Hey, I've been doing some research, and I'm a bit confused—is the US Coast Guard considered a branch of the military? I'm not sure how it all breaks down. Any clarity would be appreciated!
Sure, I'd be happy to help clarify this for you! The United States has five total branches of the military: the Army, the Navy, the Air Force, the Marine Corps, and the Coast Guard. So, yes, the US Coast Guard is indeed considered one of the branches of the US military.
In peacetime, the Coast Guard is primarily involved in law enforcement, boating safety, sea rescue, and illegal immigration control. However, the Coast Guard can be transferred to the Department of the Navy by the president or Congress during a time of war. Therefore, it's perhaps this dual function that can often lead to some confusion about its status.
Each of these branches has a unique mission, strategic goals, and duties, but they all work collectively to secure the United States. Hopefully, this helps make the structure a bit clearer!
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