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Coast Guard
American History
Coast Guard American History
Posted 5 y ago
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Interesting read. I would worry though, that by emphasizing its military nature, the scales would tilt towards "so, why are you different from the Navy?" In my opinion, granted I was only attached to the Coast Guard for 3 years and was not an actual Coastie, the mindset and culture of "rescue, save, maritime protection" almost a blend of first-responder and military, was a welcome and unique difference from the Navy and Marine Corps "military" mindset. I understand the political optics and public relations optics of telling the military side of the CG, and emphasizing those roots....but I would caution the CG to embrace her "rescue orange" as there are enough of us wearing "military blue".
When I deployed to Antarctica on the Polar Star, our first port was in New Zealand coming out of the ice. There were the 2017 Port Hills Fires that we happening as we pulled into Christchurch. The CO asked what I thought he should put into a speech he was giving to the City Council, as a NZ former SAS member-turned-firefighting-helicopter-pilot had just been killed by the fire. I made some suggestions, including noting that the ship's homeport was sister-city to Christchurch, which made the Polar Star about as tangible a relationship as would be seen, and right now, our "sisters" were in need. Unlike the USN, the USCG has that first-responder mentality and culture, and I suggested that it may be a good international relations offer (we were the 2nd US gov't ship in 34 years to visit NZ) if we offered to help....as the first-responders I believed the crew to be. Of course, not mandatory, entirely voluntarily. I left the ship a day later, but I heard that over 80% of the crew volunteered to help fight those fires, redirect traffic, etc. They gave up their hard-earned liberty to respond to a need in crisis. And that mentality, that culture, that heart...I believe is unique to the Coast Guard as a service and to her members. The title of the most recent book to talk about the USCG mission is "Rescue Warriors".
So, yes, I get the military roots and the "turn to blue"....but dang, I love her unique culture, that rescue/first-responder, the maritime safety orange, and worry sometimes that it gets lost.
Respectfully submitted. End of soapbox.
When I deployed to Antarctica on the Polar Star, our first port was in New Zealand coming out of the ice. There were the 2017 Port Hills Fires that we happening as we pulled into Christchurch. The CO asked what I thought he should put into a speech he was giving to the City Council, as a NZ former SAS member-turned-firefighting-helicopter-pilot had just been killed by the fire. I made some suggestions, including noting that the ship's homeport was sister-city to Christchurch, which made the Polar Star about as tangible a relationship as would be seen, and right now, our "sisters" were in need. Unlike the USN, the USCG has that first-responder mentality and culture, and I suggested that it may be a good international relations offer (we were the 2nd US gov't ship in 34 years to visit NZ) if we offered to help....as the first-responders I believed the crew to be. Of course, not mandatory, entirely voluntarily. I left the ship a day later, but I heard that over 80% of the crew volunteered to help fight those fires, redirect traffic, etc. They gave up their hard-earned liberty to respond to a need in crisis. And that mentality, that culture, that heart...I believe is unique to the Coast Guard as a service and to her members. The title of the most recent book to talk about the USCG mission is "Rescue Warriors".
So, yes, I get the military roots and the "turn to blue"....but dang, I love her unique culture, that rescue/first-responder, the maritime safety orange, and worry sometimes that it gets lost.
Respectfully submitted. End of soapbox.
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LCDR (Join to see)
PO1 Kevin Dougherty - I can see that. And I can't speak for all, but the two tours as the CG Academy, those Cadets knew it. When telling me about the Coast Guard, the Coasties on the icebreaker could (at least, as a group they could). And I loved hearing about every bit of it. Granted, most of the "military" side was either Quasi War or D-Day or Munro.
In reflecting, perhaps a bit of my...push-back reaction was to an e-mail we as USN Chaplains attached to USCG were sent out in my first year in the billet. It was from CG HQ, asking (essentially) "how does USCG seem military, and how can we make ourselves appear MORE military." I freely admit I viewed this article through the lens of that experience, and going "No, don't. Please. Stay different. Stay maritime safety. Stay Coast Guard." And I agree, after talking with some of the old salts, it seems 9/11 forced a change on the CG towards the National Security group of missions.
Every single USN Chaps I've talked to before that billet said, "If I could have stayed Coast Guard the rest of my career, I'd do it." And now that I'm on the other side, I proudly and gladly say the same. If I coulda stayed CG, I would! Blessings on her and her Coasties!
In reflecting, perhaps a bit of my...push-back reaction was to an e-mail we as USN Chaplains attached to USCG were sent out in my first year in the billet. It was from CG HQ, asking (essentially) "how does USCG seem military, and how can we make ourselves appear MORE military." I freely admit I viewed this article through the lens of that experience, and going "No, don't. Please. Stay different. Stay maritime safety. Stay Coast Guard." And I agree, after talking with some of the old salts, it seems 9/11 forced a change on the CG towards the National Security group of missions.
Every single USN Chaps I've talked to before that billet said, "If I could have stayed Coast Guard the rest of my career, I'd do it." And now that I'm on the other side, I proudly and gladly say the same. If I coulda stayed CG, I would! Blessings on her and her Coasties!
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LCDR (Join to see)
MCPO (Join to see) - Can't upvote the Creed near enough Master Chief! Gave me chills to hear Chris Pine as Bernie Webber say, "You gotta go out; you don't have to come back."
A chaplain visit I made to Chatham was like visiting holy ground.
A chaplain visit I made to Chatham was like visiting holy ground.
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PO1 Kevin Dougherty
Heh, after boot camp, other than A school and TAD at Tracen GINY, I was never at a unit large enough to rate a gate guard let alone a chaplain. I think that is one of the most unique aspects of the CG, in the 8 years I had active duty and 2 reserves, the average size of my units was somewhere between 15 and 20. The largest I was on was the Decisive which had a whopping 87 when fully manned, (we never were).
The bigger issue is perhaps the fact that others don't know what we do. I have lost count of the number of times I have talked to service members, let alone the general public and realized that had no clue what the CG does. Maybe we just need to do a better job of tooting our own horn. For damn sure no one else will.
The bigger issue is perhaps the fact that others don't know what we do. I have lost count of the number of times I have talked to service members, let alone the general public and realized that had no clue what the CG does. Maybe we just need to do a better job of tooting our own horn. For damn sure no one else will.
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PV2 (Join to see)
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