Would it be a good idea to combine the Navy and the Coast Guard? Why or why not?

2015-07-01T10:51:22-04:00

From a outsider's prospective, the navy and coast guard appear similar enough to consider combining the two. There isn't an agenda with this question. I was wondering what the pros and cons would be doing this. Admittedly, I don't significant enough knowledge of either organization to know. I'm curious what the people involved in these organizations think.

Response by SPC Ryan D. made Jul 1 at 2015 10:59 AM

2015-07-01T10:59:58-04:00

I would have to say no due to the difference in missions.

Response by LCDR Rabbah Rona Matlow made Jul 1 at 2015 10:59 AM

2015-07-01T10:59:59-04:00

The Coast Guard has a completely different mission than the Navy does. Its ships are different, its standards are different, and its funding comes from DHS. USCG Cutters are routinely assigned to Navy Battle Groups, and in time of war they are seconded to the Navy. But realize that if this change were to take place, you would not likely see DHS release its funding and transfer it to DOD. SO this would become an unfunded liability...

Further, if you're going to go down that road, consider that the Army has more watercraft than the Navy, and the Navy more aircraft than the Air Force. If you were to merge USN and USCG, why not put all watercraft in the Navy, all aircraft in the Air Force, all Special Forces in the USMC and all conventional troops in the Army?

That will never happen, because no-one will ever give up their rice bowls. Further colloquialisms between the services would guarantee that such an endeavor would completely fail.

Response by SSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 1 at 2015 11:02 AM

2015-07-01T11:02:27-04:00

Much like the Army and Marine Corps, the Navy and Coast Guard perform two different missions. It would take a massive restructuring to combine the two.

Response by LT Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 1 at 2015 11:06 AM

2015-07-01T11:06:11-04:00

Absolutely not. There are key differences in both missions and legal issues when looking at both branches. The Navy for instance is DOD and bound by PC Act, which prevents certain actions from being taken both CONUS and OCONUS in regards to law enforcement and engagement.
CG meanwhile is able to engage in domestic and international law enforcement missions that would be impossible for the DOD due to legal restrictions.
Outside of legal issues alone a massive restructuring and force shaping would be required to incorporate the CG's domestic non-combat missions into that of the Navy.

Response by SCPO David Lockwood made Jul 1 at 2015 11:09 AM

2015-07-01T11:09:26-04:00

Two different missions.

Response by LTJG Robert M. made Jul 1 at 2015 11:28 AM

2015-07-01T11:28:29-04:00

Navy & Coast Guard have completely different missions. It would be like combining Air Force and Army.

USN Mission is Warfignting on the ocean, defense of sea lanes and first strike capability. "The mission of the Navy is to maintain, train and equip combat-ready Naval forces capable of winning wars, deterring aggression and maintaining freedom of the seas."

USCG mission is lifesaving, aids to navigation, ice patrol, & Coastal defense of 200 mile EEZ & Customs. "By law, the Coast Guard has 11 missions:
Ports, waterways, and coastal security; Drug interdiction; Aids to navigation; Search and rescue; Living marine resources; Marine safety; Defense readiness; Migrant interdiction; Marine environmental protection; Ice operations; Other law enforcement"

"That Said, under a formal declaration of war the USCG does become a component of the USN.

Response by SN Greg Wright made Jul 1 at 2015 11:52 AM

2015-07-01T11:52:23-04:00

No chance. The missions are vastly different. Coast Guard types are part federal agent (able to conduct law enforcement activities WITHIN the bounds of CONUS, unlike any other military branch), part life savers, part maintenance of the nation's waterways, part warfighters, when called upon. The navy is strictly warfighters. Case in point, the navy must have a CG contingent aboard in order to be able to do drug interdiction at all. They impart the necessary federal authority.

Interesting question, though.

Response by CAPT Kevin B. made Jul 1 at 2015 12:00 PM

2015-07-01T12:00:54-04:00

There was once two separate airlines in New Zealand. Air New Zealand was the overseas one flying big planes with big overhead. It was marginal to negative on revenue for years. It's much smaller cousin was New Zealand Air which flew the smaller domestic runs, with mixed jet and turbo prop. It was a money earner year after year. Then some idiots thought it would be a good idea to merge the companies so the little guy could teach the big guy. The result was a larger money loser.

