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By request, the FReeper Canteen looks at
Military Structure
~ Thread Six ~ ~ Link to thread One ~ ~ Link to thread Two ~ ~ Link to thread Three ~ ~ Link to thread Four ~ ~ Link to thread Five ~
This will be a series of threads, starting out with some basic
overviews and continuing with specifics for each branch of
the Service. Hope you enjoy! When we finish, we will return
to our regularly scheduled Military Short Speak threads.
Disclaimer: I am not nor ever have been nor claim to be an expert on the military. I rely on the accuracy of internet sources for my information! If there is anything incorrect in this thread, please feel free to respond on the thread and let me know!! Please do so kindly however, and know that I am doing my best as a silly-vilian to get it right!! No animals were harmed in the creating of this thread. All rebates apply. Tax, title and licenses are the responsibility of the purchaser. Proceed with caution...you are about to enter...the Military Zone.
**************************************      ************************************** The United States Coast Guard **************************************The United States Coast Guard (USCG) is the coast guard of the United States. One of the seven uniformed services of the United States, and the smallest armed service of the United States, it has a broad and important role in homeland security, law enforcement, search and rescue, marine environmental pollution response and the maintenance of river, intracoastal and offshore aids to navigation (ATON). It also lays claim to being the United States' oldest continuous seagoing service. The Coast Guard's motto is Semper Paratus, meaning "Always Ready". The Coast Guard began as the Revenue Cutter Service which was founded on August 4, 1790 as part of the Department of the Treasury. An act of the U.S. Congress created the Coast Guard in 1915, with the merger of the Revenue Cutter Service and the United States Lifesaving Service. The US Lighthouse Service was merged into the Coast Guard in 1939. The legal basis for the Coast Guard is Title 14 of the United States Code, which states: "The Coast Guard as established January 28, 1915, shall be a military service and a branch of the armed forces of the United States at all times." Upon the declaration of war or when the President directs, the Coast Guard operates as a service in the United States Navy. The Coast Guard later moved to the Department of Transportation in 1967, and on March 1, 2003 it became part of the Department of Homeland Security. The headquarters of the Coast Guard is on 2100 Second Street, SW, in Washington, DC. In 2005, the Coast Guard announced plans to relocate to the grounds of the former St. Elizabeth's Hospital in Washington.  
 
Senior officers Admirals
The Commandant of the Coast Guard is the Coast Guard's senior officer, who, by law, holds the rank of Admiral. The Commandant is selected for a 4-year term, which may be renewed for additional 4-year periods. The current incumbent is Admiral Thomas H. Collins, who assumed command on May 30, 2002. Vice Admirals The Vice Commandant of the Coast Guard is Vice Admiral Terry Cross. The Chief of Staff of the Coast Guard is Vice Admiral Thad W. Allen. He also serves as Commanding Officer of Coast Guard Headquarters. After Hurricane Katrina struck the Gulf states in September 2005, Admiral Allen was sent to coordinate rescue and relief operations under Federal Emergency Management Administrator Michael Brown. Mr. Brown was relieved of day-to-day operations on September 9 and Admiral Allen was placed in charge of the overall effort. The Commander of the Atlantic Area and Maritime Defense Zone Atlantic is Vice Admiral Vivien S. Crea, who assumed the command in July 2005. The Commander of the Pacific Area and Coast Guard Defense Forces West is Vice Admiral Harvey E. Johnson, Jr.. Rear Admirals The Superintendent of the United States Coast Guard Academy is Rear Admiral (upper half) James C. Van Sice. Commodores The rank of Commodore is not used in the regular Coast Guard. The equivalent rank is Rear Admiral, Lower Half. However, the chief elected officer of the Coast Guard Auxiliary is the National Commodore. Captains Each Coast Guard District has a Director of the Auxiliary (DIRAUX). The current Chief Director of the Auxiliary (CHDIRAUX) is Captain David B. Hill. He is responsible for directing the operations of the Coast Guard Auxiliary, a volunteer organization. Chief Petty Officers The Master Chief Petty Officer of the Coast Guard (MCPOCG) is the senior enlisted person of the Coast Guard and serves as an advisor to the Commandant. Like the Commandant, the MCPOGC serves a four-year term. The current MCPOCG is Frank