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The United States Coast Guard

The United States Coast Guard operates under the Department of Homeland Security and is one of the seven uniformed services that are part of the United States Armed Forces. During a time of war however, it can be called by the President or Congress as part of the Department of the Navy. The Coast Guard motto is ‘Always Prepared”. The U.S. Coast Guard takes up many roles including homeland security, search and rescue, environmental protection, maintenance of river and intracoastal navigation. Unlike the other military departments however that always training for war, the Coast Guard is deployed everyday and in a broad range of emergencies. A good example of the Coast Guard at work was during Hurricane Katrina where their flexibility and most of all their spirit was evidenced. One rescue swimmer said that, “In the Coast Guard, you take care of the people and the mission will take care of itself.

One of the best known missions for this department is in search and rescue. The Coast Guard has in fact been designated as the federal agency for maritime search and rescue operations while the United States Air Force is the federal agency for inland search and rescue operations. The Coast Guard also has law enforcement powers that allow warrant officers, active and reserve commissioned officers and customs officers to carry a firearm, execute and serve any order issued under the United States authority, make an arrest without a warrant and perform any other law enforcement duty that has been designated by the Secretary of Homeland Security.

New recruits into the Coast Guard are sent at the Coast Guard Training Center Cape May in New Jersey for an 8-week basic training. During this time emphasis is placed on developing physical skills as well as learning teamwork. The core values are also given importance. This includes learning self-discipline, military skills, military bearing, physical fitness, water survival, marksmanship and values like honor, respect and devotion to duty. Coast Guards also have international legal frameworks that govern their operations. This is especially important when you consider the increasing threat of piracy on world waters. The threats of piracy come at great economic and human costs and require strong law enforcement capacity.

Indeed, the Guardian Ethos adopted in 2008 well describes its work. The Ethos says, “I am America’s maritime guardian.

I serve the citizens of the United States.

I will protect them.

I will defend them.

I will save them.

I am their shield.

For them I am Semper Paratus.

I live the Coast Guard core values.

I am a guardian.

We are the United States Coast Guard.

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