The U.S. Coast Guard and the U.S. Navy enjoy a maritime partnership that stretches back to the earliest days of the American Republic. Strengthened in the aftermath of the 9/11 attacks, the strong partnership between America’s two major maritime forces is now under stress. Today, as America reorients to confront state-based threats, daunting fiscal, logistical and operational challenges are weighing upon the U.S. Navy and U.S. Coast Guard partnership. It is time for the U.S. Congress to acknowledge these challenges and help the U.S. Coast Guard and the U.S. Navy reorient for the shared missions ahead.
The Department of Defense and the U.S. Coast Guard have long been strong partners, and the U.S. Coast Guard has proudly supported the U.S. Navy in virtually every modern maritime conflict. In that regard, both of America’s major maritime forces contribute an enormous amount of energy to ensure their diverse assets and authorities can integrate and work together. For example, the U.S. Coast Guard and the U.S. Navy crafted a detailed collaborative doctrine in 2013 and a shared National Feet Plan in 2015 to better confront the threat of maritime terrorism.
