The service began its role as our nation’s customs law enforcers. Its mission expanded when it was assigned duties as a naval defense force in the mid-1790s. The Coast Guard has served our nation — in war and peace — ever since. The service was transferred to the newly-formed Department of Homeland Security on March 1, 2003. 

The United States Coast Guard’s homeland security mission is more visible today than it was prior to the tragic events of September 11, 2001, but it is just as important as it was when the service first began protecting our national sovereignty since 1775. The Coast Guard maintains a clear vision and a keen sense of vigilance while keeping watch for threats to our security and those who would do us harm.

As part of Operation Noble Eagle, the Coast Guard is at a heightened state of alert protecting more than 361 ports and 95,000 miles of coastline, America’s longest border. The Coast Guard continues to play an integral role in maintaining the operations of ports and waterways by providing a secure environment in which mariners and the American people can safely go about the business of living and working freely.

In the wake of the September 11 terrorist attacks, the Coast Guard immediately mobilized more than 2,000 Reservists in the largest homeland defense and port security operation since World War II. The Coast Guard has increased its vigilance, readiness, and patrols to protect the country’s 95,000 miles of coastline, including the Great Lakes and inland waterways. 

Despite its size, today’s Coast Guard performs an enormous job for our nation. Its many missions include:

Search and Rescue: The Coast Guard is known and respected worldwide for this humanitarian mission. Approximately 5,000 lives and $2.5 billion in property are saved by the Coast Guard every year. Nearly one person is saved from peril at sea every two hours, every day of the year.

Marine Safety: The Coast Guard inspects over 42,000 vessels and verifies qualifications of over 36,000 mariners each year to ensure maritime safety. More than a half million recreational boaters learn basic seamanship through Coast Guard-sponsored programs each year.

Marine Environmental Protection: The Coast Guard responds to nearly 23,600 reported oil pollution or hazardous material spills each year. Conservation and protection of America’s fisheries continue to challenge the Coast Guard as stewards of our nation’s natural resources.

Aids to Navigation: The Coast Guard operates and maintains over 50,000 aids to navigation that guide nearly 27,000 merchant vessels, 121,000 commercial fishing vessels and 77 million recreational boaters.

Ice Operations: You’ll find Coast Guard ice breakers from the Poles to the Mississippi. These ships facilitate over $62 million in Great Lakes commerce annually. Arctic and Antarctic ice breakers provide essential support to our nation’s scientific research stations in these remote locations. In addition, international ice patrol operations have helped prevent catastrophic iceberg-related accidents ever since the Titanic sank.

Law Enforcement: Every day the Coast Guard works to prevent illegal drugs from reaching our shores. They confiscate over $2 billion in marijuana, cocaine and other contraband each year. Cutters are on the front line of defense, plowing waters in search of drug smugglers and illegal migrants.

For more information about the Coast Guard visit their website.