Career of the Month

Summer is almost here and the sun is shining brighter and brighter everyday. In April, many folks start preparing their boats and getting ready for a great summer of boating. April begins the busy season for the U.S. Coast Guard and its Auxiliary.

The Auxiliary teaches water and boating safety for kids, as well as other activities. They perform Courtesy Marine Examinations to make sure boats meet minimum boat safety checks and operating parameters. In addition, the Vessel Examiners who perform these checks are specially trained; they make sure the boat has proper safety and survival equipment. The examiners also are kept up on the latest legal requirements for boaters, so they wont get fined in the future.An Auxiliary member must be a United States citizen over seventeen years of age and have at least a quarter interest in a boat, aircraft, or radio station, or have a special qualification needed by the Auxiliary. The uniforms authorized for the Auxiliary are the same as those of the Coast Guard, but the insignia are sufficiently distinctive so as not to be confused with the insignia of the Coast Guard or the Reserve. Auxiliary vessels which pass an annual facility inspection are authorized to fly the Auxiliary "Blue Ensign," indicating that the vessel is equipped in compliance with the law and that the owner is a safety-conscious boatman who is at least basically qualified as a member of the US Coast Guard Auxiliary. The Coast Guard controls the Auxiliary and its programs in the various districts, implementing policies set forth by the Commandant. A Coast Guard officer, designated the Chief Director of Auxiliary, assists the Commandant in the development and administration of the Auxiliary. Auxiliary programs in the districts are supervised by an officer designated the District Director of Auxiliary.

The U.S. Coast Guard is responsible for protecting the waterways throughout the United States and its Coastal waters. The U.S. Coast Guard performs many necessary functions some of which are routine, but many that are exciting and sometimes dangerous. For example a rescue from an air crash or even a sinking boat.

 They work with the Customs Department and go aboard boats to do drug interdiction looking for people who try to smuggle drugs or other contraband into the United States. They perform air and sea Search and Rescue Operations. The U.S. Coast Guard's primary goal is safety, but when there is a missing person they do a Search and Rescue also known as SAR. The U.S. Coast Guard is recognized worldwide as a leader in the field of Search and Rescue. Search and Rescue (SAR) is one of the U.S. Coast Guard's oldest missions.  Minimizing the loss of life, injury, property damage or loss by rendering aid to people in distress. 

Over the years, the U.S. Coast Guard has received better and better technology to help people on the surface and underwater. Since 1790, when the U.S. Coast Guard was founded it has used the most current, state-of-the-art technology to achieve its missions. The pursuit of new technology has been a core value of the U.S. Coast Guard's Research & Development Program since its inception.

The Research & Development Program has improved mission performance and productivity through some better-known efforts that led to the Laptop Automated Aid Positioning System (LAAPS), Differential Global Positioning System (DGPS), Computer Assisted Search Planning (CASP), IONSCAN, adaptation of the APS-137 Radar for shipboard use and the Cutter Scheduling Assistance Program (CSAP), as well as many smaller scale deliverables that have been developed to address particular needs. Technology today has improved the ability and the response time of the U.S. Coast Guard.

Every year about 700 people die from boating related accidents and 9 out of 10 victims were not wearing a life jacket. This shows you technology can't save everyday life, but in order to get the word out this years theme for the U.S. Coast Guard is:

"Wear Your Life Jacket! Boat Smart From The Start!"

You can learn how to become a cadet and become part of a SAR team. The U.S. Coast Guard also helps deal with oil or other chemical spills throughout the country. Also federal law requires you to report any oil or other chemical spills.

In 1790, the U.S. Congress authorized the construction of 10 vessels and they began the revenue Cutter Service. In doing so, the U.S. Coast Guard was born to enforce customs and tariffs. They battled pirates and privateers as well as enforced quarantine laws to prove their military capabilities.

As the country grew, more people joined the fleet. Good thing they did because the new nation was involved in the Qausi-War with France. In the 1800's, the Revenue Cutters fought in the War of 1812, the Mexican War, Civil War, and the Spanish American War. As a matter of fact, the U.S. Coast Guard has fought in every major war of the nation, including Vietnam and Grenada Expedition. Also in the 1800's, the Bureau of Navigation and Steamship Inspection Service and the Life Saving Service were formed. Then in 1915, the Life Saving Service would join the Revenue Cutter Service for what today is called the U.S. U.S. Coast Guard.

Inspection would also be absorbed to the U.S. Coast Guard. By the end of WW II, the U.S. Coast Guard had become a Multi-mission Service. From 1940-1976, they helped ships and planes with their navigation; also they gathered weather information, which was important to our coastal states. During the 1970's, a series of oil tanker disasters expanded the U.S. Coast Guard Marine Safety mission. In the 1980's, they helped during the Cuban boatlift. The U.S. Coast Guard helped 225,000 Cubans reach the United States.

Today the U.S. Coast Guard is fighting drugs, protecting fisheries, fighting pollution, maintaining aids to navigation, protecting ports and waterways, and breaking ice for boats to get through the north passages. Their biggest mission today is still their Search and Rescue missions. The U.S. Coast Guard has over 70,000 response calls for help a year and an average of 5,000 lives saved per year, but also maintains their defense readiness capabilities.

See pictures of U.S. Coast Guards working!

Do you want to know more about the everyday activities of the U.S. Coast Guard's! Then check out news stories the U.S. Coast Guard's First Districts site.

  Would you like to learn more about the "jobs that matter" at the U.S. Coast Guard.

Water n' Kids Coloring Book: Most water tragedies are preventable. Swimming lessons are a great help, but children should know All the basic rules of water safety activities.This coloring book is to explain basic safety precautions for water safety. Print the pages of this coloring book, read each page, and have fun coloring them.

A day with the U.S. Coast Guard. coloring book, will teach you about what the U.S. Coast Guard does.

The U.S. Coast Guard's Kids Corner offers you more coloring books to print, read, and color, as well as other fun activities to do.

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