Got Boarded by the U.S. Coast Guard...

[herkyguy]

just make sure you consider....

1. the USCG is terribly underfunded

Unless you are in the Air Force, everyone is underfunded, not just the USCG.

2. most of their cutters are really old (like chipping paint?)

Tell me you are not trying to suggest there is no chipping paint in the Navy...

3. advancement is slow, with few of the "fast track" programs like the navy has.

This information is outdated. Advancement is pretty quick and depends on what rating you choose.

4. when push comes to shove.... you aint sailing on a "real" war ship (i.e. very limited weapons systems.... no Harpoons, no Tomohawks, no Standards, no Phalynx system, no ... well you get the picture )

REALLY???? and just how often did you get to use those harpoons and Phalanx, huh??? Not a real warship??? We may not have missiles, but what we do have we use in the real world a whole lot more than any Navy ship. You could be in the Navy and go your whole career without ever firing a shot.

The mission of the USCG is not warfighting, our mission is saving lives and enforcing laws. We execute our mission 24 hours a day and 365 days a year, all over the world. You can keep your fancy weapons systems and 'simulated drills'. When it comes to operational experience, the CG cannot be beat.

I am sorry to sound harsh, but to suggest that the USCG doesn't have 'real' warships is a stupid statement. We do our job in weather you wouldn't even walk your dog in.

 

[Franco2shoot]

I'm confused now WRT weapons on board. I thought that International Law precluded one from bringing a firearm on board.. remember the recent Pirate activity, the crew were not allowed self protection.

Perhaps being inside the 12 mile limit let you slide, as well as having a "Carry" permit. I', guessing that they wouldn't get into whether or not Oregon and Washington honor each ones carry.

I've been told that here in Virginia, if boarded and weapons are declared and found, you're going to jail, Carry permit or no, but that might be more "Scare" than reality.

The Coastie's that did a saftey inspection of my boat asked before boarding "Any weapons?" but they were most polite, efficient and professional. I wanted them to stay and shoot the breeze, but they were off down the river in less than a minute. They did just what they said, spotted the fire extinguisher, multiple life jackets, toss ring and next thing I knew "Have a nice day".

Too bad more LE's weren't that way.

KKKKFL

 

[noskilz]

I thought that International Law precluded one from bringing a firearm on board.. remember the recent Pirate activity, the crew were not allowed self protection.

OK, this is really a thread hijack, but the only reason the ships did not let their crew defend themselves is the policies of their insurers. I have never heard or read anything credible that International Law precludes one from being armed in international waters. The tricky thing is being armed in the territorial waters of different countries, like Mexico, for example. Whole different ballgame. But let's not hijack this thread for this. I'm out.

 

[9mm+]

OK, this is really a thread hijack, but the only reason the ships did not let their crew defend themselves is the policies of their insurers. I have never heard or read anything credible that International Law precludes one from being armed in international waters. The tricky thing is being armed in the territorial waters of different countries, like Mexico, for example. Whole different ballgame. But let's not hijack this thread for this. I'm out.

You are 100% correct. There are no laws precluding firearm possession in international waters. It only gets tricky when you enter territorial waters (12 miles from shore) and need to clear customs.

 

[SSN Vet]

deleted as it is OT

 

[GodGuns&Guitars]

"The USCG has been involved with every armed conflict/war since 1792." Our cutters served in Vietnam just as did the Navy's and the Coast Guard has ships off the coast of Irag today. Coasties drove the LST's, MST's etc., during the Normandy landing and also a few other landings in the Pacific. We simply do more with less.

 

[Cosmoline]

I thought that International Law precluded one from bringing a firearm on board.. remember the recent Pirate activity, the crew were not allowed self protection.

As noted there is no such law, but regardless when you're in territorial waters it's the local law that applies.

then you can whine to me about "real" missions....

If you find yourself floating in the Bering Sea during a storm, it won't be the Navy that comes to save you. In fact the Navy runs from storms the Coasties go *into* '-) They will always have my admiration.

 

[Mandolin]

Bluenote, have you read The Last Run? The Coast Guard is very brave.

"you have to go out, you don't have to come back"

 

[OregonJohnny]

I knew that during the entire trip, we'd be within the 12-mile boundary of the Washington State coast. If I had anticipated a trip into international waters, or thought we'd dip into Canadian water through the Straights of Juan de Fuca, I would have brought my passport and left the gun at home. Washington does not recognize Oregon's CHL, so that's what made me the most nervous. Things might have turned out differently if we'd been boarded by the San Juan County Sheriff, instead of the USCG.

 

[RioShooter]

A shooting buddy of mine is a professional shrimp fisherman. On one occasion when he was boarded by the coast guard, they demanded that he surrender all firearms on board. They guarded the firearms while they inspected his boat, and then HID them in various places around the boat before they left. They also removed the magazines from the firearms and hid them in a different place than the gun. It took my friend days of searching before he found all of the guns and mags. Thankfully, he did not need them during that time.

 

[SFB]

Ssn vet

/ begin thread hijack

then you can whine to me about "real" missions....

I know a guy who would love to whine to you, unfortunately he was killed in action in the persian gulf. Was his mission real enough for you? He was a coastie.

I know most of the other military guys like to make fun of the CG and say our job isn't serious. However Coasties put their lives on the line everyday, and often times to save someone they don't even know. Flying and taking boats into hurricanes, chasing drugs runners in the middle of the night exchanging gun fire, etc.. If that mission isn't real enough for you, you're one hard guy to impress.

I know you were probably just poking some fun at the CG.. But it is a little offensive when someone basically says the CG job is a joke when guys I know have died doing that job.

/ end thread hijack

 

[Acera]

I have to agree with SFB and others about the job of the Coast Guard.

