How Effective Is the USA Coast Guard Diving Team - Essay Example

Running Head: How effective is the USA coast guard diving team (USA-CG) How effective is the USA coast guard diving team (USA-CG) of the student] [Name of the institute] How effective is the USA coast guard diving team (USA-CG) Introduction United States of America has seven uniformed forces out of which USA armed forces marks its distinction for possessing coast guard branch. It has dual roles: one in peacetime and other in war time. According to Carrie .A (2005), during peace it is operated by department mainly responsible for homeland security while it is kept on the discretion of the President of USA and the congress to seek services of coast guard when it comes to any warring situation. It is then transferred to department of navy for its effective performance. Coast guard has been in action since 4 August 1790 and has marked its existence as a military and maritime multi-mission department having its own a maritime law enforcement mission with jurisdiction in both domestic and international seas and a federal regulatory agency mission as part of its mission set. It was founded by Alexander Hamilton. Another privilege, as Benson .M (2004) puts it, which the coast guard team enjoys in the USA is its functional powers to conduct military operations under defence department. In this connection, coast guard team has performed operations noteworthy in War of 1812, Mexican war, Civil war, World war-1 and World war-2, Korean War, Vietnam war and most importantly the on going war on terrorism etc. According to Deniss .L (2004), enduring roles of the Coast Guard are Maritime Safety, Maritime Security, and Maritime Stewardship. Eleven statutory missions have been established to carry out these roles so that there remains no lapse for any negligence that might occur due to non-attainment of the roles. The claim that the United States coast guard team is the oldest seagoing service can not be denied because it had its origins in the birth of the United States of America. Coast guard team works on the motto of being always ready; in Latin it is known as Semper Peratus. This signifies that coastal guards or coast guard team is always ready for the action if situation calls for the necessity or whenever it is deemed as necessary the coast guard remains ready to take any action. It was calculated in the August 2009 and Benson .M (2004) also says the same, that the Coast Guard had approximately 42,000 men and women working actively while 7,500 working as reserve guards. It also had an estimated 29,000 helping guards; further engagement of 7,700 full-time civilians for operational works when occasion arises, offers a unique and multi-dimensional spectrum to the Coast Guard department. . Main purpose of the USA-CG diving team Though USA-CG has multi-dimensional operations to meet with the various ends, the purpose for which USA-CG is considered a dynamic and multi-dimensional force is securing waters of the nation both at domestic level as well as international level. As per Walter. C (1965), the team emphasizes on retaliating and countering attack on nation’s waters by a foreign invasion or a treacherous group from within. This purpose is surely not limited to any deliberate action, but also the natural calamities and disasters in which people are displaced from the coastal areas after faced with notoriety of the water. Securing waters of the nation from the alien invasion unconsciously accelerates help for the people living nearby coastal areas. It is of rational approach that when operation is conducted after retaliation, the civilians are given safe abode to escape any loss which implies that the Coast Guard diving team primarily focuses on securing waters, but unconsciously accomplishes another important purpose. Coast guard diving team is applauded for its swift action and retaliation. For instance, when Katrina Hurricane hit the coastal areas, responsiveness of the coastal guard team not only rescued people, but also stood shoulder by shoulder with the naval forces. This flexibility of the coastal guard group entitles it to be named as multi-dimensional, multi-purpose and a dynamic service team. Thus the prime purpose as stated by Deniss. L (2001), of the Coast Guard diving team in the USA is marine safety accompanied by some other major ends which are indispensable for the security of the waterways and coastal harbours of the seas and also living of the marine wildlife. Further non-domestic purpose of the team includes search and rescue of the affected people, provision of aids to the ships and boats set off for the navigational activities, protection of the marine environment and keeping intact marine wildlife. Besides, domestic considerations of the Coastal team include security of portals, coastal and waterways and drugs and illegal migration checking. Thus coastal guard team is crucial for the United States so far as invasion and trafficking is concerned. In this connection, Green. M (200) rightly states that the US owes much to this force for being always ready whenever the situation arises. Operation of USA-CG in their waters US coast guard team is, initially, staffed and equipped to check vessels and waterways. This is done, mainly, due to identify and mark underwater threats which might cause hazard to navigation and might become harmful for