The following is the message from U.S. Coast Guard commandant Adm. Paul F. Zukunft to the service on the occasion on the Coast Guard’s 224th birthday.
R 041100Z AUG 14
FM COMDT COGARD WASHINGTON DC//CCG//
TO ALCOAST
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UNCLAS //N01000//
ALCOAST 330/14
COMDTNOTE 1000
SUBJ: 224TH BIRTHDAY OF THE UNITED STATES COAST GUARD
1. Today we celebrate the 224th birthday of the United States Coast
Guard. We do so at a time when the Coast Guard is in greater demand
than at any time in our history. The challenges faced by our Nation,
especially in our own Hemisphere, present opportunities and new
demands for our Service.
2. This year Coast Guard forces are engaged in operations on all
seven continents. Our Maritime Patrol forces continue to meet the
challenges of transnational organized crime, increased illegal
migration and demand for Coast Guard authorities and capabilities
from the Eastern Pacific to the Middle East. Our Shore-based forces
continue to stand the watch in all of our vital ports and waterways,
securing global commerce, protecting lives at sea, ensuring a safe,
secure and resilient Maritime Transportation System, building and
sharing incident management expertise, and protecting our natural
resources. Our Deployable Specialized Forces remain in demand
world-wide and are present today supporting ISAF in Afghanistan,
assisting with the removal of chemical weapons from Syria and
providing security for joint forces in Cuba. Our Patrol Forces in
Southwest Asia continue to provide maritime security for USCENTCOM.
3. As an integral part of the DHS team, the Coast Guard is at the
forefront of combating networks, securing our borders and
safeguarding commerce. Alignment with DHS will ensure unity of
effort as we face persistent threats to our borders. We will invest
in a 21st century Coast Guard. We have modernized our Sector
Commands, maximized the capabilities of the WMSL and are well into
the acquisition process for the Fast Response Cutter. We are near
completion of our WMEC-270 Mission Effectiveness Project, and we are
bringing 14 C-27Js into the inventory to replace aging C-130s. Our
product lines, bases and depot maintenance facilities are better
aligned with operations and continue to transform to support
world-wide mission execution. We will position the Coast Guard to
meet the obligations of tomorrow. The Offshore Patrol Cutter is
vital to this effort and design and acquisition will proceed. We
will also transform our financial management system to ensure future
clean audits and world-class customer service. Our intelligence
community will be leveraged to cue operations to ensure we put our
forces where they can be most effective.
4. Our exceptional international reputation is a direct result of
the sustained mission excellence our Coast Guard men and women
achieve every day.
5. Happy birthday and thank you for your continued focus on Service
to Nation, Duty to People and Commitment to Excellence.
6. Admiral Paul F. Zukunft, Commandant, sends.
7. Internet release is authorized.
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