Come on SSN Vet, how difficult is it for 100+ guys to sit well out to sea, fighting a country that does not have an effective navy, and send a few missiles over the beach? Ain't no slack in fast attack? Ain't much danger either. (Now if you are talking about slack in your belts, you probably are correct.) When was the last time any of our subs was really in a combat situation where they could have been lost? Have any of our subs been fired on in the past 20 years? I've read the books like Blind Mans Bluff, old news. So don't throw that out there.

The coasties, hell they have to board the enemies vessel and deal with them face to face. Every time not knowing if some drug runner is going to try to shoot them to get away. How much time does someone on a attack sub have to spend on the surface in a hurricane trying to save lives? Rescue missions in bad weather may not be combat, but just as dangerous/ It takes a heck of a lot more courage than sitting in a warm, clean, dry, smooth riding boat drinking coffee.

Those guys and gals are studs in my book.

 

[Dewey123]

I don't really know anything about subs or the coast guard, but with all due respect, I think that you crossed the line SSN Vet. Obviously serving in a submarine is dangerous, but so too is sailing through hurricanes to rescue people, or piloting landing craft on D-day and in other amphibious invasions. Don't knock the Coast Guard.

 

[usmc1371]

I have been stoped a few times for safety inspections with no problems and always have atleast two hand guns onboard. I carry a springfield 1911 and my little bro packs mini glock or HK compact 40 we just seem to have them around all the time. Also have a pistol grip-colapsible stock 12 guage on board for snakes and sharks and such. They check the safety equipment, ask about the green glock, compliment my 1911, then go mess with some drunk ass speeding in the no wake zone.

I would have been a costie it the recruiter had not been out to lunch, the marines were working through lunch.

 

[M47 Dragon]

Kinda funny to see squids and coasties get into a "who's more hardcore" debate. LOL.

Trained and served with both, and the coasties get my vote. Hard chargers, they are.

 

[paintballdude902]

sounds pretty routine we get boarded on the river at home about once every other month when were using the boat every weekend

were they professional about the whole thing

 

[Officers'Wife]

then you can whine to me about "real" missions....

You have already been properly chastised for this remark so I won't bother. When all the dust from the service rivalries settle one fact remains. Each branch has it's job and each faces it's own unique danger. You can argue that one set of risks are greater than the other until the cows come home but in the end you must thank God there are men and women willing to face those dangers for our security and well being.

End of speech, time to serve the lunch.

Selena

 

[ahellers]

thanks

Greetings from the Bering sea, we’re out here providing search and rescue support for the king crab season right now. Its great to here all the positive comments about the service. Now adays we are more about facilitating commerce and, as always, saving lives (we dont get to have all the fancy drug fun in alaska). Just wanted to chime in and say thanks for all the positive comments, it feels good to be considered one of the good guys.

t

 

[Bluenote]

Greetings from the Bering sea, we’re out here providing search and rescue support for the king crab season right now. Its great to here all the positive comments about the service. Now adays we are more about facilitating commerce and, as always, saving lives (we dont get to have all the fancy drug fun in alaska). Just wanted to chime in and say thanks for all the positive comments, it feels good to be considered one of the good guys.

t

Hows the catch this year? Any word? Weather? I heard the IFQs changed too , do you have any info on it?

Not that I'll ever go back out , I'm too old for it and there isn't much to do in Dutch off the boat.

Hey how do you know when it's a calm day in Dutch?


The anchor chain being used as a windsock on the flagpole is only standing straight out it's not losing any links.

 

[Bluenote]

Bluenote, have you read The Last Run? The Coast Guard is very brave.

"you have to go out, you don't have to come back"

No I haven't , who is the author and I'll look for it. And they sure as hell are , the rescue swimmers need a wheelbarrow to carry their *ahem*s around ,I sure as hell wouldn't jump into 34-35 degree water with 12 foot and bigger rollers.

And while some crabbers and fishermen may give 'em a hard time in the local watering hole I've seen the time in Sitka that a bunch of tough guy tourists got pelted with fish guts and chum for hassling a couple of coasties , and they weren't about to mess with a bunch of wildeyed ,hairy fishermen with names like Scurvy ,Sarge ,Bearfart and SlapEmSillyStan.

In general most Alaskans living waterside have a great deal of respect for the C.G. and it's men , they put their butts on the line every day , they truly 'walk the walk' instead of just talking the talk.

 

[TexasBill]

The Coast Guard is an example of what's known as a "gendarmerie," a military organization with police powers over the civilian population. The French Gendarmes and the Italian Carabinieri are examples of similar organizations. In all such organizations, the nature of their work requires fairly broad latitude in their powers.

The Coast Guard and the Navy have different missions and each service performs them well and honorably. They do support each other as required, but neither service is better than the other at getting the job done. That being said, I don't even like watching the conditions for some CG operations on TV! I've seen winter storms in the North Atlantic and anyone who would volunteer for such duty has my everlasting respect.

 

[SSN Vet]

well if you actually read the thread...

You would know that I love and respect the USCG and that I have ALWAYS been a friend of the CG....

and the rest I am deleting as it is OT.......

 

[ar10]

Any vessel can submerge once my friends.... coming back up again is the trick!

From someone who submerged a vessel once. You got that right

 

[Tinpig]

I love and respect the USCG and...I have ALWAYS been a friend of the CG

Well said, SSN Vet.

Each branch has it's job and each faces it's own unique danger....in the end you must thank God there are men and women willing to face those dangers for our security and well being.

And Officer's Wife.

Tinpig

 

[herkyguy]

SSN vet, You deleted your posts but made no mention of why you decided to try to rip the USCG. My guess is you realized the stupidity of your post but won't admit it.

I have ALWAYS been a friend of the CG

Well this Coastie is not your friend.