Albeit under the DHS, does the U.S. Coast Guard get enough credit as a military force?

2018-04-05T13:36:47-04:00

Disparaged as the "Baby Navy", as I understand it, they were originally military, then switched to the Dept of Transportation (WTF?) and now under Homeland Security and it appears to me they do a great job from coast security, policing, rescue operations, etc. I don't think I've ever seen one of those "Thank the troops" commercials with USCG personnel.

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 5 at 2018 1:39 PM

2018-04-05T13:39:55-04:00

The USCG does catch a lot of flak but I think that a lot of us in "real" services probably couldn't do a lot of the things the "puddle pirates" do.

Response by SSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 5 at 2018 2:00 PM

2018-04-05T14:00:01-04:00

Do they get enough credit? No. Should they? Absolutely.

I know they piloted the landing crafts at Normandy. As I understand it, once the feds were allowed to go in after Katrina, the CG was told to fly only eight hour missions for crew rest concerns. The CG Admiral on scene saluted smartly, did an about face, then told his aircrews to fly the rotors off.

They're in as far as I'm concerned.

Response by SPC David Willis made Apr 5 at 2018 2:03 PM

2018-04-05T14:03:49-04:00

I mean some of them are the first ones on boats suspected of pretty heinous things, climbing up a ladder with only a pistol.

Response by PO1 Wesley Jolly made Apr 5 at 2018 2:24 PM

2018-04-05T14:24:34-04:00

Having worked hand in hand with Coast Guardsmen both as a Combat Systems and damage control instructor, and on law enforcement operations, I will stand up and testify that these guys are the real deal!

Response by PO1 Brian Austin made Apr 5 at 2018 2:33 PM

2018-04-05T14:33:49-04:00

I worked with them, did counter drug ops with them. They have my utmost respect.

Response by MCPO Roger Collins made Apr 5 at 2018 2:58 PM

2018-04-05T14:58:08-04:00

I’m one of the first to kid the Coasties, but respect the hell out of them for what they do daily. A little research will tell one of the great job they did in Vietnam. From a blue water sailor.

Response by SGT Jim Arnold made Apr 5 at 2018 3:07 PM

2018-04-05T15:07:20-04:00

they are definitely unique compared to the other services. A military / law enforcement mission

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 5 at 2018 3:37 PM

2018-04-05T15:37:16-04:00

I would guess the reason for being moved to homeland security it they have arrest and detain powers that are not given to other branches of the military. I know the Coast Guard gets teased allot but their mission is very critical to this countries security.

Response by Capt Daniel Goodman made Apr 5 at 2018 4:34 PM

2018-04-05T16:34:05-04:00

As I understand the history, I kinda dig into such trivia, if you actually look up the history, USCG was actually created as a !merger of the Lifesaving Svc, and the Lighthouse Svc, I saw that explicitly....it was never, unless I'm wrong, though I've read of it numerous times, dee!ed part of the military per se unless involved in a declared war, or by executive order, per se...I've always understood the reason to ne that, being as USCG as a whole has explicit law enforcement functions, per se, as a service, as a whole, under the posse commitatus rule, whole it's seconded to Navy, of course, though I did recently read of an op of some sort where a USCG flag officer was placed over Navy, in some circumstance, I forget which now, they're actually reqd to be placed under other than the DoD per se, under routine circumstances...I could, as I said, be wrong, I might well ne, I've also heard various things about that whole topic, however, that was how I always understood he whole thing to be handled...he circumstance is rather analogous to he USPHS Commissioned Corps being under DHHS, and the NOAA Commissioned Corps being under the Commerce Dept....I'd ne eager to know your thoughts, certainly...if I'm wrong, I know someone is gonna correct !e, obviously, many thanks....

Response by Capt Daniel Goodman made Apr 5 at 2018 4:35 PM

2018-04-05T16:35:00-04:00

Sorry for typos....

Response by Capt Daniel Goodman made Apr 5 at 2018 4:39 PM

2018-04-05T16:39:17-04:00

And youre obviously right, they should, of course, ne included...you might care to look up the Wikipedia page and YouTube videos of Seaman Douglas Munro, whom I believe was a boatswain's mate, I think, I'm not entirely certain, he was the sole USCG MOH awardee from WW2, I think he was at Guadalcanal, I dont know if I'm right, I'll try to check, I think he was Pacific, maybe Taraw, perhaps...as I said, I dont entirely recall the specifics, though that was his name, he received it for his actions in a landing or recovery operation on a beach, I do recall that, there's a really good YouTube vireo about a friend of his who tends his grave and flag, I did watch that, as well, I'm sure you should be able to find it....

Response by MAJ Ken Landgren made Apr 5 at 2018 5:18 PM

2018-04-05T17:18:06-04:00

They were the only organization to react quickly to support Katrina Operations: According to the White House report on the federal response to Hurricane Katrina, "Coast Guard teams alone ultimately rescued and evacuated over 33,000 people.