Same idea with this. Very different mission sets which the Navy would have much more overhead. That said, perhaps the largest concentration of CG would be at the two Trident Bases. I recall it's reimbursable likely paid out of the Strategic Program Office.

Response by MAJ Ken Landgren made Jul 1 at 2015 12:43 PM

2015-07-01T12:43:10-04:00

In the time of disaster, the Coast Guard is the quickest to the scene to rescue people. I say let it be.

Response by PO1 John Miller made Jul 1 at 2015 12:49 PM

2015-07-01T12:49:22-04:00

Two completely different missions. That would be like asking if the Army and Marine Corps should be combined.

Response by CPO Bernie Penkin made Jul 1 at 2015 12:52 PM

2015-07-01T12:52:39-04:00

It's not just the difference in missions that would make a merger difficult. The mindset of both services are very different. The CG gives a lot more responsibility to its enlisted personnel than the Navy. For example most of our small boat stations are commanded by an E7, 8 or 9. Larger stations will be led by a warrant officer. Naval tradition would never stand for that.

Response by CDR Michael Goldschmidt made Jul 1 at 2015 1:35 PM

2015-07-01T13:35:25-04:00

The Coast Guard is a uniformed service, NOT a military one. In wartime, it has traditionally become under the Navy's operational control, but it remains different. For the rest of my answer, LT Private RallyPoint Member hit the nail right on the head. BZ, L-T!

Response by SSG John Erny made Jul 1 at 2015 1:36 PM

2015-07-01T13:36:07-04:00

The coasties have Law Enforcement authority over civilians, the regular military should not other than on a military base

Response by PO1 Glenn Boucher made Jul 1 at 2015 2:30 PM

2015-07-01T14:30:15-04:00

I voted No because the Navy and Coast Guard have different missions. The Navy is a full time combat ready entity whereas the Coast Guard does some combat missions their main mission is still patrolling the US coast and providing security, search and rescue among other things.
I think all of our services are unique and to combine any of them would be a mistake.

Response by LCDR Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 1 at 2015 3:13 PM

2015-07-01T15:13:51-04:00

The Navy and Coast Guard still perform vastly different duties for the most part, with some amount of overlap. I think they're more dissimilar than the functions of the Army and Marine Corps in the last decade, in fact. It just wouldn't make a lot of sense. As it is, we sell them our old ships and they continue to do their VBSS like no other.

Response by Sgt Aaron Kennedy, MS made Jul 1 at 2015 5:44 PM

2015-07-01T17:44:19-04:00

Although at first glance they are "similar" they are VERY different once you actually look at them.

They were designed differently from the ground up, much like the Marines and the Army are designed differently from the ground up.

After you realize there is design differences, you start to see the huge mission differences.

Response by PO3 Sherry Thornburg made Jul 1 at 2015 9:51 PM

2015-07-01T21:51:27-04:00

LOL!!! I can just see that. Texas has threatened a few times to put the USS Texas on patrol for drug runners. Usually followed by a bump in drug interdiction funds from the feds. However, Coasties fall under Homeland security and Customs, not DOD. Two different deals. The Navy does occasionally help with drug interdiction, but they have to have Coast Guard personnel on-board to handle things. The Coast Guard is a civilian law enforcement entity. The Navy is barred from acting within the U.S. in that capacity beyond base property.

Response by CPT Jack Durish made Jul 1 at 2015 10:41 PM

2015-07-01T22:41:00-04:00

The primary function of the Navy is defense. The primary function of the Coast Guard is law enforcement. The only similarity between them is that both use boats and aircraft and that's not enough to justify merging the two.

Response by CPO Brian Heath made Jul 2 at 2015 5:42 AM

2015-07-02T05:42:52-04:00

Missions are very different.

Response by LCDR Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 2 at 2015 9:12 AM

2015-07-02T09:12:13-04:00

We need their LEO status that is why they are not DoD and under Homeland

Response by PO2 Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 2 at 2015 10:42 AM

2015-07-02T10:42:58-04:00

The Navy has too many unique traditions and customs that do not need to be blended in with another branch who probably has its own.

