US Coast Guard PDF

COAST GUARD The US military protects the country and its citizens. The Coast Guard is considered part of the Department of the Homeland Security. The other military branches are considered part of the Department of Defense. The Coast Guard was founded in 1790. Its headquarters is in Washington, DC....

COAST GUARD The US military protects the country and its citizens. The Coast Guard is considered part of the Department of the Homeland Security. The other military branches are considered part of the Department of Defense. The Coast Guard was founded in 1790. Its headquarters is in Washington, DC. The Coast Guard plays an important role in defending the U.S. border. Coast Guard members use ships and boats to keep America’s shores safe. They stop people or illegal materials from entering the country illegally. They also protect U.S. ports from attack. The Coast Guard also track down drug runners and perform ocean rescues. The Coast Guard’s motto is Semper Paratus, meaning “always ready” in Latin. TRAINING Recruits begin their Coast Guard service with eight weeks of basic training at the Coast Guard Training Center in Cape May, New Jersey. They go through physical drills and classes. They learn how to perform rescues at sea as well as stop terror attacks and drug smuggling along U.S. Coasts. Recruits are placed into a group called a company. It usually has 50 to 60 members and includes both men and women. A company commander oversees the group for the rest of basic training. Company commanders, or CCs, have two main jobs. They teach recruits how to obey orders and how to work as a team. A big part of basic training involves physical conditioning. Recruits start their day around 5:30 a.m. They workout for about an hour. Recruits practice water survival skills later in the day. These are important to recruits because part of their job is rescuing others at sea. There is also always the chance they may fall overboard. A lot of time is spent on swimming drills including diving, racing, floating, and treading water. Recruits spend much of their day taking classes. They study the history and rules of the Coast Guard. They also take hands-on courses to learn how to navigate a boat or ship, tie rope knots, fight ships fires, and perform first aid. They are expected to study a book called The Helmsman, a guide that explains things such as the meaning of nautical terms and the various Coast Guard officer ranks. Recruits must pass a written test on all the information in the book before they can graduate. Recruits are taught the importance of using a gun during basic training. They may encounter criminals carrying weapons while policing the U.S. coasts. Recruits are tested on everything they learned while at Cape May before they can graduate from basic training. They take a written test, physical test, and swimming test. At graduation, each seaman recruit officially becomes a Guardian. They then choose what to do after graduation. Some go straight to work, while other go to a Coast Guard school for special skills training. RANKS Every Coast Guard member has an important role. Each person has a rank. Most are enlisted members. Officers are the leaders of the Coast Guard. They always hold ranks ©Teaching to the Middle above those of enlisted members. Officers must have a college degree. They attend Officer Candidate School (OCS) at the United States Coast Guard Academy in Connecticut. They learn advanced leadership and technical skills there. By the end of the training, they are ready to lead other members of the Coast Guard. Admiral is the highest rank a Coast Guard officer can earn. VEHICLES Ships are the most important Coast Guard vehicles. Coast Guard ships longer than 65 feet (19.8 m) are called cutters. The largest cutters are icebreakers. They are built to plow through icy rivers so ships can get through waterways. Cutters are large enough for crews to live on board. Smaller cutters patrol coastlines and river. Vessels under 65 feet (19.8 m) in length are simply called boats. They usually stay close to shore. Port security boats keep ports safe. Motor lifeboats are built for sea rescues. The Coast Guard also uses aircraft. Planes such as the HC-130 Hercules can search a wide area for lost or missing ships. Helicopters such as at the HH-65C Dolphin are used in water rescues. Rescuers can lower harnesses into the water. These are used to pull people out of the water and into the helicopter. The MH-68A Stingray is a helicopter armed with guns. Coast Guard members sometimes use guns to enforce laws. EQUIPMENT Coast Guard members need a lot of other equipment to do their jobs. Life vests and life rafts help people stay afloat help people stay afloat during emergencies. Radios allow Coast Guard members to communicate with one another. Some members carry weapons, such as small pistols, rifles, or shotguns. They often use nonlethal ammunition to capture criminals. RESCUE SWIMMERS Rescue swimmers are some of the toughest members of the U.S. Coast Guard. There are around 300 of them. Their job is to rescue people who are stranded at sea, on cliffs, or in caves. The rescues often take place during storms with strong winds and waves. It takes a lot of hard work to become a rescue swimmer. Trainees go to the Aviation Technical Training Center in North Carolina. They must pass difficult fitness tests. They need to become strong, fast swimmers. They also need to be experts at jumping from helicopters. Only about half of all trainees graduate. Rescue swimmers must pass the physical tests required for their work. Rescue swimmers often give medical care to the people their rescue. Trainees learn how to give first aid at the Coast Guard Training Center in California. Every trainee becomes a skilled emergency medical technician (EMT). Rescue swimmers spend five days at the Advanced Helicopter Rescue School in Oregon. They practice their skills in extreme conditions. They also test their ability to fight massive waves for 30 minutes. They rappel down cliffs and swim into caves. This hands-on training helps prepare them for real rescues. Rescue swimmers often rescue pilots forced to eject from their planes. The pilots often get tangled in parachute lines. Rescue swimmers learn to untangle these lines. Rescue swimmers wear dry suits and gloves to help them stay warm and dry. Fins help them move in choppy water. Masks and snorkels help them see and breathe. Rescue swimmers also wear harnesses. They connect to lines that lift them and the victims to safety. Coast Guard rescue swimmers risk their lives every time they respond to a call. Swimmers sometimes must jump more than 30 feet (9 m) to reach the water. This can cause severe bruising or even knock someone out. Rescue ©Teaching to the Middle swimmers often enter waters that are extremely cold or rough. Swimmers must remain calm and focused. Victims can also be a threat to rescue swimmers. People who are drowning often panic and may grab their rescuer and drag him or her underwater. Sometimes rescue swimmers must avoid debris, of ships or aircraft. Their training prepares them for the worst, and they take the plunge no matter the risk.