Response by SrA Ross Cramm made Apr 5 at 2018 5:50 PM

2018-04-05T17:50:22-04:00

Ive worked with them in the past and at least among other services people respect them the same as other services. Idk about the general public though

Response by SGM Bill Frazer made Apr 5 at 2018 9:19 PM

2018-04-05T21:19:44-04:00

NO, but think of it as the Navy's bastard children. They work their butt off, and get few kudo's
.

Response by LCDR Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 6 at 2018 10:02 AM

2018-04-06T10:02:18-04:00

Speaking as a Sailor...I think they get a lot of respect relative to their mission and capabilities. There's a reason a Navy officer cannot just hop over to the Coast Guard without jumping through hoops (tried and failed myself).

Do they get credit as part of the "Military"? At large, probably not. That said, their mission is a unique one, a vital one, and they sure as heck seem to do it well.

Response by SGT Joseph Gunderson made Apr 6 at 2018 11:08 AM

2018-04-06T11:08:00-04:00

I think that lately they really don't but when shit hits the fan again and there is a need for someone to actually keep guard of our country's waters people will start to give credit where credit is due.

Response by LCDR Keith Trepanier made Apr 6 at 2018 1:38 PM

2018-04-06T13:38:30-04:00

MSG Davis, the CG is still military just has it always has been. It has never officially been in the DoD but they are still a military service.The CG has been under the operational control of Navy at some points but this was before the DoD was established in 1947.

The Coast Guard started off as the Revenue Cutter service under the Department of the Treasury on August 4th 1790. (Trivia note: The Navy disbanded after the revolutionary war and did not get reestablished until 1794 making the Coast Guard the oldest continuous sea going service in the U.S.)
The Revenue Cutter service merged with the US life saving service in 1915. Since then the service has been under the Department of the Treasury, the Department of Transportation and Department of Homeland Security. It is a good thing by the way. The Coast Guard is able to do so much more in law enforcement actions than any branch in the DoD.

Do they get enough credit as a military force? Depends on what we are trying to credit the service with? I served 10 years in the Army and 15 years in the Coast Guard. I can most assuredly tell you that if you were looking at "military might" or the ability to be an attacking force, the CG isn't even in the game. If we are comparing how much each service sucks (deployment conditions and locations), I can assure you the Coast Guard has it pretty good. However, if you are looking at dedication by its sailors to serve their country, their professionalism and skills at their jobs, as well as their willingness to go into harms way and get the job done, then most don't even know the half of it. Because of that the service doesn't always get the credit deserved. But they still quietly go about their jobs every day ensuring the safety of citizens and protecting the country.

Response by SCPO William Akin made Apr 7 at 2018 1:01 PM

2018-04-07T13:01:24-04:00

You have to go out, you don't have to come back...
Some of the best SAILORS I've ever worked with..
BUT.. They're still "Hooligans Navy"
V/R
BMCS, USN, Ret.

Response by CWO4 Gene A. made Apr 8 at 2018 7:59 PM

2018-04-08T19:59:15-04:00

The Coasties have fallen under the Department of Transportation, Treasury and now zHomeland Security during Peace time. In War time they fall under the Department of the Navy. As such, they are and should be an active independent member of the armed forces and merge with the Navy during a period of war.

Response by PO3 Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 9 at 2018 5:06 AM

2018-04-09T05:06:28-04:00

The Coast Guard (formerly known as the Revenue Marine and the Revenue Cutter Service) has been in continuous service to the nation as a military service longer than the Navy. It started in the Treasury Department, later transferred to the Transportation Department, and is now under Homeland Security. It's never been large enough or adequately funded to accomplish all its missions, military and otherwise. However, lack of personnel and funding has never deterred it from accomplishing those missions. It was an honor for me to serve as an enlisted reservist.

Response by PO3 Richard Francis made Apr 15 at 2018 10:28 PM

2018-04-15T22:28:06-04:00

Coast Guardsman won MoH at Guadalcanal, rescuing Chesty Puller and his men trapped on the beaches. I spent 22 months on board USCGC Chase one of our missions were chasing Russian Subs back across the North Atlantic. Coast Guard is a lot more than people know.

Response by PO2 Troy Boyle made Apr 27 at 2018 2:32 PM

2018-04-27T14:32:00-04:00

I served in the USAF and USCG, and alongside members of all branches. How can I put this? I've known Marines that weren't worth an old penny, and I've known National Guardsman I'd trust my life with and the lives of my family. And vice versa. In every service, there are heroes and goldbrickers, members who pull their weight and members who are there just for the college money or a resume bullet. I knew a Coastie Yeoman with Expert quals and a black belt. He was recruited by the FBI.

I guess what I'm saying is that I never paid attention to branch rivalry. It's about the guy or gal serving next to you.