NATIONAL DEFENSE

When you join the Coast Guard, you become a member of an organization that for more than two centuries has served proudly as one of our nation's five military services.

We have four national-defense missions.  These are essential military duties that you may be selected to help the Coast Guard fulfill in peacetime, crisis and war as we work alongside the other military services, and at times, as a specialized service under the Navy.  These missions might require you to:

•    Intercept enemy forces on the water;
•    Direct overseas port security operations;
•    Participate in peacetime engagement;
•    Protect the environment during defense operations.

We are in charge of the U.S. Maritime Defense Zone, which means you could be countering potential threats to American coasts, ports and inland waterways through port-security, harbor-defense and coastal-warfare operations and exercises. During an average day, we inspect 23 waterfront facilities.

Outside of U.S. coastal waters, we assist foreign naval and maritime forces through training and joint operations. Because we have such a wide variety of aircraft, vessels and missions, we are a powerful role model that is in ever-increasing demand overseas.

In short, when you join the Coast Guard, you will be at the forefront of our nation's defense.