Response by CPO David Sullivan made Jul 2 at 2015 2:55 PM

2015-07-02T14:55:39-04:00

Navy has Warfighter Mission and mentality... Coast Guard is more police force...
https://www.quora.com/What-is-the-difference-between-the-US-Coast-Guard-and-US-Navy?share=1

What is the difference between the US Coast Guard and US Navy? - Quora

The Navy is a warfighting force governed by title ten of the U.S. Code and is part of the department of defense. The mission of the U.S. Navy is to maintain,...

Response by PO2 Dennis Fritz made Jul 3 at 2015 11:20 AM

2015-07-03T11:20:22-04:00

No. The have different missions and serve different roles. CG is under DOT and Navy is under DOD. Different goals, different roles, different missions. The 1 commonality is water.

Response by LCDR Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 3 at 2015 10:52 PM

2015-07-03T22:52:22-04:00

The Coast Guards primary mission is Law Enforcement, which the U.S. navy is not allowed to have. It would be a terrible idea to combine the two.

Response by SFC Joseph Weber made Jul 4 at 2015 4:41 AM

2015-07-04T04:41:03-04:00

I say no. What color would they paint the boats?

Response by SN Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 5 at 2015 4:27 PM

2015-07-05T16:27:54-04:00

It is not a good idea. If you were to combine the two services the Navy would likely have to move to the Department of Homeland Security to allow the Coast Guard to continue their Law Enforcement Mission. In such an instance that the Navy, under DoD were to board a vessel it is considered an act of war. When the Coast Guard does it under DHS it is not. It is also the difference between white and gray hulled ships. A military hospital ship or Coast Guard cutter is white hulled portraying innocent passage and peace, whereas a gray hull indicates a warship. Also, on top of all that, our missions do not line up in the least bit. The Coast Guard's missions are Search and Rescue, Law Enforcement, and homeland security to name a few; whereas the Navy is a wartime platform that serves purpose for the other branches on the water.

Response by PO3 David Fries made Jul 7 at 2015 6:35 AM

2015-07-07T06:35:18-04:00

At the end of the day, the only similarity is that they both have ships, and calling Coast Guard cutters ships is a stretch. Very different roles.

Response by PO1 Don Mac Intyre made Jul 8 at 2015 9:58 PM

2015-07-08T21:58:41-04:00

The US Coast Guard by not being in the DoD, has certain Constitutional actions it may perform.
The USCG performs the multiple tasks it is assigned every day, among which, is saving lives and property at sea, every day. No other armed service can say that.

Response by CPO Robert Wilkins made Jul 11 at 2015 9:43 PM

2015-07-11T21:43:54-04:00

Their missions are too different and I believe would clash too much. Our congress and senate are so confused now, can you imagine them trying to decide how to or what to fund if the two services were combined?

Response by SN Greg Wright made Jun 17 at 2017 7:30 PM

2017-06-17T19:30:37-04:00

No. No no no no NO. CG and Navy do NOT have many of the same duties. They do a LOT of things that the Navy does not. Search and Rescue (to a much greater degree than the Navy). Maritime Law Enforcement -- the Navy doesn't do that at all. Aids to navigation. Ice breaking. Environmental protection. Port security. They regulate the Merchant Marines. CG Sailors are empowered law enforcement officers (meaning, they can go to your house as a civilian and arrest you if they have cause), something no other service can do. If you wanted to fold them into the Navy, you'd have to suspend Posse Comitatus in order for them to continue their mission.

Response by SSG Pete Fleming made Jun 17 at 2017 7:33 PM

2017-06-17T19:33:38-04:00

Response by CPT Jack Durish made Jun 17 at 2017 7:37 PM

2017-06-17T19:37:50-04:00

Not really the same duties. The Coast Guard is primarily a law enforcement agency. The Navy is a military naval force. Although they bear some resemblance and the Coast Guard can step up to function as a military naval force, the Navy would require a lot of training and experience to function effectively as a police force.

Response by Sgt Aaron Kennedy, MS made Jun 17 at 2017 8:07 PM

2017-06-17T20:07:06-04:00

The issue is that they "appear" similar at first glance, much like the Marines and Army "appear" similar at first glance, but in actuality they are very different.

Although the USCG and the Navy both use Naval Vessels, the size of the ships are very different as is the logistical support. The USCG relies on port based logistical support whereas the Navy is Expeditionary (anywhere in the world). The USCG also has a large LEO function which the USN has internal regulation prohibiting them from performing (replicating the Posse comitatus act).

