The history of the Coast Guard
is almost as old as that of the United States. On 4 August 1790, President
George Washington signed a bill passed by Congress, authorizing the construction
of ten boats; this was the beginning of the Coast Guard. First named the Revenue
Marine, then changed to the Revenue Cutter Service, its mission was to guard the
new country's coastline against smugglers.
On 28 January 1915, President Woodrow Wilson approved the act authorizing the merger of the Revenue Cutter Service and the U.S. Lifesaving Service, which was a logical consolidation since both services had worked closely together within the Treasury Department for nearly a century. Their common aim had been to protect life and property from the ravages of the sea. The "new" service was named the United States Coast Guard.
As provided in the Congressional Act of 28 January 1915, amended, the Coast Guard is a military service at all times--a branch of the armed forces of the United States. Because of this status, in times of war or whenever so directed by the President, the Coast Guard operates as a separate service under the Department of the Navy, at which time the Commandant reports to the Secretary of the Navy and the Chief of Naval Operations.
The operating unit is the basic element in the Coast Guard operational chain. Besides Operational Units, the Coast Guard also maintains support units, such as the Coast Guard Academy in New London, Connecticut; the Coast Guard Institute in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma; the Coast Guard Yard in Curtis Bay, Maryland; training centers, supply centers, and others.
Despite the name changes, the Coast Guard has kept its identity as an organization. In point of active service, the Coast Guard is the oldest of the nation's seagoing armed forces.
The Coast Guard has a wide variety of missions. Properly trained Auxiliarists assist with many of these, a summary of which follows:
SEARCH AND RESCUE (SAR): One of the oldest missions, rescuing those in peril at sea has priority over all other Coast Guard peacetime missions. The purpose of this mission is to reduce loss of life, injury, and property damage on the high seas and in U.S. waters.
PORT SAFETY AND SECURITY (PS&S): The aim of this program is to safeguard the nation's ports, waterways, waterfront facilities, vessels, personnel, and property, and to prevent accidental or intentional damage, disruption, destruction or injury.
MARINE ENVIRONMENTAL RESPONSE (MEP): This program is intended to lessen the damage caused by pollutants released in the coastal zone. It also aids in national and international pollution response planning and makes every effort to recover the cost to the Federal government following a response.
ICE OPERATIONS (ICEOPS): Conducting both polar and domestic ice operations, the Coast Guard is the only federal agency operating icebreakers, which provide help and oceanographic support to a number of other programs. It also conducts the International Ice Patrol, which was started in 1912 after the ocean liner TITANIC struck an iceberg and sank.
AIDS TO NAVIGATION (ATON): This program sets up, operates, and maintains aids to navigation throughout the United States and in other areas of the world.
MARINE SAFETY: Two major activities comprise this program. COMMERCIAL VESSEL SAFETY (CVS) affects those engaged in commercial or scientific activity in the marine environment. The mission of the RECREATIONAL BOATING SAFETY PROGRAM (RBS) includes activities of the Auxiliary conducted on behalf of the federal, state, and local governments to improve the knowledge, skills, and operating environment of the recreational boater.
DEFENSE READINESS: This program ensures the Coast Guard can function as an effective armed force, in both peace and war.
ENFORCEMENT OF LAWS AND TREATIES (ELT): In 1790, Alexander Hamilton formed a "fleet of cutters" to suppress smuggling. Today, drug interdiction, migrant interdiction, and fisheries enforcement have made this program one of the Coast Guard's most visible missions.