Week 6: US Coast Guard

Week 6: US Coast Guard

I. Mission – multi-mission maritime service; one of US’s five Armed Forces

o Protect the public, environment, and US economic interests in the Nation’s ports, waterways, and coast as well as international waters and maritime regions required to support national security.

II. History

A. US Goal: protect maritime industry and enforce its laws on the seas

1. In August 1789 by Congress established lighthouses

2. The Secretary of Treasury Alexander Hamilton established Revenue Cutter Service by stationing ten new cutters in major ports to:

1) Collect new tariffs

2) Prevent and stop piracy

3) Assist mariners in distress

3. The cutters also augmented the USN (which had been disbanded after the Revolution)

4. Cutters used in all early major wars

a. Quasi War / War of 1812 – captured enemy ships

b. Mexican War – protected troop convoys

c. Civil War – assisted Union blockade and hunted Confederate raiders and blockade runners

B. In 1915, Congress passed bill to unite Life Saving Service and Revenue Cutter Service into the USCG

1. Four missions

a. Promote safe and efficient maritime transportation

b. Promote the collection of national revenues

c. Promote measures to enhance national security

d. Promote preservation of life and property at sea

2. USCG became responsible for maritime safety and law enforcement as well as navigation

C. World War I – USCG cutters based in Gibraltar patrolled Atlantic and protected convoys

D. World War II – continued to patrol Atlantic; prevented Germans from est. a radio/weather station on Greenland

1. USCG men also served on naval craft

2. USCG sunk 12 U-boats (cutters 11, USCG airplane 1)

E. April 1946 – USCG creates Eastern, Western, and Pacific commands

F. Korea and Vietnam – shallow draft vessels served in the “Brown Water” role

1. Operation Market Time – searched thousands of small boats in Mekong Delta looking for arms smugglers

G. 1967 – USCG put under Dept. of Transportation (can be transferred to Dept. of Navy in time of war)

H. Gulf War – Coast Guard Law Enforcement Detachments (LEDETS) enforced UN embargo, seized Iraqi oilrigs, and ensured port security

III. Organization

A. USCG is a law enforcement agency when under Dept. of Homeland Security

B. Coast Guard Leadership

1. Commandant of the CG: Admiral Collins

2. Vice Commandant: Vice Admiral Barrett

3. Master Chief Petty Officer of the CG: MC Quartermaster Welch

4. Support and Staff Agencies of the CG

C. Two Areas (each headed by an O-9)

IV. Modern Roles of the USCG: Five Strategic Goals

1. Maritime Safety – Recreational boater safety, International ice patrol (find icebergs, breakup frozen waterways), Marine safety, and Search and rescue [RIMS]

2. Maritime Mobility – maintaining and building aids to navigation including Bridge administration, Buoys, Lighthouses, Icebreaking services, and Vessel traffic / waterways management [BBLIV]

3. Maritime Security – law enforcement role which includes General maritime law enforcement, Law/treaty enforcement, Living marine resource, Alien migrant interdiction, Drug interdiction [GLLAD]

4. National Defense – parallels USN duties which include Homeland Security, and Port and waterways security (US and abroad during peace and war)

5. Protection of Natural Resources – marine pollution education and prevention (particularly oil)

a. There are three CG National Strike Teams (East, Gulf, West coasts) to respond to major oil / etc spills

b. Assist government in maritime and environmental science

V. Personnel

A. Reserve Element – this CG Auxiliary checks vessel safety and conducts safety patrols

B. USCGA – on the Thames River in New London, CT; graduating class size of about 175

1. Graduates serve at least a two-year tour on a cutter at sea (can then continue that or move into law enforcement or aviation)

2. Admission based solely on a national exam; 275 admitted each year

3. Summers: First is Swab Summer; second they cruise on the USCG Barque Eagle

4. Courses prepare graduates for CG service; also do military development and athletic programs similar to other service academies

C. CG OCS (Officer Candidate School) – also in New London, CT – 17-week program with PT, inspections, drill, and classes

1. Requires Bachelors Degree and good physical and health requirements

2. Complete OCS with a ten-day training cruise on a cutter; graduates serve on cutters and CG duty stations

D. CG Enlisted – Similar to USN enlisted jobs

1. CG Boot Camp in Cape May, NJ – 8 weeks long; learn drill, basic water survival, etc à Graduates go on to school to learn a trade

E. Future of USCG

1. By 2020, maritime traffic predicted to triple w/bigger ships, cargo, more passengers

2. Developing new technology to deal with increasing traffic and drug interdiction

3. CG mobilized 2,000 reserves post-9/11

a. Took part in Operation Noble Eagle (homeland security with emphasis on port protection, unchallenged commerce flow, and protection of marine transportation from terrorism)

VI. Platforms – USCG uses a large number of platforms including tugboats, buoy and construction tenders, and ice breaking vessels

A. Over 200 planes from 27 air stations flown in US, AL, HI, and Puerto Rico; USCG is world’s 7^th largest naval air force

VII. ADM Kelso ’56 (USNA)

A. First served on USS Ogelthorpe (cargo ship) before becoming a submarine officer

B. Progressed through ranks as a submarine officer, achieving flag rank

C. Commander of 6^th Fleet in the Mediterranean; led Libya bombing (1986) and oversaw the interception of a hijacked airliner with Palestinian terrorists who had killed an American tourist

D. Became CNO on June 24, 1990

1. Downsized navy greatly as the Cold War ended (decommissioned 182 ships, 49 squadrons, and 15% of naval shore facilities)

2. Developed new strategy (“From the Sea”) to lessen emphasis on ocean battle and more on joint work with Army, USMC, and USAFA

3. Led integration of women into the Navy (repealed laws prohibiting women from entering combat or aviation)

4. Uses the Total Quality Leadership philosophy by Dr. Deming which calls for continuous improvement of processes

5. Concluded his career in 1998 (42 years of service since graduation from USNA)

Platforms	HH-60J LAMPS MK III Jayhawk	HH-65 Dolphin	HU-25 Falcon
Mission	Medium range recovery (MRR)	Short range recovery (SRR)*	Medium range surveillance
Replaced	Nil	HH-52A Sikorsky	HU-16E Albatross, C-131A Samaritan
Crew	4 (2 pilots, 2 crewman)	4 (2 pilots, 2 crewman)*	5 (2 pilots, 3 crewman)
Speed	140 / 160 knots	120 / 165 knots	350 / 410 knots
Visual ID		ID: no rotor on tail *All aircraft info from fas.org except (from globalsecurity.org)**

Platforms	WHEC-715 Hamilton; High endurance cutter	WMEC-901 Famous ; Medium endurance cutter
Mission	Law Enforcement, Defense Operations, Search & Rescue	Same as WHEC-715
Weapons	Mk75 76mm AA Gun 2x25mm Machine guns Mk16 Phalanx CIWS .50cal Machine gun	75mm rapid fire gun 2x .50cal machine gun
Crew	167 (19 officers / 148 enlisted)	100 (14 officers, 86 enlisted)
Speed (max, knots)	29	20
Visual ID	ID: Distinct Mk75 up front; pointy bow; larger ship No ship info on FAS; all ship info from globalsecurity.org	ID: smaller superstructure; flat bow