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TRACEN YORKTOWN |
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USCG |
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Tracen Cape May |
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USCG Academy |
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TRACEN GOVERNORS ISLAND |
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Tracen Petaluma |
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Active Reserve |
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District 5 |
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Cape May, New Jersy |
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District 1 |
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How the U.S. Coast Guard is Organized
Founded in 1790, the United States Coast Guard is one of the oldest federal government organizations. It served as the only U.S. armed force on the sea
until the Department of the Navy was formed eight years later. Today, the Coast Guard serves both as a military force and as a federal government law
enforcement agency.
During times of war, the Coast Guard works under the Department of the Navy to protect the country against foreign threats. In times of peace, it serves
under the Department of Homeland Security to enforce the law at sea, guard the U.S. coastline, and protect the U.S. maritime environment.
Here's more about the standard organization of the U.S. Coast Guard:
Coast Guard Headquarters
This is the most senior organization level of the U.S. Coast Guard. It's led by the Commandant, who ordinarily reports to the Secretary of Homeland Security. When serving under the Department of the Navy, the Commandant reports to the Secretary of the Navy. The Coast Guard Headquarters is also comprised of a Vice Commandant and supporting staff. Members of the supporting subordinatee staff include Headquarter Directorates, Assistant Commandants, and Deputy Commandants.
Major Commands
This level of organization includes the Atlantic Area Command, Pacific Area Command, Coast Guard Force Readiness Command, and District Offices. Pacific and Atlantic Area Commands are led by Area Commanders who are subordinate to the Vice Commandant. The Force Readiness Command works directly under Deputy Commandant for Mission Support while District Offices answers directly to the relevant Area Commanders.
Sector Commands
This command echelon commands and controls detachments and subordinate units such as Marine Safety Units, Aids to Navigation Teams, Marine Safety Detachments, Sector Field Offices, and Air Stations. Sector Commands provide organic support and direction in addition to coordinating missions assigned to subordinate units. Sector commands are directly under District Offices.
Headquarter Units
These are individual commands under functional managers in charge of Technical Control of a Coast Guard Headquarters. The functional managers are Assistant Commandants or Directors with technical authority in particular programs. Examples of Headquarters Units include Legal Services Command, Mission Support Logistics, and Service Centers, Finance Center, Coast Guard Academy, and National Maritime Center.
Units
In the U.S. Coast Guard, a unit is an organizational entity led by a duly assigned Officer in Charge, Commanding Officer, or Commander. In some approved circumstances, a unit can be led by a civilian. Examples of Coast Guard units include Sectors, Cutters, Air Stations, Helicopter Interdiction Tactical Squadron, and Coast Guard Stations.
Training Centers
Training Centers are essentially units. They operate under Coast Guard Force Readiness Command. The only training center that is not subordinate to Coast Guard Force Readiness Command is the Coast Guard Academy, which is a Headquarter Unit. Some examples of Training Centers include Training Center Yorktown, Training Center Petaluma, and Training Center Cape May.
Detached Units
Detached units are segments of a Coast Guard unit, which are geographically separated from the parent unit. A Detached unit is usually staffed with at least seven billets, with one serving as a supervisor. Examples of detachments include Industrial Production Detachment, Marine Safety Detachments, and Electronic Support Detachments.
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