As for the USMC, we are a NOT a "ground force." We are an Littoral Force, which is capable of operating as a Ground Force (like the Army) in support of the USN or the DoD at large.

Although, at first blush, it seems like it would save money, it would end up costing more. Each service is highly specialized for for a reason, which allows for greater focus and smaller overall force structure.

It is the same reason we no longer have an Army Air Corps (and still have a Naval Air Component as well as Marine Air).

Response by 1stSgt Nelson Kerr made Jun 17 at 2017 9:17 PM

2017-06-17T21:17:13-04:00

Completly different missions, the Coast guards primary mission are lifesaving, border control and law enforcement, None of which does the Navy have any business doing as a primary mission.
The organization structures and even the traditions are not a match either.

the Navy is built to fight enemies that they can beat, the Coasties fight an enemy that they can't beat but they fight anyway.

Response by PO3 Michael James made Jun 17 at 2017 9:17 PM

2017-06-17T21:17:22-04:00

The Federal Government does NOT offer any benefiots to the Navy !!

Response by PO1 William "Chip" Nagel made Jun 17 at 2017 9:37 PM

2017-06-17T21:37:08-04:00

Last Time I checked, Not a lot of Call for Spooks, Spies and Intelligence Folks on Lake of the Ozarks. No there is a Separation of Powers for a Good Reason. I have the Utmost Respect for my Coast Guard Sailors but their Function and what I did was Totally Different.

Response by PO3 Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 17 at 2017 10:48 PM

2017-06-17T22:48:02-04:00

Response by SCPO Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 17 at 2017 11:38 PM

2017-06-17T23:38:07-04:00

This exact same question has been asked a dozen or more times. Whatever happened to those sacrosanct RP rules that do not allow this, Admins?????

Response by LTJG Richard Bruce made Jun 18 at 2017 12:39 AM

2017-06-18T00:39:21-04:00

The Navy will become better.

Response by Capt Dwayne Conyers made Jun 18 at 2017 4:02 AM

2017-06-18T04:02:11-04:00

As I understand it, SSG(P) Private RallyPoint Member… the USCG is matrixed under DHS, and I believe that a mixture of Defense and Homeland might be problematic.

However, it is over a decade since I was a plank holder at the Department of Homeland Security and could be wrong.

Response by PO2 Gregg Covert made Jun 18 at 2017 9:40 AM

2017-06-18T09:40:06-04:00

They are really nothing alike and couldn't be effectively combined

Response by PVT Raymond Lopez made Jun 18 at 2017 9:45 AM

2017-06-18T09:45:22-04:00

What benefits (if any) would come from consolidating the Coast Guard and Navy? I find this particular question amusing since at the end of the First World War there were a number of Coast Guard officers who wanted to do exactly that. There is one slight little problem with that if the Coast Guard were made part of the Navy they would become part of the Regular Military Establishment of the United States and as such be covered under the Posse Comitatus Act is a United States federal law (18 U.S.C. § 1385, original at 20 Stat. 152) signed on June 18, 1878 by President Rutherford B. Hayes. The purpose of the act – in concert with the Insurrection Act of 1807 – is to limit the powers of the federal government in using federal military personnel to enforce domestic policies within the United States. It was passed as an amendment to an army appropriation bill following the end of Reconstruction, and was subsequently updated in 1956 and 1981. The United States Coast Guard, which operates under the Department of Homeland Security, is not covered by the Posse Comitatus Act either, primarily because although the Coast Guard is an armed service, it also has both a maritime law enforcement mission and a federal regulatory agency mission. When the Department of Homeland Security was set up a friend of mine who was a handsome suave young grunt with me in Vietnam and I asked him if still remembered the phrase “Charlie Foxtrot” he went a little pale at the question

Response by SCPO Carl Wayne Boss made Jun 18 at 2017 1:54 PM

2017-06-18T13:54:10-04:00

The scope of many of the missions are significant. Under Federal Statute, the U. S. Coast Guard already automatically falls under DOD/Dept. of the Navy command during time of "Declared" War.