the people living near shore lines. Further, detection of any explosives underwater is also carried out by the diving team. In this connection, team is trained as per required standards. This calls for extensive exertion of the body and mind as well. To carry out under water search and rescue, the team is trained in basic search techniques. Another important aspect is that all diving units are trained to carry out basic under water tasks including hull inspection, running gear, propeller pitch calibrations and propeller cleanings. Training for AtoN operations is also inculcated into the diving team. It signifies, according to Edward. F (2009), which the diving team would perform all operation on its own and would require minimal support. Such kinds of actions are normally performed from the small boats to have easy access to any vessel that might be at risk. Another diving unit which is normally termed as polar icebreakers performs its functions in the Arctic and Antarctic regions. It is an important unit so far as logistics and transportation is concerned. But the underwater operations of the US coast guard team are controlled by the commanding officer and supervised by the officer in charge. Since the team is well trained for detection of any possible threat, it quickly informs control unit which further forwards the news to the commanding officer. The commanding officer, in consultation with high officials, chalks out a plan and organizes a team having different units for separate and alternative tasks. Afterwards a team which has been assigned the task is sent for the operation having complete collaboration with all working units to remain in communication with them. A party assigned with the task of just detecting and locating objects underwater, does its job and informs the action team to take necessary action for accomplishment of the mission. Afterwards withdrawal phase starts and parties withdraw if it is beyond the nautical boundaries of the USA. Otherwise, coastal guard team stays there as long as the situation is completely under control. Methods, equipments and tactics used while operating in missions Coast Guard diving team in the USA has a wide spectrum of the methods, equipments and tactics to go for any operation. According to Hamilton. J (2007), this team possesses immense flexibility to manoeuvre plans and curse of actions for successful accomplishment of the operation. So for as accomplishment of the primer objective of securing marine waters, methods employed include checking of commercial vessels entering from outside into the ports, making investigative attempts in case of any causality of mariner or merchant, managing licences for the commercial transport and finally drafting recommendations to avoid a likewise situation in the future. Since marine navigations is bound to meet with the accidents unexpectedly so, causes are sure to come to surface. To know these causes, USA coast guard team also makes and investigative team for ascertaining causes behind such mishaps. This activity is particularly done when an American-flagged meets with such ill-fate or even a foreign vessel entering ports of the USA. To accomplish other goals, team searches the people in peril or in imminent danger and then after rescuing them team assists them to the best possible resources available. Walter. C (1965) puts that methods such as ground search and rescue, urban search and rescue, combat search and rescue and air-sea rescue are also employed for an effective operation. Moreover, it is also interesting to mention that the coast guard team functions and exercises its techniques to let the vessels and ships and boasts know their exact position while navigating in the sea and avoid any danger that might supervene. For this purpose method employed is some what external. No technique is used from within a vessel of ship, but it is an outside function of the team to warn. Besides, at domestic level, methods put in practice by the USA-CG team are also effective in restricting drugs smuggling and illegal immigration. As for equipments are the USA-CG team has most modern equipments to deal with any impending distress effectively. Carrie .A (2005) considers these equipments include primarily small arms boats, aircrafts and cutters. USA-CG has been provided with the contemporary and up to date weapons for operations. The range of these small weapons is large. Primarily coast guard team, while in the operation, uses rifles such M14, shot guns such as M87OP 12 gauge, pistols such as M9 and heavy machine gun such as M2. Along with use of small arms weapons, the coast guard is privileged with boats to sail around shores and waterways within the nautical premises. Some of them are: utility boat, motor life oat, short range prosecutor and aids to navigation boats etc. These boats are indispensable for the successful operations as they provide easy and swift access to the target. Similarly, aircrafts are also used by this multi-purpose and multi-dimensional force in a varied range. Fixed wing aircrafts and helicopters are among them. To speak of helicopter, it has the tendency and authority to intercept vessels which are used to smuggle drugs and illegal immigrants. Green. M (200) says that this practice does away with the practise of narcotics and other illicit activities. For accommodating these helicopters and aircrafts, cutters