What You Need to Know About...
...The United States Coast Guard
(Note: This is NOT an official United States Government website)
1. General
2. People
3. Ships
4. Aircraft
9. Books & Gear
10. Useful Links
News
General
1.01 How old is the U.S. Coast Guard?
The Coast Guard was formed, as the Revenue Cutter Service, on August 4th, 1790. It became the "Coast Guard" January 28th, 1915 when the Revenue Cutter Service was merged with the National Lifesaving Service. Today the Coast Guard reports to the Department of Homeland Security.
1.1 Where is the Coast Guard Academy?
It's in New London, CT.
1.11 Do I need a congressional recommendation to get in, like at Annapolis?
No, the Coast Guard Academy accepts applicants via competitive exam. They admit about 300 new students per class.
1.2 What does the Coast Guard do?
Actually the Coast Guard has a wide range of missions including patrolling the U.S. coastal waters, doing ocean rescue and even drug interdiction. Coast Guard ships have even been involved in assisting with patrol in foreign waters during wartime; off the coast of Vietnam and in the Persian Gulf.
1.3 How many active duty personnel does the Coast Guard have?
As of June 2005, about 39,000.
1.4 Does the Coast Guard have "boot camp"?
Yes, they do. Coast Guard recruits get 8 weeks of basic training at the Coast Guard Training Center in Cape May, NJ.
1.5 What can you tell me about saluting?
A salute is a gesture, and in this context we mean a hand gesture, generally given by a subordinate to a superior upon first encountering that superior. In the United States military the salute is generally given by standing at attention, feet together, standing straight, shoulders back, and raising the right hand, fingers and thumb straight and together, so that the tip of the index finger touches the bill of the hat (if wearing one) or the temple just above the right eye. The upper arm should extend out to the side, parallel to the ground.
Different branches have different rules about saluting and the circumstances of the encounter must also be taken into consideration. The salute is almost always initiated by the subordinate; the rare exception includes when that subordinate is a Congressional Medal of Honor winner. While the superior is not technically required to salute the Congressional Medal of Honor winner it is customary that they do.
1.99 What if I want to join the Coast Guard, what should I do?
Start here: http://www.gocoastguard.com/
People
2.1 What are the officer ranks?
O1 - Ensign
O2 - Lieutenant Junior Grade
O3 - Lieutenant
O4 - Lieutenant Commander
O5 - Commander
O6 - Captain
O7 - Rear Admiral, Lower Half
O8 - Rear Admiral, Upper Half
O9 - Vice Admiral
O10 - Admiral
2.2 Who is the current Commandant of the Coast Guard?
Admiral Thomas H. Collins is the current Commandant -- i.e. the top man.
Ships
3.1 What is a Cutter?
A cutter is any Coast Guard ship longer than 65 feet and with accommodations for the crew to live aboard.
3.2 What is the USCGC Eagle?
The Eagle is a Barque - a 3-masted sailing ship that was originally part of the Reichsmarine (German navy) during WWII as a training and supply ship. Captured by the U.S. after the war it was commissioned as a U.S. Coast Guard training ship in 1946 and has remained so ever since. Home ported at New London, Connecticut. Though it is a sailing ship it also has an auxiliary diesel engine.