Sequestration Will Gut The U.S. Coast Guard

Sequestration Will Also Gut The Coast Guard -- Dale Lumme, Washington Examiner

The aging US Coast Guard (USCG) cutter fleet spends a lot of time undergoing repairs -- and the large high endurance cutters are more likely to break down than stay afloat.

The condition of the cutter fleet was a major factor in the Coast Guard's failure to meet performance standards for three out of five of its homeland security missions in fiscal year 2011, according to a recent report from the inspector general (IG) of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS).

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My Comment: If sequestration occurs .... I expect these problems to get worse.

The Shrinking U.S. Coast Guard

An SOS For The Coast Guard -- The Foundry/Heritage Foundation

The Coast Guard needs to call more attention to its undersized fleet, according to Congressional Research Service expert Ron O’Rourke. While the sea service has publicized its requirement list, “the other part [of the discussion] is the extent to which that program of record will permit the Coast Guard to perform its projected missions. That’s the part that doesn’t get talked about generally,” O’Rourke explained at the 2012 Sea-Air-Space convention in Washington, D.C.

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My Comment: Everyone is getting hit with budget cuts .... the U.S. Coast Guard included.

U.S. Coast Guard Celebrates Its 221st Birthday Today

Happy Birthday To The United States Coast Guard -- DoD Live

Two hundred and twenty one years ago today, Congress created the U.S. Revenue-Marine to protect a vulnerable young nation’s shores, on a date we now celebrate as the birthday of the United States Coast Guard.

Since then, generations of Americans have bravely served our oldest continuous seagoing service, keeping our homeland safe, protecting our maritime resources, and indeed benefitting every citizen regardless of whether we live on or near the water or far inland.

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More News On The U.S. Coast Guard

President Obama’s Birthday Message to the CG -- Military.com
Happy 221st Birthday U.S. Coast Guard -- Military Times
United States Coast Guard to Celebrate 221st Birthday -- Maritime Executive
6 Fun U.S. Coast Guard Facts on Its 221st Birthday -- The Stir
U.S. Coast Guard -- Official Page
U.S. Coast Guard -- Wikipedia

Coast Guardsmen Become Service’s 1st SEALs

From The Navy Times:

Two Coast Guard officers became the first in their service to earn SEAL tridents Friday, according to Navy and Coast Guard officials. Another three are in the pipeline.

They will be the first uniformed personnel ever assigned to an operational SEAL team while a member of another branch of the U.S. Armed Forces.

Their graduation ceremony was scheduled for 11 a.m. Pacific time at Naval Amphibious Base Coronado, Calif.

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My Comment: My congratulations to these two .... and to those in the future.

Downsizing The US Coast Guard

Budget Cuts Proposed for Coast Guard -- First Coast News

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. -- The U.S. Coast Guard is facing $155 million in cuts to its capital spending budget, according to federal documents.

The cuts, described in documents from U.S. Rep. John Mica's office, came as a shock to Mica of Florida.

"We were stunned - both Republicans and Democrats - that the administration would propose dramatic cuts in the Coast Guard which is our first line of national security and domestic defense and safety," said Mica in a phone conversation Friday.

Mica said the proposed federal budget for 2011 would:

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More News on the US Coast Guard

Coast Guard pick wants to refine homeland mission -- AP
Senators Oppose Coast Guard Budget Cut -- Global Security Newswire
Increasing Opposition to Coast Guard Budget Cuts -- HS Today
Obama's coast guard cuts: a recipe for disaster (Rep. John Mica) -- The Hill
Obama Coast Guard Budget Courts Disaster -- Cape May Herald County
Putting the Coast Guard Out to Sea -- New York Times