Today is the U. S. Coast Guard's 225th Birthday. Share your best wishes for and best stories of the nation's smallest military service?

SCPO Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 04 Aug 2015 03:36:35 -0400

"The U.S. Coast Guard is one of the five armed forces of the United States and the only military organization within the Department of Homeland Security. Since 1790 the Coast Guard has safeguarded our Nation's maritime interests and environment around the world. The Coast Guard is an adaptable, responsive military force of maritime professionals whose broad legal authorities, capable assets, geographic diversity and expansive partnerships provide a persistent presence along our rivers, in the ports, littoral regions and on the high seas. Coast Guard presence and impact is local, regional, national and international. These attributes make the Coast Guard a unique instrument of maritime safety, security and environmental stewardship."

The second oldest, continuously operating military service and the nation's smallest celebrates its 225th Birthday today. Countless Americans, including an embarrassingly significant number of military personnel of all ranks, haven't the foggiest idea what the USCG does except, perhaps, rescue people at sea. That is only one of its eleven federally-mandated missions. It performs all those missions with only 35,000-plus active duty personnel, 8,000 Reservists, and 32,000 Auxiliarists. It has only 211 aircraft, both fixed wing and rotary. That's equal to only three of the U.S. Navy's air wings. The mainstay of the Coast Guard's arsenal are its nearly 2400 small boats (under 65') and cutters, numbering some 175-strong.

Truth is, having served in the USN, followed by the USAR, then twenty years in the USCGR, the Coast Guard was literally like one very large, but very intimate family. I can't remember ever traveling anywhere in the vast network of district headquarters, stations, and facilities that I did not know someone. Yes, the Coast Guard is most often the butt of jokes from members of the other services, and we are always explaining to someone what it is we do day in, day out, but if you ask most any Coastie today if he or she would trade places with any servicemember from the other four, more well-known militaries, you are very likely to get a "Hell No" every time. The Coast Guard seems to have a number of mottos for different aspects of its many missions, but the one I like best is "We have to go out, but we don't have to come back." Happy Birthday, U.S. Coast Guard. Semper Paratus!!!

Visit http://www.USCG.mil.

US Coast Guard Home

Response by SCPO David Lockwood made Aug 4 at 2015 7:24 AM

SCPO David Lockwood — Tue, 04 Aug 2015 07:24:22 -0400

Happy Birthday Coast Guard!

Response by PO2 Jonathan Scharff made Aug 4 at 2015 7:42 AM

PO2 Jonathan Scharff — Tue, 04 Aug 2015 07:42:48 -0400

Thanks for posting this Senior Chief. Happy Birthday Coast Guard! Semper Paratus!

Response by SCPO David Lockwood made Aug 4 at 2015 7:46 AM

SCPO David Lockwood — Tue, 04 Aug 2015 07:46:10 -0400

Well it is their B-Day!

Response by SSgt Alex Robinson made Aug 4 at 2015 8:03 AM

SSgt Alex Robinson — Tue, 04 Aug 2015 08:03:14 -0400

Happy birthday to the Coasties

Response by LCDR Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 4 at 2015 10:57 AM

LCDR Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 04 Aug 2015 10:57:49 -0400

Happy Birthday Coasties!

Response by PO2 Jeffrey Sheibels made Aug 4 at 2015 12:00 PM

PO2 Jeffrey Sheibels — Tue, 04 Aug 2015 12:00:36 -0400

Happy Birthday Coast Guard. . I'm sporting an old unit polo shirt and using my old coffee cup this morning in honor of the Coast Guards birthday. Semper gumby.

Response by CWO3 Andrew D. made Aug 4 at 2015 12:09 PM

CWO3 Andrew D. — Tue, 04 Aug 2015 12:09:05 -0400

Happy Birthday Coast Guard

Response by LTC Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 4 at 2015 3:30 PM

LTC Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 04 Aug 2015 15:30:23 -0400

Proud to wish the USCG a Happy Birthday.
Dad is a retired Chief, and my brother is currently in the USCG as an LT.

Response by LT Garth Young (Ret) made Aug 4 at 2015 3:49 PM

LT Garth Young (Ret) — Tue, 04 Aug 2015 15:49:25 -0400

Happy Birthday to the Service I love and proudly served!

Response by MSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 4 at 2015 4:41 PM

MSgt Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 04 Aug 2015 16:41:21 -0400

Happy birthday Coasties, Shallow water sailors, The Guard!!!!
Semper Paratus!

Response by LT Rene Torres made Sep 3 at 2015 4:27 PM

LT Rene Torres — Thu, 03 Sep 2015 16:27:27 -0400

Happy Birthday, Coast Guard!

Response by James Jackson made Nov 7 at 2018 5:53 AM

James Jackson — Wed, 07 Nov 2018 05:53:16 -0500

Proud member of the USCG Auxiliary! Semper Paratus!