# Where does the Coast Guard fit into the military? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [November 21, 2002, 2:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-does-the-coast-guard-fit-into-the-military/137851 "2002-11-21T02:15:20Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 13\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Love\_Rhombus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/love_rhombus/32/10694_2.png) [@Love\_Rhombus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Love_Rhombus)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2002, 2:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-does-the-coast-guard-fit-into-the-military/137851/1 "2002-11-21T02:15:20Z")
I’ve always wondered about the Coast Guard. They have recruiting offices, uniforms, and ranks, just like the Armed Forces, but they’re under the authority of the Treasury Department, right? If someone was in the Coast Guard in wartime, is he a military vet? What’s the deal, and how did they come about? ---
**Author:** ![Duckster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/duckster/32/1244_2.png) [@Duckster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Duckster)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2002, 2:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-does-the-coast-guard-fit-into-the-military/137851/2 "2002-11-21T02:27:31Z")
The Coast Guard is an agency of the [Department of Transportation](http://www.dot.gov/). However, they are one of the agencies slated to be moved to the new [Department of Homeland Security](http://www.whitehouse.gov/deptofhomeland/sect3.html). The Coast Guard [web site](http://www.uscg.mil/) has information about its [military roles](http://www.uscg.mil/overview/national%20defense.htm) as well. ---
**Author:** ![MEBuckner](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mebuckner/32/2896_2.png) [@MEBuckner](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MEBuckner)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2002, 2:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-does-the-coast-guard-fit-into-the-military/137851/3 "2002-11-21T02:38:49Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Sam Hell \* > If someone was in the Coast Guard in wartime, is he a military vet? Yes. From [38 U.S.C. 101](http://www4.law.cornell.edu/uscode/38/101.html) (“Veterans’ Benefits – Definitions”): > [@](#): > > The term ‘‘Armed Forces’’ means the United States Army, Navy, Marine Corps, Air Force, and Coast Guard, including the reserve components thereof. ---
**Author:** ![Monty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/monty/32/47_2.png) [@Monty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Monty)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2002, 2:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-does-the-coast-guard-fit-into-the-military/137851/4 "2002-11-21T02:39:59Z")
The United States Coast Guard is NOT “just like the Armed Forces.” It IS one of the five Armed Forces of the United States of America. And even during peacetime, a Veteran of said Armed Force is a military Veteran. ---
**Author:** ![Love\_Rhombus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/love_rhombus/32/10694_2.png) [@Love\_Rhombus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Love_Rhombus)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2002, 3:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-does-the-coast-guard-fit-into-the-military/137851/5 "2002-11-21T03:41:05Z")
Thanks for the clairifications, ya’ll. Is there a Coast Guard representantive on the Joint Chiefs? How far does their “influence”, for lack of a better word, extend? ---
**Author:** ![Arnold\_Winkelried](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Arnold\_Winkelried](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Arnold_Winkelried)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2002, 4:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-does-the-coast-guard-fit-into-the-military/137851/6 "2002-11-21T04:53:43Z")
A little piece of trivia, that may one day win you a million dollars on a game show: There are [seven uniformed services](http://www.roa.org/home/law_review_46.asp) > [@](#): > > Title 10, United States Code, Section 101 (10 U.S.C. 101) defines many terms, including “armed forces” and “uniformed services.” The armed forces are the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, and Coast Guard. [10 U.S.C. 101(a)(4)] The uniformed services are the armed forces plus the commissioned corps of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and the commissioned corps of the Public Health Service (PHS). [10 U.S.C. 101(a)(5)] ---
**Author:** ![Monty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/monty/32/47_2.png) [@Monty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Monty)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2002, 6:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-does-the-coast-guard-fit-into-the-military/137851/7 "2002-11-21T06:05:27Z")
Arnold: Correct; however, out of the seven Uniformed Services, five of them are Armed. ---
**Author:** ![friedo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/8edcca/32.png) [@friedo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/friedo)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2002, 7:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-does-the-coast-guard-fit-into-the-military/137851/8 "2002-11-21T07:26:21Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Monty \* > \*\*Arnold: Correct; however, out of the seven Uniformed Services, five of them are Armed. \*\* Isn’t that exactly what **Arnold** ’s cite said? Or did I miss something? ---
**Author:** ![Monty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/monty/32/47_2.png) [@Monty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Monty)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2002, 2:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-does-the-coast-guard-fit-into-the-military/137851/9 "2002-11-21T14:42:33Z")
It was kind of buried in there, friedo. I just felt like emphasizing the point. The Coast Guard does have a representative on the Joint Chiefs: The Chief of Naval Operations. That’s because, IINM, that during war the Coast Guard operates as a part of the Navy. ---