are provided to give an easy access to aircrafts for swift action. Unlike its name, cutter is a big vessel which offers sufficient room to these aircrafts in the sea to cope with any forthcoming mishap. These cutters are also of varied ranges. Some of them are: High Endurance Cutter (HEC), Patrol Coaster, Polar-class icebreaker and national security cutter. Thus modern equipments enhance working capacities of the USA coast guard diving team to a greater extent. According to Benson .M (2004), such innovation and their application by the team has done much in the aftermath of 9/11 attacks. USA coast guard team is given exhaustive training so far as tactical approach is concerned. Tactical grounds on which USA-CG operates offer immense manoeuvrability which surely calls for efficient tactical mindset and planning. During war, tactics employed by the team is strict and less flexible, but efficient while during peace time, its tactics is much flexible and concerned with the welfare of the people and safety of marine wildlife. Tactics put in practice by the team includes major and minor operations. Making ambush to effectively check the smuggling of narcotics and the illegal immigrants is one of the minor operations that coast guard team does. Moreover, in major operations apart from attacking enemy, coast guard effectively applies tactical approach to defend water shores and waterways towards domestic ports and harbours coupled with security of the inhabitants nearby. Ways to improve USA-CG into a better department It is one incontrovertible fact that the USA coastal guard is one of the best departments in the unformed forces of the USA. But the fact that nothing is permanent but change; change is bound to happen. According to Edward. F (2009), changes for the betterment from an earlier position to a more developed and organized department is surely welcomed and brings into light the dynamic aspect of the department. Similarly, the USA coast guard force, despite its immense services and successful missions has been going through a continuous phase of changes and developmental programs. Policies for the development of this department are formulated and approved by Homeland security department. Some of the recommendations which might be useful for the development of coastal guard force include operations in collaboration with all other forces both at war and in peace times and commando sort of training be also imparted to them so that it may develop into a better force which could endure extreme level of pressure and sustain combat actions. Moreover, equipments should be more sophisticated to help their operation become more successful and beneficial. Induction of the civilians into the force should be encouraged particularly from the coastal areas so that the local inhabitants living nearby harbours and ports can possess the potential to meet with any supervening distress and disastrous situation. Their standard of training should be the same as of the recruited force. In the opinion of Hamilton. J (2007), auxiliary force and reservists should also be called for the refresher training cycle on yearly basis so that they remain energetic and active for their performance when it comes to some notorious situation. Tenure of the training be increased to a maximum of further 6 months so that the guards can attain more professionalism and dedication to their work and missions. Lastly, the coastal guard team should be made an autonomous body to effectively formulate their own policies and run their affairs as per their requirements and standards. But it should come under direct command of the president so that in any warring condition, he could use it on his discretion. It is mainly due to the fact that the process of the congress is lengthy and not suitable for the war time situation so, the President of the USA be authorized to utilise services of the coast guard force if required immediately. Conclusion In conclusion, it would be important to mention the services of the United States’ coast guard team for their laudable motto of being always ready. It has remained one of the effective forces that have helped United States in not only war situation but also in the peace time. Wars mentioned above are glaring examples when the coastal guard team exerted their strenuous energies for the welfare of the nation as well as of the people living along seas. Coast guard team has also functioned effectively for the safety of nautical boundaries thus maintaining co-existence, and for the safety of marine wild life. References Carrie .A (2005) The U.S. Coast Guard (pp.11-18) Benson .M (2004) The U.S. Coast Guard (pp.14-16) Deniss .L (2004) The U.S. Coast Guard (pp.22-23) Benson .M (2004) The U.S. Coast Guard (pp.18) Walter. C (1965) The U.S. Coast Guard (pp.71-77) Deniss. L (2001) Lifeboat sailors: Disastrous, Rescues and the perilous future of the coast (pp. 133-147) Green. M (200) The United States Coast Guard (pp. 37-38) Edward. F (2009) Careers in the U.S Coast Guard (pp. 64-65) Hamilton. J (2007) The Coast Guard (pp. 26) Walter. C (1965) The U.S. Coast Guard (pp. 66) Carrie .A (2005) The U.S. Coast Guard (pp. 27) Green. M (200) The United States Coast Guard (pp. 24) Benson .M (2004) The U.S. Coast Guard (pp.28) Edward. F (2009) Careers in the U.S Coast Guard (pp. 52-53) Hamilton. J (2007) The Coast Guard (pp. 36) Read More