The forgotten veterans

Ya know, one thing I am always pissed about the Liberal media is that on Veterans day, they seem to conveniently forget a group of Veterans out their who served their country like everyone else. Which are the United States Coast Guard veterans. It seems to me that the Media is so focused on US Army, Navy, Air force and Marine corp veterans, they seem to forget that their are US Coast Guard veterans out their.

It’s a shame that our country and the American public seems to forget that their are 5 branches in the US Armed forces. They don’t realize that their are veterans out their who served their time in the US Coast Guard. They served in every conflict the US has ever been in. Where is the public recognition for the Veterans of the US Coast Guard. Where is their recognition on Veterans day for US Coast Guard personnel.

It seems to me that the Liberal media seems to forget about the people in the US Coast Guard and those who served in the US Coast Guard. It’s like the US Coast Guard doesn’t exist to media or the American public The only time people know about the US Coast Guard is when their is a major crisis such as Hurricane Katrina and the earthquakes in Haiti. The other would be when they are out on the water and need help.

What surprises me even more is that on Veterans day, every veterans group in America fails to recognize the work that US Coast Guard Veterans have made and done to America. No one seems to see the work that the US Coast Guard has done and the only work the American public sees, is the work done by the US Army, Navy, Air force and Marine corp.

It’s a shame that our country, the United States of America seems to forget that the men and women of the United States Coast Guard exist and is part of the 5 branches of the US Armed forces. On Veterans day, the US Coast Guard is often left out, ignored and forgotten by the American public. I’m ashamed on Veterans day that no veterans group or the media makes a mention of US Coast Guard veterans. It seems like people forgot the US Coast Guard exist.

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Interesting US Coast Guard Video

I saw this video that WTNH News Channel 8 did on the US Coast Guard at Station New Haven. It is very interesting and that really promoted the United States Coast Guard and the folks at Station New Haven.  What WTNH did was very cool for the folks in the United States Coast Guard and it really showed people in the state of Connecticut about the US Coast Guard in our state.

Beach patrol, US Coast Guard Style

 

Petty Officer 2nd Michael Rushane (left) and Petty Officer 3rd Class Darryl Aldrich, Marine Science Technicians from Coast Guard Sector Columbia River‘s Incident Management Division in Warrenton, Ore., conduct a routine beach patrol from Warrenton to Seaside, Ore., Friday, Sept. 9, 2012. Coast Guard Sector Columbia River’€™s Incident Management Division is responsible for overseeing oil and hazardous material clean-up on the Pacific Coast from the California border, north to the Queets River, Wash., and up the Columbia River to the Bonneville Dam. The IMD responds to more than 230 pollution cases annually. U.S. Coast Guard photo by Fireman Loumania Stewart

If the US Coast Guard allowed this for Active, Reserve and Aux. I wouldn’t mind PQSing Beach patrol in 4×4 ATV or a Mt Bike.  It would be a totally cool way to do summer beach patrols and even have more presence for the US Coast Guard. I also think it would get more Aux members doing Patrols whether from Sea, Air or from Shore side.

 

New amphibious truck targeted to first responders

I saw this online and can you imagine every Fire Dept and even the US Coast Guard getting a hold of this toy. This amphibious toy is something that every fire dept and even the US Coast Guard should consider getting. It’s perfect for near shore SAR, Law enforcement operations and for Water rescues and Disaster Response.

The company that builds this is called Gibbs Technologies and This is something that may shape the future of water rescues and disaster response. I can see the US Military getting a hold of this and using this for their Amphibious operations. Even the US Coast Guard may have a use for Amphibious tucks for a wide variety of roles and missions.

I think the US Coast Guard should consider getting something like this, as part of their Small Boat Response or Disaster response boat as well. It’s something that they can use in places like flooded ares such as during Hurricane Katrina or even the winter floods in North Dakota. Even on the rivers, it’s perfect for patrol and response as well.

Here’s the link to the article : http://bottomline.msnbc.msn.com/_news/2012/02/18/10428116-new-amphibious-truck-targeted-to-first-responders

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• News: New Amphitrucks (nafterli.wordpress.com)
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Coast Guard struggling to update its aging fleet – USATODAY.com

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From Coast Guard struggling to update its aging fleet – USATODAY.com.

The problem with the US Coast Guard is that Congress and America neglected to properly finance and properly fund the US Coast Guard. Congress kept piling on more missions and more requirements without adequate funding, and adequate congressional oversights. In a sense, Congress and America failed to support the US Coast Guard and failed to give what was necessary that Congress mandated.

That’s why the US Coast Guard has a problem with updating it’s fleet of white hull cutters and Black hull cutters. The average age of most of the US Coast Guard Cutters dates back to post world war 2 war era. While the rest of the US Military get’s the latest and greatest in hardware, ships and Aircraft. The US Coast Guard is left to do more with less money and less equipment on hand. The Us Coast guard winds up getting hand me downs from the US Navy and ships that the US Navy doesn’t need or want anymore.

The main problem with the US Coast Guard and from what the USA Today story points out is that the US Coast Guard gave management of their procurement to outside contractors. It was as if the US Coast Guard letting the foxes Guard the Hen house and no one was watching over it. The US Coast Guard failed to oversee and manage the project. That’s why the US Coast Guard can only show for what they got was 2 brand new National Security Cutters and two more on the way.

It’s going to be very hard for the US Coast Guard to convince Congress to pour more money into the US Coast Guard, unless the US Coast Guard does a complete 180 and overhauls how they procure and manage projects. Even for their new National security cutters, I believe the US Coast Guard should build one for every Hamilton Class cutter they retire.  Even when Congress is in a budget conscious mood, it’s going to be a tough sell for the US Coast Guard unless they come up with some way that is going to convince Congress  to pour more money into the US Coast Guard.

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