future leaders learn their skills. Other training centers help people learn specific jobs, like working on boats or in the air.

Personnel

The Coast Guard has a workforce of 87,569 people. A person who works for the Coast Guard is called a “coast guardsman,” no matter if they are male or female. An informal way to refer to them is “coastie.” In 2008, the word “guardian” was suggested as another name, but it was not kept because only the official title can be used.

The Coast Guard has different levels of workers, called ranks. Some are leaders called officers, and others are regular workers called enlisted personnel. The Coast Guard also employs civilian workers in many jobs such as investigators, lawyers, engineers, and more. These civilians help the Coast Guard with its many tasks.

Commissioned officers

Officers in the Coast Guard have different ranks, similar to those in the Navy. Junior officers have lower ranks, while senior officers have higher ranks. The top leader of the Coast Guard is called an admiral.

Warrant officers

Some experienced workers can become warrant officers. They go through a special process to earn this title and can move up to higher levels over time.

Enlisted personnel

Enlisted workers also have different ranks, similar to those in the Navy. Those with higher ranks are called petty officers and chief petty officers. They learn leadership and other important skills in special schools.

Training

Officer training

The U.S. Coast Guard Academy in New London, Connecticut, is where future officers go to learn. It takes four years to finish, and graduates become officers and must serve at least five years. There is also Officer Candidate School for those who already have a college degree. It is a 17-week program to prepare them to be officers.

Recruit training

New workers go through eight weeks of training at Coast Guard Training Center Cape May in Cape May, New Jersey. They learn important skills, teamwork, and the values of the Coast Guard.

Service schools

After basic training, workers go to special schools to learn their specific jobs in the Coast Guard.

Civilian personnel

The Coast Guard employs over 8,577 civilians in many different jobs to help with its missions.

Main article: Warrant officer (United States)

See also: List of United States Coast Guard enlisted ranks and List of United States Coast Guard ratings

The U.S. Coast Guard Academy is a four-year service academy located in New London, Connecticut.

Newly enlisted personnel are sent to eight weeks of recruit training at Coast Guard Training Center Cape May in Cape May, New Jersey.

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.

Equipment

Main article: List of equipment of the United States Coast Guard

Cutters

The Coast Guard has 243 cutters. These are boats longer than 65 feet (20 m) with crews that live on them.

• National Security Cutter (WMSL): These are the Coast Guard's newest big cutters, each 418 feet (127 m) long. They replace older cutters and there are eight in service now.
• Medium Endurance Cutter (WMEC): These include the 210-foot (64 m) Reliance-class and the 270-foot (82 m) Famous-class cutters. They help with law enforcement, search and rescue, and defense.
• Polar-class icebreaker (WAGB): There are three of these, but only two are active. They break through ice and help with research. New icebreakers are being built.
• USCGC Storis: This 360-foot (110 m) icebreaker was used by Shell before the Coast Guard bought it in December 2024.
• USCGC Eagle: This 295-foot (90 m) sailing ship is used to train Coast Guard students. It was built in Germany and taken by the United States after World War II.
• USCGC Mackinaw: This 240-foot (73 m) icebreaker works on the Great Lakes.
• Seagoing Buoy Tender (WLB): These 225-foot (69 m) ships keep navigation aids working and also help with law enforcement and search and rescue.
• Coastal Buoy Tender (WLM): These 175-foot (53 m) ships keep coastal navigation aids working.
• Sentinel-class cutter (WPC): These 154-foot (47 m) cutters are used for search and rescue and law enforcement.
• Bay-class icebreaking tug (WTGB): These 140-foot (43 m) tugboats break ice and also help with search and rescue.
• Patrol Boats (WPB): There are two types; the 110-foot (34 m) Island-class patrol boats and the 87-foot (27 m) Marine Protector-class patrol boats
• Small Harbor Tug (WYTL): 65-foot (20 m) tugboats that clear ice in harbors and also help with search and rescue.

Boats

The Coast Guard has about 1,650 boats. These are any vessels less than 65 feet (20 m) long and they work near the shore and on inland waters.