There are many more differences between the Navy & the U.S. Coast Guard & much more detail to all the areas than is commonly known. That's one of the problems that the U.S. Coast Guard has always had, there is a total lack of understanding as to the totality of the Coast Guard's Missions & especially by the members of Congress that are supposed to keep the Organization adequately manned & funded.

As for the Navy carrying out U.S. Coast Guard Missions, I'm afraid they'd be operating largely in the dark in many areas, as they are by & large ignorant of what the U.S. Coast Guard does. Many people believe the majority of the Coast Guard's day to day operations is Search & Rescue but that is not only erroneous, but a "gross" mischaracterization.

Now that's not to say that there aren't some operations where there maybe some economies of scale achieved, by cross training certain ratings in both Services, because I believe that may be possible, as well as designing both services Ships, Boats, Aircraft & other equipment for inter-operability to a greater extent then they already are.

But their Major Missions are so different, I think putting them both under the same management would ruin both Services. The Navy's Officer Corps & Senior Non-Coms have totally different mind & skill sets than do the Coast Guard's.

I know this largely because I was born to, & raised by a Navy Senior NCO & when I came of age, I chose to enlist in the U. S. Coast Guard during Vietnam, where I worked my way up through the ranks to being an SCPO myself, to further my skills as a Firefighter/EMT & a Small Boatman, a choice I have never regretted. I felt in doing so I could be of greater service to my seagoing Brothers & Sisters in the Navy & to the Fire Service where I planned to return after leaving Active Duty.

Chief Turcotte may be right to some extent, but the amount of training needed to train Navy personnel to do Coast Guard Missions would be far more significant than Vice-versa, training Coast Guard Personnel to perform Navy Missions. We already know how to operate from floating platforms and how to use our weaponry to fight to protect our Homeland and Ourselves against Aggressors.

I think a Navy Boat Crew, would be hard pressed to service a Buoy or Lighthouse, or place a Buoy that had just been overhauled & repainted back on station properly, I'm not sure they could function very well as Rescue Swimmers or conducting large scale searches at Sea as that is not something they get a lot of practice at, unlike most crew members aboard Coast Guard Cutters, Small Boats or Helos.

Response by SSgt David Tedrow made Jun 29 at 2017 3:09 AM

2017-06-29T03:09:53-04:00

The mission of the Navy and the Coast Guard are entirely different, combining them just because they both have boats is not practical. With few war time exceptions, the Coast Guard's mission is to protect the public, the environment, and U.S. economic interests — in the nation's ports and waterways, along the coast, on international waters, or in any maritime region as required to support national security. The Coast Guard is a unique branch of the military responsible for an array of maritime duties, from ensuring safe and lawful commerce to performing rescue missions in severe conditions. Nearly 42,000 men and women are actively serving in the Coast Guard to defend America's borders and protect the maritime environment as well as almost 32,000 uniformed civilian Coast Guard Auxiliary members.

Response by Lt Col Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 3 at 2017 1:24 AM

2017-10-03T01:24:28-04:00

No, because the Coast Guard is a title 18 asset which means they are exempt from certain Pose Comitatus restrictions that all title 110 forces have. They can perform in a Law Enforcement capacity where as the Navy cannot. Two different animals and two different missions. If we merged them the whole point of having them would go away.

Response by PO1 Richard Nyberg made May 10 at 2018 9:10 PM

2018-05-10T21:10:55-04:00

I was in the Navy and we trained with the Coast Guard once in the while. They fall under the Treasury Dept except in time of war. They are mostly the Coastal Police force and drug busts and grab smugglers coming into the country.

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made May 10 at 2018 10:02 PM

2018-05-10T22:02:51-04:00

Due to the law enforcement role of the Coast Guard, I think they should be kept separate.

Response by SGM Bill Frazer made May 11 at 2018 11:43 AM

2018-05-11T11:43:44-04:00

CG has law enforcement capability- the Armed forces do not. Will an CV go looking to a lost kid caught in a rip tide? The CG unofficial motto is "You Have to go Out, You Don't Have To Come Back!"

Response by PO1 William "Chip" Nagel made Sep 5 at 2023 8:22 PM

2023-09-05T20:22:44-04:00

SFC Michael Jackson, MBA Put Me Down as a Solid Nope! Coast Guard doesn't do "Intelligence" like the Navy Does. Although it is Fun taking "Coasties" onboard so We Can do LEDO Ops!