U.S. Coast Guard Blue Patch
United States Coast Guard
The United States Coast Guard, established on 4 August 1790 by Treasury Secretary Alexander Hamilton as the Revenue Marine, stands as the nation's oldest continuous seagoing service and one of the five armed forces of the United States. Operating under the Department of Homeland Security during peacetime and the Department of the Navy during wartime, the Coast Guard fulfills a unique dual military and law enforcement mission that no other service replicates—guided by the motto "Semper Paratus" (Always Ready).
From its earliest days intercepting smugglers and enforcing customs laws along America's coastline, the Coast Guard has evolved into a multi-mission force responsible for maritime law enforcement, search and rescue, aids to navigation, marine environmental protection, port security, and defense readiness. Coast Guard personnel have served with distinction in every major American conflict from the War of 1812 through both World Wars, Korea, Vietnam, and the Global War on Terror. During World War II alone, the Coast Guard manned over 800 cutters, 351 Navy vessels, and thousands of amphibious landing craft, with Coast Guard crews hitting the beaches at Normandy, Okinawa, and throughout the Pacific.
Today, the Coast Guard operates a fleet of cutters, patrol boats, fixed-wing aircraft, and helicopters across the globe, conducting over 20,000 search and rescue cases annually and saving thousands of lives. The service's men and women patrol America's 95,000 miles of coastline, protect 361 ports, and enforce federal law across 3.4 million square miles of exclusive economic zone. From Hurricane Katrina rescues to Arctic icebreaking operations, drug interdiction in the Eastern Pacific, and migrant interdiction operations, the Coast Guard remains America's shield on the seas.
Perfect For: Active duty Coast Guard members, Coast Guard veterans, Coast Guard Auxiliary volunteers, Coast Guard families, maritime law enforcement supporters, and anyone who appreciates the service's "Always Ready" commitment.
Semper Paratus—honoring America's oldest continuous seagoing service and the guardians who protect our shores, seas, and waterways every day.