The Coast Guard boat fleet includes:

• 47-foot Motor Lifeboat (MLB): The Coast Guard's main boat for tough weather, used for search and rescue and law enforcement.
• Response Boat – Medium (RB-M): A new 45-foot (14 m) boat to replace older boats. 170 are planned.
• Deployable Pursuit Boat (DPB): A 38-foot (12 m) boat for catching fast smuggling boats.
• Long Range Interceptor (LRI): A 36-foot (11 m) fast boat launched from bigger cutters.
• Aids to Navigation Boat (TANB/BUSL/ATON/ANB): Boats from 26 to 55 feet (7.9 to 16.8 m) that keep navigation aids working.
• Special Purpose Craft – Law Enforcement (SPC-LE): A 33-foot (10 m) boat for special law enforcement missions, going over 50 knots (93 km/h; 58 mph).
• 29-foot Response Boat Small II (RBS-II): A 29-foot (9 m) fast boat for search and rescue and law enforcement.
• 25-foot Transportable Port Security Boat (TPSB): A 25-foot (7.6 m) boat used for protecting ports.
• Special Purpose Craft, Shallow-water (SPC-SW): 24 feet (7.3 m)^{[clarification needed]}
• Cutter Boat – Over the Horizon (OTH): A 23-foot (7.0 m) inflatable boat used by bigger cutters.
• Short Range Prosecutor (SRP): A 23-foot (7.0 m) inflatable boat launched from National Security Cutters.

Aircraft

The Coast Guard has about 201 airplanes and helicopters at 24 air stations across the United States, Alaska, Hawaii, and Puerto Rico. Most of these air stations share space with civilian airports or military bases.

Coast Guard pilots train with the Navy and Marine Corps. After training, they go to a special school in Mobile, Alabama, except for HC-130 pilots who train in Arkansas.

Airplanes fly long missions from air stations. Helicopters can fly from air stations or from Coast Guard cutters. They help with rescue and catching boats that smuggle people or drugs. Since 2001, the Coast Guard has added armed helicopters for security.

The Coast Guard is developing unmanned airplanes to help with security and rescue. They are working with the Navy and U.S. Customs and Border Protection on this project.

Current aircraft

Weapons

Naval guns

Most Coast Guard cutters have naval guns, including:

• The Oto Melara 76 mm: A computer-controlled gun on Medium Endurance Cutters, used for many different jobs.
• The MK 110 57 mm gun: Used on National Security Cutters, this gun can do many jobs and has special features.
• The Mk 38 Mod 0: A 25mm gun system for defense against small boats and shore targets.
• The Mk 38 Mod 2: A remote-controlled version of the Mk 38 with better sights and controls.
• The Phalanx CIWS: A defense system against airplanes and missiles, used on National Security Cutters.
• The Sea PROTECTOR MK50: A remote-controlled machine gun used on four special cutters.

Small arms and light weapons

The U.S. Coast Guard uses many small guns and weapons.

Symbols

Core values

The Coast Guard, like other parts of the U.S. military, has important values that guide all its members. These values are:

• Honor: Doing the right thing and being honest in all we do.
• Respect: Valuing everyone and treating each other fairly.
• Devotion to Duty: Working hard and taking responsibility to achieve our goals.

The Guardian Ethos

In 2008, the Coast Guard created the Guardian Ethos to show what it means to be part of the Coast Guard. It became a promise between the Coast Guard and the people it serves.

The Coast Guard Ethos

In 2011, the Guardian Ethos was updated to the Coast Guard Ethos to better reflect the identity of Coast Guard members. The new version says:

In Service to our Nation
With Honor, Respect, and Devotion to Duty
We protect
We defend
We save
We are Semper Paratus
We are the United States Coast Guard

Creed of the United States Coast Guardsman

The Creed of the United States Coast Guardsman was written by Vice Admiral Harry G. Hamlet, who led the Coast Guard from 1932 to 1936. It expresses pride in being a Coast Guardsman and a commitment to duty and honor.

"You have to go out, but you don't have to come back!"

This is an unofficial motto of the Coast Guard. It comes from an old rule that says Coast Guard members must try their best to help others in danger, even if it seems very hard.

Coast Guard ensign

The Coast Guard ensign, or flag, was first used in 1799 to show that a ship belonged to the Coast Guard. It has red and white stripes with a blue area in the corner that has the U.S. coat of arms.

Coast Guard standard

The Coast Guard standard is used in parades and shows the Coast Guard's history and honors. It has a blue eagle and the words "United States Coast Guard" with the motto "Semper Paratus" and the year "1790."

Service Mark ("Racing Stripe")

The Racing Stripe, also called the Service Mark, was designed in 1964 to give the Coast Guard a modern look. It is a set of colored stripes on Coast Guard ships, airplanes, and boats. The stripes are angled at 64 degrees, the same year it was designed.

Uniforms

Main article: Uniforms of the United States Coast Guard

For most of its history, the Coast Guard wore uniforms that looked very similar to those of the U.S. Navy, with only small differences in their symbols. In 1974, Admiral Chester R. Bender introduced new uniforms that looked quite different from naval styles. These new uniforms, called "Bender's Blues," were the same for everyone, no matter their rank, and did not include some older styles like the sailor suit or sailor cap.

Today, the Coast Guard has simpler uniforms compared to other parts of the armed forces. There are only three main uniforms that people usually wear: the Operational Dress Uniform, Tropical Blue, and Service Dress Blue (Bravo).

