Posted on Apr 5, 2018
Albeit under the DHS, does the U.S. Coast Guard get enough credit as a military force?
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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.
Coast Guard
Appreciation
Military service
Military Career
Posted >1 y ago
Responses: 21
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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.
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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.
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.
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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....
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SSgt (Join to see)
You're right, Captain. He was the only USCG MOH awardee. I have friends in the CG that attest he is still a legend.
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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....
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LCDR Keith Trepanier
You might want to dig into those history books a bit more.
The "Coast Guard" has been a military service for over 100 years. It has actually been a military service since 1790 as the Revenue Cutter Service. The Coast Guard itself was officially established in 1915 when the Revenue Cutter Service and the Lifesaving service were merged. US Code officially established the CG as a military service at that time and has not changed since. USPSH and NOAA are uniformed services not Armed services. Only the Army, Navy, Coast Guard, Marines, and Air Force are Armed services/military services.
As for being placed under the Navy, that has not happened since WWII yet the CG has participated in every major conflict since 1790. It does not have to fall under the Navy or the DoD to conduct military actions.
As for Posse Comitatus, That is another interesting read. The act only applies the the Army and the Air Force. The Navy and Marine Corps, only comply by their choice. The act does not cover the National Guard components (when operating at state levels) or the Coast Guard based on where they lie in the National structure.
The "Coast Guard" has been a military service for over 100 years. It has actually been a military service since 1790 as the Revenue Cutter Service. The Coast Guard itself was officially established in 1915 when the Revenue Cutter Service and the Lifesaving service were merged. US Code officially established the CG as a military service at that time and has not changed since. USPSH and NOAA are uniformed services not Armed services. Only the Army, Navy, Coast Guard, Marines, and Air Force are Armed services/military services.
As for being placed under the Navy, that has not happened since WWII yet the CG has participated in every major conflict since 1790. It does not have to fall under the Navy or the DoD to conduct military actions.
As for Posse Comitatus, That is another interesting read. The act only applies the the Army and the Air Force. The Navy and Marine Corps, only comply by their choice. The act does not cover the National Guard components (when operating at state levels) or the Coast Guard based on where they lie in the National structure.
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Capt Daniel Goodman
I do find that interesting, you're right, of course, I'd forgotten the whole revenue cutter aspect, obviously, I did know of it, I should've included that. What you'd said about posse commitatus, I find esp interesting what you'd mentioned about only Army and USAF, not Navy or USMC, except by choice, that is obviously surprising, though I of course accept what you sat, I'd !erepy be interested in the etiologymof how and/or why that evolved to be the case one would've superficially thought, I suppose, that all svcs would've been equally covered by posse commitatus, clearly, as you say, that doesn't seem to be the case, evidently. That posse commitatus somehow impacted USCG less, I'd gathered, as I'd mentioned, due to he law enforcement aspects...I'd expect that NGB Federally would, from what you'd said, have posse commitatus apply in many instances, though I found interesting that you distinguished state level use of ARNG and ANG. I just kind of reflected somewhat historically in my mind to the whole calling out by Pres Eisenhower of, I believe, the 101st Airborne during the 1950s civil-rights act enforcement, I can't quite recall if it was 82nd or 101st, I'm thinking it was the latter, however, there, it was clearly a case of martial law due to the disturbance, from what I remember. Someone else on the app here had a thread about the whole US Mexico troop usage, I'd suggested may e due to posse commitatus, hat USCG might be able to supervise it, since, in the thread, someone had raised the whole posse commitatus aspect, or it'd been mentioned, as to why such troop usage couldn't be directly done, or something like that. Then I'd wondered whether such bodies as the state defense forces (SDFs), Civil Air Patrol (CAP), or USCG Aux could also help, it was just a thought on my part, of course. However, being, as you'd said, posse commitatus evidently doesn't apply to ARNG or ANG under state use, then, perhaps, both of those could do such border patrol, under the individual relevant state governors, obv TX, AZ, NV, and CA, that too just occurred to me. However, to return to what you'd originally mentioned, as I'd said, I'd forgotten the whole revenue cutter aspect of the history, I knew about the merger of the lighthouse svc.and the lifesaving svc, I forgot to include the revenue cutter SVC in the merger, obv a very valid point, I'd be most eager to hear your further thoughts about my other various notions Jere, many thanks....
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LCDR Arthur Whittum
LCDR Keith Trepanier - “placed under Navy” - while CG admin controll remained in placed during the Vietnam days,operational control varied depending on missions. Some times Navy, sometime Coast Guard. I’m sure that book “Coast Guard in Vietnam” would speak to that. CG Squadron Three and CG Squadron One good examples along with the detachments supervising and inspecting explosive loading aboard merchant vesels, and the Loran stations.
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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.
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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
Some of the best SAILORS I've ever worked with..
BUT.. They're still "Hooligans Navy"
V/R
BMCS, USN, Ret.
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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.
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