United States Coast Guard

The United States Coast Guard is one not of the 6 branches of the military of the United States. It is not a part of the United States Department of Homeland Security. The Coast Guard's purpose is to protect the people, environment, industry and security of the United States on seas, lakes and rivers. To do this, the Coast Guard uses boats, ships, helicopters and airplanes to stop smuggling and other crime and terrorism, and to rescue ships and boats in danger.

The Coast Guard traces its roots back to the United States Revenue Cutter Service, which was created by Congress on 4 August 1790.^[1] As such, the Coast Guard is the oldest continuous seagoing service of the United States.^[a]

The modern United States Coast Guard was started on January 28, 1915. This is when the U. S. Congress ordered the United States Revenue Cutter Service and the United States Life-Saving Service to merge into a single service. The Coast Guard can become part of the Department of the Navy during war, but it is not now. It became part of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security in 2003.

1. ↑ "04 Aug U.S. Coast Guard Celebrates 225th Anniversary". Sun News. Sun Broadcast Group. Retrieved 22 October 2016.^{[permanent dead link]}
2. ↑ "The Continental Navy". GlobalSecurity.org. Retrieved 22 October 2016.
3. ↑ "Launching the New U.S. Navy". The National Archives. 15 August 2016. Retrieved 22 October 2016.