How2Day: What Are the Duties of the U.S. Coast Guard?

The USCG's motto is Semper Paratus which translates to "Always Ready." Jupiterimages/Photos.com/Getty Images
The U.S. Coast Guard falls under the direction of the United States Department of Homeland Security. Its roots go back centuries, combining numerous agencies into one that protects and serves all facets of maritime. Officially established in 1915, the USCG is one of the five branches of the U.S. military.

The U.S. Coast Guard has duties that fall into three areas: maritime safety, maritime security and maritime stewardship. These three areas then divide into eleven distinct missions. Those eleven missions are categorized as homeland security missions and non-homeland security missions.

The missions that fall under homeland security include securing aquatic borders, preventing drug smuggling, preventing the migration of illegal immigrants, defense readiness and maritime law enforcement.

The Homeland Security Act of 2002 named coastal and waterway security along with search and rescue as top priorities for the USCG. Basically the Coast Guard protects and serves those who live, work and play near aquatic borders. The Coast Guard, along with the U.S. Customs Department, works diligently in trying to prevent the crossing of illegal substances and immigrants into U.S. territories. Between 1997 and 2010, the USCG seized more than 800,000 lbs. of cocaine and more than 333,000 lbs. of marijuana. Between 1982 and 2010 they prohibited more than 225,000 immigrants from illegally crossing into the U.S.

The missions that fall into the non-homeland security category include marine safety, search and rescue, navigation, living marine resources, marine environmental protection and ice operations.

The U.S. Coast Guard is instrumental in stopping illegal waste dumping, oil and chemical spills and leakage. This in turn protects marine life. Coast Guard workers keep the waterways safe for navigation as well as regulating ship builders. The Coast Guard has long been touted as the expert in search and rescue. They have stations on every coast of the U.S., Guam and Puerto Rico as well as at all the great lakes and major U.S. waterways. The search and rescue division utilizes boats, coastal stations and aircraft in their efforts. In 2007 the Coast Guard celebrated saving more than one million lives since its inception in 1790.

As of 2010, the U.S. Coast Guard has 38,000 on active duty. They also have opportunities for auxiliary members and reservists and employ more than 6000 civilians. The opportunities range from officers and operation specialists to boat operators, pilots and electrical technicians.

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