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Navy-Coast Guard Team Essential to Success

Navy NewStand

Story Number: NNS030413-03
Release Date: 4/13/2003 2:14:00 PM

By Journalist 1st Class Jennifer L. Wuest, U.S. Naval Academy Public Affairs

ANNAPOLIS, Md. (NNS) -- Adm. Thomas Collins, commandant of the Coast Guard, spoke at the Naval Institute's annual meeting and Annapolis Seminar April 3.

"We have activated more than half of our selected Reserves," Collins said, "and just over a month ago, the Coast Guard reported to Secretary (Tom) Ridge, and became a member of the Cabinet-level Department of Homeland Security."

In addition to providing maritime security in the United States, the Coast Guard is participating in Operation Iraqi Freedom. They are assisting with port and coastal security, law enforcement, patrols and command/control support.

President Bush signed the Homeland Security Act into law Nov. 24, 2002. However, another bill was signed that day which didn't receive as much press time.

"That was the Maritime Security Transportation Act (MSTA) of 2002. This is an incredibly important law ... for the security of our nation."

Collins cited a "critical need" for focused security at the 360 seaports and 95,000 miles of U.S. coastline. The MSTA "creates comprehensive legislative framework to enhance security of global maritime transportation system - systematic approach to creating standards, assessing vulnerability, and authorizing funds to address those vulnerabilities," he said.

He also discussed President Bush's recent national strategy for homeland security and its three basic objectives: preventing a terrorist attack, reducing vulnerability, and minimize damage and recovery time from such an attack.

"We've worked hard to create a maritime component to that national strategy."

The future of the Coast Guard includes the development of maritime safety security teams. These teams, the Coast Guard's equivalent to special operations, will be active-duty members who not only provide force protection, but are escort, boarding, K-9, underwater and CBR (chemical-biological-radiological) detection capable.

The Coast Guard is now a member of the National Foreign Intelligence Committee, said Collins, and he has established an assistant commandant for intelligence and combined intel with the Coast Guard Investigative Service.

"Analysts and investigators are now under the same roof," he said.

Partnerships with other agencies and services are also important to Collins.

"Partnerships will continue to be successful, as we continue to put together a domestic regime for security in our ports.

"It will be an effective two-way flow of capability to meet both the expeditionary and domestic security imperatives all in the national interest.

"In the coming decade, much of our maritime security activity will be concentrated on the low end of the spectrum of conflict.

"In this environment, the close partnership between the Coast Guard and the Navy will be needed to deploy forces with adaptability, flexibility, affordability and interoperability."

He also talked about the "national fleet" - an active document signed by Collins and Chief of Naval Operations Adm. Vern Clark, in which the Coast Guard and Navy "retain their unique heritages" while ensuring their "strengths are complementary."

The Navy is helping the Coast Guard's mission by providing patrol boats, while the Coast Guard is assisting overseas.

"Our nation doesn't need another Navy," said Collins. "We have the best one on the planet. But it shouldn't do without an effective Navy-Coast Guard team."