I sort of half-remembered that the United States Power Squadrons had some sort of wartime role as a replacement for the Coast Guard when it is deployed with the navy in wartime. But half-remember a lot of things that are not true. I see nothing along these line in the Wikipedia.
Are the USPSs paramilitary?
As far as I know, they are just a non-profit organization, with no government connection at all.
They will do a safety inspection of your boat, and tell you the results. Just like my local rural electric co-op will do an inspection of electrical wiring on our farm. But no official government involvement.
I’m not sure what you mean by ‘paramilitary’.
Any group that has ranks, a uniform, orders, and a chain of command? So that would include Girl Scouts, Salvation Army, etc.?
USPS is just a non-profit, I don’t believe it is government affiliated at all.
Now, when you’re talking about the “Uniformed Services of the United States” there are actually two that most people don’t realize fall under that category. First, almost everyone knows that you have Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps. I’d say most people realize the Coast Guard is also a Uniformed Service of its own.
But very few people aside from people working for these services or people who are just consumers of trivia know that the NOAA Commissioned Corps and the U.S. Public Health Service Commissioned Corps are actually uniformed services of the United States.
Of course the USPS is paramilitary. It’s headed by the Postmaster General.
NOAA Commissioned Corps?
Que?
Thank you all.
I never heard of it either, but here you go. http://www.noaacorps.noaa.gov/
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. You know, the weather and sea condition soldiers. They control the weather rays. Even the Navy SEALs don’t screw with those guys.
The NOAA Commissioned Corps has it’s roots in the US Coast and Geodetic Survey, which provided battlefield surveyors. They were commissioned and uniformed so that they would not be considered spies and executed if captured by the enemy.
What you’re describing sounds more IMO like the Coast Guard Auxiliary. It and the Civil Air Patrol did pick up some homefront waters/airspace backup duties during WW2 while the forces had their hands full.
Only in America do you have a General in charge of the Post office and a Secretary in charge of Defense.
Never you mind. We still have a General to command our army of lawyers, and a Marshal to send forth battalion upon battalion of cops!
Not to mention a Surgeon General, even if the uniform they may wear as head of the PHSCC is essentially the naval uniform of a vice admiral.
We COULD, however, take a cue from the Brits to call the Secretary of the Treasury “Chancellor of the Exchequer”.
Fuhrer of Finance would be nice, as well.
Marquis de Money
King of Currency.
Emperor of Economics.
Prince of the Pecuniary.
Despot of Dollars.
Lord of Lire… (Lord of Loonies, for the Canucks).
Darn it… I’m going to be using alliteration all day now. Thanks a lot. Just another reason for colleagues to think I’m insane…
Count de Monet
In the words of Chiun, from the Remo Williams books:
"The Americans say that they are ruled by a President, but in reality, this office is so unimportant that anyone may seek it.
In reality, America is ruled by a triumvirate of three generals: the Attorney General, the Surgeon General, and the Postmaster General."