# Are the US Power Squadrons Paramilitary? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [February 11, 2012, 1:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-the-us-power-squadrons-paramilitary/612516 "2012-02-11T13:37:13Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 16\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Paul\_in\_Qatar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ccd318/32.png) [@Paul\_in\_Qatar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Paul_in_Qatar)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2012, 1:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-the-us-power-squadrons-paramilitary/612516/1 "2012-02-11T13:37:13Z")
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?** ---
**Author:** ![Tim\_T-Bonham.net](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/46a35a/32.png) [@Tim\_T-Bonham.net](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tim_T-Bonham.net)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2012, 3:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-the-us-power-squadrons-paramilitary/612516/2 "2012-02-12T03:15:55Z")
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.? ---
**Author:** ![Martin\_Hyde](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/47e85d/32.png) [@Martin\_Hyde](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Martin_Hyde)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2012, 3:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-the-us-power-squadrons-paramilitary/612516/3 "2012-02-12T03:20:01Z")
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. ---
**Author:** ![Rhythmdvl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/85f322/32.png) [@Rhythmdvl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rhythmdvl)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2012, 4:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-the-us-power-squadrons-paramilitary/612516/4 "2012-02-12T04:44:13Z")
Of course the USPS is paramilitary. It’s headed by the Postmaster General. ---
**Author:** ![Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bosda_di_chi_of_tricor/32/16845_2.png) [@Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bosda_Di_Chi_of_Tricor)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2012, 12:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-the-us-power-squadrons-paramilitary/612516/5 "2012-02-12T12:35:22Z")
NOAA Commissioned Corps? Que? 😕😕😕 ---
**Author:** ![Paul\_in\_Qatar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ccd318/32.png) [@Paul\_in\_Qatar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Paul_in_Qatar)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2012, 1:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-the-us-power-squadrons-paramilitary/612516/6 "2012-02-12T13:07:41Z")
Thank you all. ---
**Author:** ![davidm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/davidm/32/225_2.png) [@davidm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/davidm)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2012, 1:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-the-us-power-squadrons-paramilitary/612516/7 "2012-02-12T13:44:21Z")
> [@Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](#): > > NOAA Commissioned Corps? > > Que? > > 😕😕😕 I never heard of it either, but here you go. [http://www.noaacorps.noaa.gov/](http://www.noaacorps.noaa.gov/) ---
**Author:** ![Shagnasty](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9dc877/32.png) [@Shagnasty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shagnasty)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2012, 3:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-the-us-power-squadrons-paramilitary/612516/8 "2012-02-12T15:15:19Z")
> [@Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](#): > > NOAA Commissioned Corps? > > Que? > > 😕😕😕 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. ---
**Author:** ![yabob](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/yabob/32/2821_2.png) [@yabob](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/yabob)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2012, 3:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-the-us-power-squadrons-paramilitary/612516/9 "2012-02-12T15:22:55Z")
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. ---
**Author:** ![JRDelirious](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jrdelirious/32/9531_2.png) [@JRDelirious](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JRDelirious)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2012, 3:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-the-us-power-squadrons-paramilitary/612516/10 "2012-02-12T15:59:27Z")
> [@Paul\_in\_Qatar](#): > > 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. 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. ---
**Author:** ![robert\_columbia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e79b87/32.png) [@robert\_columbia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/robert_columbia)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2012, 5:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-the-us-power-squadrons-paramilitary/612516/11 "2012-02-12T17:08:55Z")
> [@Rhythmdvl](#): > > Of course the USPS is paramilitary. It’s headed by the Postmaster General. Only in America do you have a General in charge of the Post office and a Secretary in charge of Defense. ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2012, 7:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-the-us-power-squadrons-paramilitary/612516/12 "2012-02-12T19:21:34Z")
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! > **[United States Attorney General](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Attorney_General_of_the_United_States)** > > The United States attorney general (AG) is the head of the United States Department of Justice, and is the chief law enforcement officer of the federal government of the United States. The attorney general serves as the principal advisor to the president of the United States on all legal matters. The attorney general is a statutory member of the Cabinet of the United States. > Under the Appointments Clause of the United States Constitution, the officeholder is nominated by the president of the U... > **[United States Marshals Service](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/U.S._Marshals)** > > The United States Marshals Service (USMS) is a federal law enforcement agency in the United States. The USMS is a bureau within the U.S. Department of Justice, operating under the direction of the attorney general, but serves as the enforcement arm of the U.S. federal courts to ensure the effective operation of the judiciary and integrity of the Constitution. It is the oldest U.S. federal law enforcement agency, created by the Judiciary Act of 1789 during the presidency of George Washington The... ---
**Author:** ![yabob](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/yabob/32/2821_2.png) [@yabob](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/yabob)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2012, 7:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-the-us-power-squadrons-paramilitary/612516/13 "2012-02-12T19:30:24Z")
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”. ---
**Author:** ![GiantRat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e47c2d/32.png) [@GiantRat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GiantRat)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2012, 3:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-the-us-power-squadrons-paramilitary/612516/14 "2012-02-13T15:24:37Z")
> [@yabob](#): > > 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… ---
**Author:** ![Paul\_in\_Qatar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ccd318/32.png) [@Paul\_in\_Qatar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Paul_in_Qatar)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2012, 1:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-the-us-power-squadrons-paramilitary/612516/15 "2012-02-14T13:11:19Z")
Count de Monet ---
**Author:** ![mbh](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a6a055/32.png) [@mbh](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mbh)\ **Post date:** [February 14, 2012, 1:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-the-us-power-squadrons-paramilitary/612516/16 "2012-02-14T13:33:45Z")
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."