**Author:** ![chukhung](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e79b87/32.png) [@chukhung](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chukhung)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2002, 3:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-does-the-coast-guard-fit-into-the-military/137851/10 "2002-11-21T15:35:35Z")
What are the major differences between the uniforms worn by U.S. Naval personnel and those worn by members of the U.S. Coast Guard? I ask, because–based on my limited knowledge of inter-service rivalries–I’m under the impression that mistaking a Coastie for a member of the Navy (or vice versa) is a fairly serious faux pas. Somebody help a civilian out here. ---
**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:** [November 21, 2002, 4:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-does-the-coast-guard-fit-into-the-military/137851/11 "2002-11-21T16:14:51Z")
chukhung: 1. All CG uniforms include the CG shield (based on the US colors) – Enlisted dress uniform has it on the right sleeve. Officers wear it on their rank braids where the Navy uses the star or the corps device. Petty Officer working-uniform _collar_ pins have a shield over the chevrons for the CG, an eagle for the Navy (both their _sleeve_ badges have eagles). Chief’s collar device (a foul anchor) has a shield over the anchor for the CG 2. Service/dress Uniform: Navy enlisted are the only ones that wear the old-fashioned “Cracker Jack” sailor suit in blue or white. In service/dress blue, Navy officers and Chiefs use a double-breasted very-dark-blue jacket-and-tie with white shirt. ALL Coast Guard use a _single_-breasted jacket-and-tie with a light-blue shirt (white for more formal ocassions). Chiefs/officers in both wear the white tunic with stand-up collar for “service/dress white” ocassions. 3. “Summer” uniforms. Navy: shortsleeved suntan-khaki (Officers and Chiefs) or all-white (everyone). Coast Guard: everyone, short-sleeved light blue shirt and dark blue pants. 4. “Utilities” : working gear being working gear, it’s hard to tell apart, but usually the hat, or the collar pins of Ratings will tip you off. 5. Chiefs hats: CG has shield over the anchor. Officers hats: Navy: Crossed anchors, smaller eagle; CG: Big freakin’ eagle, single anchor. 6. The USPHS and NOAA Corps wear Navy Officer reg, with the device of the appropriate agency replacing the sleeve/hat emblem. ---
**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:** [November 21, 2002, 4:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-does-the-coast-guard-fit-into-the-military/137851/12 "2002-11-21T16:28:30Z")
oh, yeah, I forgot… 7. Only Navy enlisted wear the round, visorless white sailor hat. Their CG equivs wear a blue garrison cap (“fore and aft cap”) for everyday use, a full visored cap for dress ocassions. Navy Chiefs and officers wear garrison caps in khaki. When actually at work both services tend to prefer a blue baseball-cap-like utility cover. ---
**Author:** ![Scruloose](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e68b1a/32.png) [@Scruloose](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scruloose)\ **Post date:** [November 23, 2002, 12:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/where-does-the-coast-guard-fit-into-the-military/137851/13 "2002-11-23T00:00:10Z")
The USCG has no rep on the JCS, aside from the possible rep from the Navy if time of war or Presidential declaration(as mentioned). About 14 years ago, we had a Commandant (Yost) who, as I’ve been told, attempted to get a permanent rep there. Years ago, there was little distinction betwenn the USN and the USCG uniforms, for both O’s and E’s. We both wore the Khakis, the dress whites, the utilities, the cracker jacks, everything. Over the last few decades, it changed, and now there are almost no similarities. I believe the only uniforms between the 2 services that are close, are the Officers dress whites, with the chokers and swords. CG Chiefs do not wear any such uniform. We are actually mistaken for Air Force more than anyone else, because we actually use thier light blue shirts for dress and undress uni’s. Right now, we in the CG are changing our working uniform, and have begun to implement that change. Instead of our blue “Sears repairman/gas station attendant” uniform, we are switching to a variation of the BDU. It’s the ODU (Operational dress uniform). It consists of the boots, navy blue bdu pants, tucked into the boots, black belt with frame buckle, blue blouse (tucked in- ugh) with blue crew neck underneath, along with ball cap style cover. It’s actually a sharp uni, and I for one have waited 12 long years for such a change. The new unis can be seen [here](http://www.uscg.mil/hq/g-w/g-wp/udc/ODUphotogallery.htm). They look a little better in person than in the pics. The Homeland Dept is now a done deal, and I fear we are seeing the beginning of the end of the modern CG as it is today. As to the OP, here’s how we came about, very briefly. This’ll be from memory, and I’ve had a few beers, so forgive any errors. In 1789, Alexander Hamilton, Treas guy, lobbied congress for a fleet of small armed cutters to help out in maritime enforcement of taxes, combatting piracy, etc. Approved in 1790, the first fleet of ten cutters started the Revenue Cutter Service. Early in our history, there was also the folks who saved people in distress- the US Lifesaving service. In 1915, these two agencies were combined to form the US Coast Guard. There are a few other agencies that, at one time or another, merged into the CG. Among these are the Lighthouse service (present day Aids to Nav missions) the Steamboat Inspection service (Marine Safety). In 1967, we were moved from the Treas dept, to Trans. Soon, we’ll move again. Present day missions include: Military readiness SAR Domestic/International maritime law enforcement Icebreaking Aids to Navigation Marine Safety (pollution response, industry regulation, etc) International Ice Patrol (After Titanic sinking) LORAN Stations (Still!) Fisheries enforcement and a bunch of others.