Coast Guard Reserve

The United States Coast Guard Reserve is the backup force for the Coast Guard. It was started on 19 February 1941. There are 8,700 reservists who usually meet two days a month and serve an extra 12 days each year, though many spend more time on duty. These reservists have the same training as full-time Coast Guard members and help out regular teams every day.

During the Vietnam War, the Coast Guard thought about ending the reserve program, but instead, they changed it to support everyday active duty work. After 11 September 2001, many reservists served active duty, including trips to the Persian Gulf and joining defense teams like the U.S. Northern and Central Commands. The Port Security Units are mostly made up of reservists, with only a few active duty members. Most of the Coast Guard staff for the Navy Expeditionary Combat Command are also reservists.

Women in the Coast Guard

Main article: Women in the United States Coast Guard

Women have been part of the United States Coast Guard since 1918 and continue to serve today. During World War I, in January 1918, Myrtle Hazard, a radio and telegraph operator, joined as an electrician. She was the only woman to serve during that time and later had a ship named after her, the USCGC Myrtle Hazard . Some newspapers said that twin sisters Genevieve and Lucille Baker were the first women to join, but their request to enlist was not accepted.

Coast Guard Auxiliary

The United States Coast Guard Auxiliary is a group of civilian volunteers who help the United States Coast Guard. It was created on 23 June 1939 by an act of Congress. These volunteers, also called Auxiliarists, work with the Coast Guard on many tasks that are not fighting or enforcing laws. They help with safety for people who enjoy boating and water activities.

Auxiliarists teach people about boating safety, check boats to make sure they are safe, and help the Coast Guard during searches for people in trouble. They can also help with communication, cooking, and other support jobs. They cannot make arrests or carry weapons. As of 2022, there were about 26,000 members of the U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary.

Medals and honors

Main article: Awards and decorations of the United States Coast Guard

See also: Awards and decorations of the United States military

One member of the Coast Guard, Douglas Albert Munro, has received the Medal of Honor, the highest award in the United States military. Many others have received important awards like the Navy Cross and the Distinguished Flying Cross.

The Coast Guard gives out special medals for peaceful times, with the Homeland Security Distinguished Service Medal being the top one now. In the past, the Department of Transportation Distinguished Service Medal was the highest award.

During wartime, Coast Guard members can also receive the Navy's version of the Medal of Honor. In 2006, President George W. Bush gave a special award to the whole Coast Guard for their hard work during Hurricane Katrina and Tropical Storm Rita.

Notable Coast Guardsmen

Main article: List of U.S. Coast Guard people

Many well-known people have served in the Coast Guard. These include athletes like tennis player Jack Kramer and golfer Arnold Palmer, as well as actors such as Buddy Ebsen and Jeff Bridges.

Some Coast Guard officers have taken on important jobs in government after leaving the service. For example, Admiral James Loy became the United States deputy secretary of homeland security. Others have served in key roles, such as directing the White House or helping with emergency management. Two Coast Guard members have even become astronauts for NASA.

Associations

The Coast Guard Aviation Association is for those who have flown in Coast Guard aircraft. They even have a fun old name, "Ancient Order of the Pterodactyl"! They give out an award called the Ancient Albatross to the newest aviator who has been serving the longest.

There are also groups for people who used special codes in the Coast Guard, for Chief Petty Officers, and for warrant officers. These groups help members, support new recruits, and keep everyone informed about what’s happening in the Coast Guard.

In popular culture

The U.S. Coast Guard has an office in Hollywood, California that works with movies and TV shows. This helps people learn more about the Coast Guard and what they do.

In film

• Don Winslow of the Coast Guard (1943) tells a story about a Coast Guard officer during World War II.
• Fighting Coast Guard (1951) shows how the Coast Guard helped during the war.
• The Boatniks (1970) is a funny movie about a new Coast Guard leader.
• The Guardian (2006) focuses on training for rescue missions.
• Pain & Gain (2013) features special Coast Guard teams in action.
• The Finest Hours (2016) shows a true rescue story at sea.

On television

The Coast Guard appears in TV shows, such as:

• Coast Guard Alaska: Search and Rescue, a series on The Weather Channel about rescue missions in Kodiak, Alaska. Other shows focus on units in Cape Disappointment and Florida.

Relationship to the Navy

The Coast Guard can do law enforcement work even though other federal military groups cannot, thanks to a special rule called the Posse Comitatus Act. During naval operations, Coast Guard teams called Law Enforcement Detachments join Navy ships to help with arrests and other important tasks. When there is a war or if the president asks, the Coast Guard works together with the Navy and follows the Navy leader's orders. Sometimes, Coast Guard teams go overseas to keep ports safe. They also help the Navy with protecting coastal areas and sometimes work together on search and rescue missions.