U.S. Coast Guard

The U. S. Coast Guard is the longest serving seagoing service and has approximately 8,000 reservists and 35,000 auxiliarists. The service's moto is Semper Paratus which means "Always Ready". The USCG has participated in every U.S. conflict from landing troops during WWII to patrolling the Gulf in Operation Iraqi Freedom.

The U. S. Coast Guard was established on January 28, 1915 as a military service and a branch of the armed forces of the United States. On February 25, 2003 the Coast Guard was placed under the newly established Department of Homeland Security. In 1790 the Department of Treasury established the United States Revenue Cutter Service and was the only U. S. naval force until the U. S. Navy was formed nearly a decade later. From 1790 through 1798 the Coast Guard the only warships protecting the coast, trade and maritime interests of the newly formed republic.

Currently the U. S. Coast Guard faces several serious challenges including a lack of coverage on the coasts, a lack of adequate staffing to meet its assigned missions and a fleet of aging vessels. Its fleet ranks 38th out of the 40 largest naval fleets in the world in terms of the age of its vessels.

U S Coast Guard and Homeland Security

The United States Coast Guard's homeland security mission is not new to us. It is more visible today than it was prior to the tragic events of September 11, 2001, but it is just as important as it was when we first began protecting our national sovereignty 211 years ago. The Coast Guard maintains a clear vision and a keen sense of vigilance while keeping watch for threats to our security and those who would do us harm.

As part of Operation Noble Eagle, the Coast Guard is at a heightened state of alert protecting more than 361 ports and 95,000 miles of coastline, America s longest border. The Coast Guard continues to play an integral role in maintaining the operations of our ports and waterways by providing a secure environment in which mariners and the American people can safely go about the business of living and working freely.

n the wake of the September 11 terrorist attacks, the Coast Guard immediately mobilized more than 2,000 Reservists in the largest homeland defense and port security operation since World War II. The Coast Guard has increased its vigilance, readiness, and patrols to protect the country s 95,000 miles of coastline, including the Great Lakes and inland waterways.

The Coast Guard's homeland security role includes:

1. Protect ports, the flow of commerce, and the marine transportation system from terrorism.
2. Maintain maritime border security against illegal drugs, illegal aliens, firearms, and weapons of mass destruction.
3. Ensure that we can rapidly deploy and resupply our military assets, both by keeping Coast Guard units at a high state of readiness, and by keeping marine transportation open for the transit assets and personnel from other branches of the armed forces.
4. Protect against illegal fishing and indiscriminate destruction of living marine resources, prevention and response to oil and hazardous material spills--both accidental and intentional.
5. Protect against illegal fishing and indiscriminate destruction of living marine resources, prevention and response to oil and hazardous material spills--both accidental and intentional.

Operation Noble Eagle refers to U.S. military operations associated with homeland defense and civil support to federal, state and local agencies in the United States, and includes the increased security measures taken after the September 11 terrorist attacks. The operation involves joint agency coordination and cooperation to ensure our nation and borders are protected from future attacks. An increased presence will prevent and deter those who would cause harm to innocent Americans.

U S Coast Guard Auxiliary

For over 60 years, tens-of-thousands of men and women of the Coast Guard Auxiliary have spent millions of volunteer hours helping the Coast Guard carry out its missions. Auxiliarists are probably best known for educating the public through their boating safety classes and Vessel Safety Checks. Yet, they do much more and have been doing even more since the passage of the Coast Guard Authorization Act of 1996. The purpose of the Act is to allow the Auxiliary to assist the Coast Guard, as authorized by the Commandant, in performance of any Coast Guard function, duty, role, mission or operation authorized by law. The Coast Guard Auxiliary was authorized by act of Congress on June 23, 1939.

The Auxiliary has members in all 50 states, Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands, American Samoa, and Guam. Membership is open to men and women, 17 years or older, U.S. citizens of all states and territories, civilians or active duty or former members of any of the uniformed services and their Reserve components, including the Coast Guard. Facility (radio station, boat or aircraft) ownership is desirable but not mandatory.

The Auxilliary's missions include public education courses, assisting the active duty and reserve units of the U S Coast Guard in search and rescue missions, marine safety, patrolling regatta and marine events, safety patrols and verification of private aids to navigation. Specially trained members are authorized to conduct free vessel safety checks for safety equipment and requirements of state and federal laws.