Why do people keep saying the Coast Guard isn't part of the military?
I keep hearing how the CG isn't part of the military just because it isn't under the DoD. Sorry folks, the law says otherwise (U.S. Code › Title 14 › Part I › Chapter 1 › § 1) Not only that, but they have a .mil address on their website. If they're not part of the military, how is that possible?
2018-05-22T19:59:30Z
@ AJ: Title 10 › Subtitle A › Part I › Chapter 1 › § 101 (4) The term “armed forces” means the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, and Coast Guard.
2018-05-22T20:00:01Z
https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/10/101
?2018-05-22T14:39:26Z
While the US Coast Guard IS a part of the US Armed Services, they serve under the US Department of Transportation, NOT the Department of Defense. The USCG's primary duty is Law Enforcement, NOT military combat. This avoids the restrictions on the US Military enforcing CIVIL law (Posse Comitatus Act, 18 U.S.C. § 1385)
At one time it was not given the same status as the other military services and was not considered as one. That changed back in the mid to late 90s when the Coast Guard was officially designated and recognized as a military service and given the same status as that of any of the other military services. However in some people's mind that idea that they aren't probably still exists because of this and the fact that they are not aware of the full extent of the Coast Guard's role. While being deployed or TDY to Kuwait and Iraq I have personally seen members of the Coast Guard deployed to those regions for doing various maritime jobs at the sea port of Doha or on the Tigris River which runs through Iraq.
In my adult lifetime i have seen the Coast guard go from the wimpy little step brother that was an after thought. To the massive dominant force it has become today. Back in the 80's it was only, Army, navy, air-force, Marines in all those little commercials and chants. Now the coast guard is included in it. I can understand why many would still have the old fashion attitude towards them. Unless one follows them they would not have known the growth over the last 20/30 years or so.