There are different divisions in the United States Armed Forces and each of them is operational under the power of the government. These divisions are also called the seven uniformed departments of the United States government. These uniformed departments have their own missions, visions, statements, and duties and responsibilities. The seven departments include the Army, Marine Corps, Navy, Air Force, Coast Guard, Public Health Service Commissioned Corps, and National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Commissioned Corps.
The Coast Guard is one of the most popular departments in the US government. But a lot of people are not yet very familiar with the purpose of this department. Most people think that the coast guard is just a branch of the navy or is just a separate body of armed forces. But what exactly does the coast guard do and why is it so important?
There are three major missions of the coast guard: maritime safety, maritime security, and maritime stewardship. Maritime safety involves the proper observance of the protection of the entire maritime department. The seas and coasts of the whole nation should be maintained and developed in a way that it is safe for all travelers to use the coast and the nation is completely protected from all external forces. Maritime security involves a similar approach, although there is more force to it. If needed, coast guards have the power to reinforce combat in order to completely secure the American coasts from all threats and harmful elements. Maritime stewardship involves the easy and optimal passage of all water transportation vehicles along the coast through the use of different equipment. The light houses of America are all controlled and operated by the Coast Guard.
Apart from these major missions, there are also eleven other missions of the coast guard. These are divided into the homeland security missions and non-homeland security missions. Homeland security missions include ports, waterways, and coastal security (PWCS), drug interdiction, migrant interdiction, defense readiness, and other law enforcement responsibilities. In general, it is the responsibility of the coast guard to uphold all laws and prevent any crimes to be brought up to the land of America without being hampered from the sea. It is their duty to check all the local as well as international marine cargo and transportation vehicles to ensure that none of them have any threatening or dangerous loads that can pose any fear or harm to the United States or to its citizens.
The non-homeland security missions include marine safety, search and rescue, aids to navigation, living marine resources, marine environmental protection, and ice operations. The coast guard can help other countries and nations in performing search and rescue operations especially if the location of the accident or tragedy is near American waters. Navigation is also an important responsibility of the coast guard because if there are any lost marine vehicles, the coast guard, being the most familiar water navigator in the nation, will be able to provide all the information needed to reach the destination of the vehicles. Living marine resources and marine environmental protection are duties of the coast guard to Mother Nature. It is their responsibility to prevent any improper practices in collecting marine resources or any activities that can destroy the marine environment. Ice operations involve the destruction of ice formation especially in polar areas.
If you are a member of the Coast Guard, be proud and show you identity by having images of the department imprinted in your personal valuables such as your bank checks, mugs, and even wallpapers and screensavers. This will allow others to also recognize you as a government servant.