A. Welch, who assumed this position in 2002; his term expires in 2006, and his replacement is being sought. ************************************** Regional responsibilities The Coast Guard is divided into two Areas, the Atlantic and the Pacific, each of which is commanded by a vice admiral, with each being designated Maritime Defense Zones. The Coast Guard is then organized into districts, each responsible for a portion of the nation's coastline. In each district, large operational centers known as Groups are being merged with Marine Safety Offices and being re-designated Sectors. Smaller boat stations are Stations, while aircraft fly from Coast Guard Air Stations. Stations report to Sectors, while Sectors and Coast Guard Air Stations report to District offices. An example of this is Sector Baltimore, which is located at Curtis Bay, Maryland. Sector Baltimore is responsible for the waters from the C&O Canal north of Baltimore to the south shore of the Potomac River. In this sector there are several stations, including Coast Guard Station Annapolis, located near the United States Naval Academy, Coast Guard Station Washington, D.C., located on Bolling Air Force Base, Washington, D.C., Coast Guard Station St. Inigoes, Maryland, and Coast Guard Station Quantico, Virginia, among others. Sector Baltimore also has the Baltimore Marine Safety Office. To the south of Sector Baltimore is Sector Hampton Roads, Virginia; to the north is Sector Philadelphia. Sector Baltimore has no air station under its operational control, but helicopters from Coast Guard Air Station Atlantic City and Auxiliary aircraft overfly the area on patrol. ************************************** The Coast Guard Auxiliary and Coast Guard Reserve The United States Coast Guard Auxiliary is a volunteer civilian service, established in 1939 as the Coast Guard Reserve, that assists the Coast Guard in carrying out its noncombatant and non-law enforcement missions. There are approximately 39,000 Auxiliarists. Auxiliarists may use their own vessels, including boats and aircraft, in carrying out Coast Guard missions, or apply specialized skills such as Web page design or radio operating to assist the Coast Guard. The basic unit of the Auxiliary is the flotilla, which has at least 10 members and may have as many as 100. Several flotillas form a division. There are several divisions in each Coast Guard District. The Atlantic and Pacific areas select a Commodore, and there is a national Commodore. However, legally, each Auxiliarist has the same 'rank.' Auxiliarists wear the same uniform as Coast Guardsmen with modified insignia based on their office: the stripes on uniforms are silver, and metal insignia bear a red or blue "A" in the center. Unlike their counterparts in the Civil Air Patrol, Auxiliarists come under direct orders of the Coast Guard. Auxiliary vessels may not carry weapons, but can be used for noncombatant purposes and for scouting. The United States Coast Guard Reserve is the military reserve of the Coast Guard. They can be called up when needed but usually only drill one weekend a month and two weeks out of the year. All the Coast Guard's Port Security Units and most of its Naval Coastal Warfare units are Reserve units. This information and MUCH more found here!! ************************************** Famous people who have been in the Coast Guard
- Source: U.S. Coast Guard
- Derroll Adams, folk musician
- Lloyd Bridges, actor
- Sid Caesar, comedian
- Howard Coble, US Congressman (NC)
- Chris Cooper, actor
- Walter Cronkite, newscaster
- William D. Delahunt, US Congressman (MA)
- Jack Dempsey, professional boxer
- Buddy Ebsen (1908–2003), actor, comedian, dancer
- Blake Edwards, writer, director, producer
- Arthur Fiedler, conductor
- Charles Gibson, newscaster
- Arthur Godfrey, entertainer
- Otto Graham, professional American football player and coach
- Alex Haley, the author of Roots, was Chief Journalist
- Tab Hunter, actor
- Duke Paoa Kahanamoku, athlete, actor
- Jack Kramer, tennis professional
- Jacob Lawrence, artist
- Victor Mature, actor
- Frank Murkowski, Governor of Alaska & former US Senator (AK)
- Sam Nunn, former US Senator (GA)
- Arnold Palmer, professional golfer
- Claiborne Pell, former US Senator (RI)
- Cesar Romero, actor
- Dorothy C. Stratton first director of the SPARS
- Gene Taylor, US Congressman (MS)
- Ted Turner, businessman
- Rudy Vallee, entertainer
- Gig Young, actor
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Contrary to common belief, the ostrich does not bury its head in the sand to ignore danger. An ostrich can run at a speed of 45 miles per hour, kick powerfully, and peck aggressively with its beak. As the largest and fastest bird in the world, it doesn't need to bury its head. 
