Today (4 August) is Coast Guard Day, the day the United States Coast Guard celebrates as its 222nd birthday.
On 4 August of 1790, the U.S. Revenue Cutter Service was established to enforce tariff laws. With a fleet of ten cutters, this service was the only U.S. armed force on the sea at the time.
With roots in volunteer efforts in Massachusetts during the 1700’s, the U. S. Life Saving Service was formed as a separate service. In 1915, the two services were merged to form the U.S. Coast Guard.
In 1939, the U.S. Lighthouse Service (which had been established in 1789) was added to the Coast Guard.
During peacetime, the Coast Guard is part of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. It becomes part of the Navy during time of war.
By law, the Coast Guard has eleven missions:
- Ports, waterways, and coastal security,
- Drug interdiction,
- Aids to navigation,
- Search and rescue,
- Living marine resources (including protecting the U.S. Exclusive Economic Zone from foreign encroachment and enforcing domestic fisheries law),
- Marine safety,
- Defense readiness,
- Migrant interdiction,
- Marine environmental protection,
- Ice operations, and
- Other law enforcement.
Background information:
U.S. Coast Guard First District
Coast Guard Publication 1: U.S. Coast Guard: America's Maritime Guardian
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