Publisher’s note: Watching the video of crew members from the U.S. Coast Guard (USCG) Cutter Munro board and interdict a self-propelled, semi-submersible drug-smuggling vessel on 18 June 2019 is exciting. Their actions were heroic and highly productive. Because of that bravery, 39,000 pounds of cocaine and 933 pounds of marijuana worth a combined estimated $569 million was seized. For the average person, the video is thrilling. However, for the U.S. Coast Guard, it was just another day in the office. DomPrep salutes the men and women of the USCG who are “Always Ready” to prevent the next maritime disaster and respond to the call when needed.
DomPrep’s Publisher, Martin (Marty) Masiuk recently conducted a podcast interview with DomPrep Advisor CDR Joseph J. Leonard Jr. (USCG, ret.) to hear his reaction on this extraordinary drug seizure. Joe then elaborates on the many missions that the Coast Guard conduct every day.
Mission Areas:
Non-Homeland Security missions include:
- Marine Safety
- Search and Rescue
- Living Marine Resources (Fisheries Law Enforcement)
- Marine Environmental Protection
- Ice Operations
Homeland Security missions include:
- Ports, Waterways, and Coastal Security (PWCS)
- Drug Interdiction
- Migrant Interdiction
- Defense Readiness
- Other Law Enforcement.
Composition:
- U.S. Coast Guard (40,992)
- U.S. Coast Guard Reserve (7,000)
- U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary (31,000)
- Civilians (8,577)
- 2 Areas / 9 Districts / 37 Sectors
- 243 Cutters / 1,650 Small Boats
- 201 Aircraft (rotary-wing and fixed-wing)
A Typical Day in the Coast Guard (Source: 2017 USCG News)
- Conducts 45 search and rescue cases
- Saves 10 lives
- Saves over $1.2M in property
- Seizes 874 pounds of cocaine and 214 pounds of marijuana
- Conducts 57 waterborne patrols of critical maritime infrastructure
- Interdicts 17 illegal migrants; escorts 5 high-capacity passenger vessels
- Conducts 24 security boardings in and around U.S. ports
- Screens 360 merchant vessels for potential security threats prior to arrival in U.S. ports
- Conducts 14 fisheries conservation boardings
- Services 82 buoys and fixed aids to navigation
- Investigates 35 pollution incidents
- Completes 26 safety examinations on foreign vessels
- Conducts 105 marine inspections
- Investigates 14 marine casualties involving commercial vessels
- Facilitates movement of $8.7 billion worth of goods and commodities through the nation’s maritime transportation system
Average Day in the Coast Guard Auxiliary (Source: USCG Auxiliary Website, 2019):
- Completes 62.5 safety patrols
- Completes 6.2 regatta patrols
- Performs 10.2 vessel assists
- Assists 28 people
- Saves 1 life
- Saves $341,290 in property
- Participates in 100 operational support missions
- Participates in 48.7 administrative support missions
- Completes 13.4 recruiting support missions
- Educates 369 people on boating safety
- Performs 299 vessel safety checks
- Attends 70 public affairs functions
- Ready – Relevant – Responsive
Martin D. Masiuk
Martin (Marty) Masiuk is president and founder of International Media Representatives Inc. (IMR Group Inc.), which was established in 1986 as an American-based media representation firm for overseas, aerospace, and defense publications. In 1998, under the IMR Group, he established DomesticPreparedness.com, which has evolved into a highly trusted, and important information service for the multi-disclipline, multi-jurisdiction preparedness community. In 2014, he transitioned the DomPrep40 into the Preparedness Leadership Council to lessen the burden on and increase the effectiveness of operational preparedness professionals and help policy professionals make better-informed decisions. Prior to IMR Group, he served as an account representative for McGraw Hill’s Business Week and Aviation Week & Space Technology publications.
