Название: Jobs in the U.S. Coast Guard (Exploring Military Careers)
Автор: Jessie George
Издательство: The Rosen Publishing Group,
Год: 2023
Страниц: 104
Язык: английский
Формат: epub (true)
Размер: 10.1 MB

There is more to the U.S. Coast Guard than just rescuing ships at sea. As it is one of the smallest U.S. armed service branches, however, young readers may not be aware of the bounty of opportunity for those longing for a life on the water. This title gives readers a deeper look at historical Coast Guard operations and what the future may hold for the branch, including exciting full-color images in addition to helpful data on salary, rank, and more.

Though it has not always had the same name, the United States Coast Guard has a centuries-long history of protecting the nation’s ports. Its earliest missions in the young days of the United States were mainly related to regulating commercial interests, but the service has evolved to be a flexible force for maritime protection across the globe.

During the Vietnam War, the Coast Guard’s experience in handling small boats, especially in shallow-water ports, proved its value. The service was called upon to support a new coastal surveillance force that was developed in 1965 to conduct riverine operations. As U.S. military leaders realized that the North Vietnamese Vietcong were using the nation’s rivers and small waterways to ship large quantities of arms, supplies, and soldiers, shallow-water expertise was in high demand. Coast Guard boats helped detect enemy activity as nearly 60,000 vessels called junks and sampans crossed Vietnam’s 1,200-mile (1,931 km) coastline. U.S. efforts to intercept North Vietnamese vessels that were smuggling weapons led to Operation Market Time. This mission would include the Coast Guard’s 82-foot (25 m) small boats that featured in-shore maneuverability and effective weapons. The Department of Defense deployed the Coast Guard in Vietnam to act similarly to how the service operated domestically. The strategy paid off, as the Coast Guard’s experience with surveillance and coastal defense improved the overall effectiveness of U.S. naval forces.

During the decades after the Vietnam War, the United States began to pass additional environmental protection laws. In support of this goal, Coast Guard missions were expanded to include enforcing environmental conservation laws, protecting commercial fisheries, and responding to marine disasters. These new operations created a skilled workforce that helped ensure the safety and health of the coastal zone. With duties ranging from patrols to documenting the health of fish species to oil-spill prevention and cleanup, Coast Guard marine science technicians supervised pollution response. Coast Guard personnel also inspected cargo and containers to ensure that environmental and safety laws were followed. Coast Guard staff boarded ships to inspect cargo, checked containers arriving in U.S. ports, and tested water samples. Their work was performed with cooperation from Coast Guard crews that monitor navigational signs, keep waterways running smoothly, and perform search-and-rescue missions.