What is the audience the US Coast Guard seek to influence?
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What is the audience the US Coast Guard seek to influence? I know this is kind of broad question. Like do they try to influence the Department of Homeland Security a.k.a. their bosses, in order to get a bigger budget to work with. or the US federal government? the President? Any and all opinions would be greatly appreciated.
As an officer, we provide a service to our country. We dont have a large public affairs contingent like other branches. When we save a boater in distress or you see our orange boats or aircraft respond to things like the Hudson Airline incident, Hurricane Katrina or Haiti, that is all the influence we need.
We are also very frugal with our expenses. Most politicians know that we are an outstanding value to the american people, we are multimission meaning we can deploy for a war like Iraq or we can enforce federal law at home.
Different portions of the Coast Guard have different audiences. I am in Prevention, so my portion speaks to the shipping industry and attempts to express the need to maintain standards to prevent the need of our Search and Rescue (SAR) people later on. The SAR guys usually are dealing with their local communities. Then we have Districts and Areas which often interact with state level leaders. Ultimately there is Headquarters, though. It is their job to speak to just about everybody. Our Commandant reports to the Secretary of Homeland Security, but also has opportunities with the President at times. All these cogs work together. If we get a Senator who thinks the Coast Guard is doing an excellent job in his or her District, then that person may support the Coast Guard in the Senate. The Shipping industry, if they don’t like what we’re doing, can get a lobbyist to work against our proponents. That’s the beauty and difficulty of a democracy. Everybody has input.
The gentleman that wrote, “As an officer, we provide a service to our country. We dont have a large public affairs contingent like other branches” is right on. The USCG does not blow its own horn they just do their job! They are very similar to the USMC in so much that they accomplish their mission without a lot of fanfare and without looking to have their budgets increased enormously like the other armed forces. They in fact should be receiving a larger part of the budget pie given all that they do for this Nation and its citizens.