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August 4th marks 226 years of service by America's Coast
... Building upon our proud history, we are boldly addressing the vast maritime challenges facing our Nation.
Strategically focused, we are
leading the way into the 21st century. Guided by our suite of
regional and functional strategies, we are focused in the Western
Hemisphere and Arctic and on guaranteeing economic security by
countering the threats to our maritime infrastructure and cyber
networks.
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August 4, 2016 - Coast Guard Commandant Adm. Paul Zukunft underway with Station Milford Haven on the morning of the Coast Guard's 226th anniversary. (U.S. Coast Guard photo by Petty Officer 2nd Class
Patrick Kelley)
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We are guided by our
Western Hemisphere Strategy and combating
transnational organized crime. Instability, violence and terror are
flourishing because of these drug-funded criminal networks.
Desperate people are fleeing and rule of law is under attack in our
neighboring nations – so far more than 33,000 children have been
apprehended crossing our Southwest border. Last year, we conducted
the most aggressive campaign in our history to combat those
criminals where they are most vulnerable – at sea. We are on pace to
remove record volumes of cocaine this year, and I am proud to say
that we have already removed 245 metric tons of cocaine and nearly
400 smugglers. The best Coast Guard in the world continues to meet
this rising threat to our national security and health of our
citizens.
We are asserting national sovereignty in the
Arctic. Our
Arctic Strategy, in line with the national strategy, is
based on 150 years of Coast Guard experience. We have led the
establishment of the Arctic Coast Guard Forum where we are working
with seven partner nations to ensure safety, security and
stewardship of this vital and pristine region. We are working with
all branches of the federal government to accelerate the acquisition
of new heavy icebreakers to operate year round in the most
inhospitable regions on the planet. Only the world's best Coast
Guard can meet these challenges.
We are focused on the prosperity of our Nation. Over $3.2
trillion of commerce flows from all over the world to our Nation's
homes and businesses, including precious energy resources. Ninety
percent of that global commerce is moved by sea and much of it flows
through our extensive inland waterway systems. The world's best
Coast Guard has the unique authorities to keep pace with the
increased activity within our maritime transportation system that
fuels our economic engine.
Countering cyber risks to our own
networks and to the maritime transportation system is another area
we are focused strategically. Our world is embracing advancements in
technology that have revolutionized shipping, commerce and safety.
We continue to work with industry leaders to find the right
solutions that foster commerce while protecting our vital maritime
infrastructure. The world's best Coast Guard demands a 21st century
workforce to supply the innovative thinking that will keep us ahead
of these threats.
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August 4, 2016 - Coast Guard Commandant Adm. Paul Zukunft underway with Station Milford Haven on the morning of the Coast Guard's 226th anniversary.
(U.S. Coast Guard photo by Petty Officer 2nd Class Patrick Kelley)
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The world's best Coast Guard in no longer doing more with
less. We are embarking on a recapitalization of our assets
that the Coast Guard's founding father,
Alexander Hamilton,
could have hardly imagined. This year alone, our focus on
building the Coast Guard of tomorrow has netted two more
National Security Cutters, eight more Fast
Response Cutters,
14
C-27J aircraft and significant investments in our shore
infrastructure. And this fall, we will award the final
design for the missing link in our littoral and open ocean
presence, the
Offshore Patrol Cutter. We are aggressively
building a more capable Coast Guard.
Most
importantly, we are the Service we are today because of our
people. You need to spend only one day with the men and
women standing the watch in the Coast Guard to know our
Service is full of heroism and steeped in tradition. Every
day, our people go into harm's way. Every day, our
servicemembers answer the call. We are unified and we are
focused.
The best Coast Guard the world has ever seen
is proudly marking its 226th year. As America expects and
deserves, we remain Semper Paratus.
Note: USA Patriotism! made a slight
revision to the article's introduction without impacting the
reference to the Coast Guard's 226 year history.
By U.S. Coast Guard Commandant Adm. Paul Zukunft
Provided
through
Coast
Guard
Copyright 2016
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