The United States Coast Guard headquartered at Washington plays a major role
in the security operations, law-enforcement, and maintenance of intercostals
and offshore aids to navigation. Since March 31, 2003, Coast Guard, under the
Department of Homeland Security, directly reports to the Department of Defense
as first fleet of the United States.
The United States Coast Guard is a merger of the Revenue Cutter
Service and the National Life Saving Service, is a part of the armed forces
under Title 14 of the United States Code, and the Chief Officer is from the
rank of an admiral as Commandant selected for four year term renewable for further
four year tenure only. The next in rank is the Master Chief Petty Officer of
the Coast Guard (MCPO), an advisor to the Commandant.
The United States Coast Guard has different units responsible for individual
regions and one each for maritime defense of Atlantic and Pacific Oceans, each
under the command of a Vice Admiral. Large operational centers combining several
functions are “Activities” while smaller boat stations are Stations
and Coast Guard Air Stations handle aircraft operations. There are three Air
Stations at Morehead, Biloxi and Floyd Bennett Field in Brooklyn, New York.
The United States Coast Guard Academy at New London, Connecticut
is the only of its kind where all appointments are on merit only without any
political interference. It commissions around 170 new cadets every year and
training includes a stint as crew on the sail-powered training barque Eagle.
Apart from this Officers Candidate School at New London, Connecticut is another
academy through which around 70 officers every year are inducted into the coast
guard as lieutenant junior grade officers. Such officers have to complete three
compulsory years of service with the United States Coast Guard.
The basic missions of the United States Coast Guard are Maritime Safety, Maritime
Mobility, Maritime Security, National Defense and Protection of Natural Resources.
