The United States Coast Guard and National Defense Essay -- Missions o

The sailing safety (CG) is the nations smallest armed service and most misunderstood armed service. Most Americans know the Coast prevail is the nations premiere lifesaving service. Some may even know that the Coast Guard is the nations oldest continuing sea tone ending service. While the Coast Guard falls under the UCMJ just like the other four subsectiones, and often works side by side with them curiously the Navy The Coast Guard is usually trained for a very different mission than their DOD counterparts in times of peace. This paper will spue light on the Coast Guards accomplishments and its sacrifices in its National Defense mission. The legal basis for the Coast Guard to operate as a military force is Title 14 of the United States Code, which states The Coast Guard as established January 28, 1915, shall be a military service and a branch of the armed forces of the United States at all times. Upon the declaration of war or when the President directs, the Coast Guard op erates under the authority of the Department of the Navy. The Coast Guard can trace its beginnings back August 4th 1790. On this date president George Washington, at the urging of Secretary of the Treasury Alexander Hamilton, ordered the create of ten ships. Those ten ships would be called the Revenue Cutter Service (RCS). The purpose of these ships was to enforce tariff regulations and bolster the coffers of the newly formed United States. It is the nations oldest continuing sea going service. These ships would be used to cut off smuggling in and out of the U.S. The term cutter is still used directly to describe any Coast Guard vessel 65 or longer. The RCS was first pressed into service during the undeclared Quasi War with France in 1798-99. In 17... ...less and when it is called upon to fight it will transform from a law enforcement and humanitarian service to a fighting force to be reckoned with.Works CitedCutler, Thomas J. Brown water, cruddy berets Coastal and riverine w arfare in Vietnam. Naval Institute Press, 2000Demographics of Active Duty U.S. Military http//www.statisticbrain.com/demographics-of-active-duty-u-s- militaryKroll, C. Douglas. A Coast Guardsmans History of the U.S. Coast Guard. Annapolis, MD Naval Institute Press 2010Lagan, Christopher http//coastguard.dodlive.mil/2010/06/remembering-uscgc-escanaba-wpg-77/Puller, Lewis B. Fortunate Son The Autobiography of Lewis B. Puller, Jr. Grove Press, 2000U.S. Army Center of Military History http//www.history.army.mil/moh/wwII-m-s.htmlMUNROU.S. Coast Guards Historians Office http//www.uscg.mil/history