"Tim" wrote in message
ups.com...
On Oct 2, 7:08 pm, "JoeSpareBedroom" wrote:


National Defense: Defend the nation as one of the five U.S. armed
services.

"one of the five U.S. armed services?"


But technically are they an "armed service"?

Wondering because they fall under the Dept. of the Treasury, and not
the Dept. of Defense.

"The United States Coast Guard is a military, multimission, maritime service
within the Department of Homeland Security and one of the nation's five
armed services."

Unless the dep't of homeland insecurity is part of the treasury dep't, then
things have changed.



In the cold war days I asked a Navy recruiter a hypothetical question
sort of like the days of Red October

"OK, supposingly a soviet sub was found in the mouth of the
Mississippi Delta, then would the Coast Guard fall under the Dept of
the Navy?

he said: "I would certianly hope so!"


Maybe the mission is sometimes defined as "when there's nobody else to do
the job". For instance, a certain amount of nervousness exists with regard
to nasty people coming across Lake Ontario from that terrorist haven to the
north. If a suspicious boat needs boarding and a management change, who's
going to do the job? Our sheriffs, who can't find their own noses? Or, the
Coast Guard, who's at least got the necessary speed, boats, and heavier
armaments than the local toddlers?