MRE Buying Info

[XSapper]

As a Marine I take pride in admitting we are part of the Navy. Nothing dishonorable about our brothers and sisters in the Coast Guard.

Yeah, and they even have a real job when there is no war going on!
IIRC the USCG worked side by side with Polish GROM teams to take the oil platforms in Basra.

[BHP]

WOW. And what would you know? I'm not trying to start an argument, but you are wrong in so many ways. Actually, you are out of your f-ing mind. If I did actually argue it would be WAY to long of a post. Some "non-military" facts for you: The USCG is the "longest continuing sea going service",since the Navy was disbanded a few times. The reason we are not under the DOD, is because of our law enforcement/counter terrorism mission. The other four under DOD cannot do what we do in that area (ie. boarding vessels without cause). There’s a bunch of WWII Marines, and Vietnam aviators, and even a few Marine corp aircrews around here who would also disagree with you on your "USCG is not military" quote. They do not award the Medal of Honor, to a non-military branch. A non military branch does not operate naval destroyers and landing craft. A non military branch does not secure off shore oil platforms in the beginning of the Iraq war, and stay till the end. I don’t care to much what you say about me, but you basically just sh-t all over thousands of coasties that died serving their country in the UNITED STATES MILITARY, as well as hundreds of thousands that have served.

Your own argument admits that the Coast Guard is not a part of the military so I am not sure why you are getting so spun up about this. The Judge Advocate General corps agrees with you and states that the Coast Guard can not be a part of the DOD because of their maritime law enforcement duties. Federal law prohibits the military from enforcing laws within the nations borders. That is not to say that they don't have wartime duties that mirror those of the military but then again, so does the rest of the law enforcement community and for that matter the Civil Air Patrol (also not military). Some of your other arguments don't really address the issue either like the fact that the CG is "the longest continuing sea going service". The merchant marine is also a sea going service and so is the NOAA and neither of them are military either. The fact that some of our Merchant marine fought in WWII doesn't change that.

And where exactly do you get the idea that I "basically just shit all over thousands of coasties that died serving their country". Did you not see the part where I said "Not much of a distinction really because they have fought in damn near every conflict we have been involved in since their inception and their service has matched that of every branch under the DOD". How exactly is that shitting on the service of others. Maybe you didn't know this but police that are killed in the line of duty are not military but paramilitary and I am not disrespecting their service either. Same can be said about the firefighters and other emergency workers and I honor them as well. I will also add that our civilian intelligence (paramilitary) and federal law enforcement workers who are currently overseas on the front lines of the current war on terrorism are most definately not military either and that does not in any way diminish their service. Is it somehow a slight to the DOD civilian or CIA contractor killed in the service to country to point out that they were a civilian?

If anyone here can show me how it is that I supposedly dishonored the Coast Guard I would like to see it.

[Coastie Kyle]

And where exactly do you get the idea that I "basically just shit all over thousands of coasties that died serving their country".

Because they died serving in the UNITED STATES MILITARY! ...........UNITED......STATES.......MILITARY...... .. They were ENLISTED.....or COMMISIONED..... in the MILITARY. You dont enlist in the civil friggin air airpatrol, or a police department. And in case you didnt know, that enlistment, is the same as the other four branches. NO DIFFERENT. And thats why I said you shit all over those people. Very disrespectful in my opinion. You prove nothing.

[BHP]

So if someone is commisioned with the NOAA or the Public Health Corps are they a part of the military too? That makes no sense. I believe both services can be 'militarized' by executive order in a state of emergency but that is an exception and not the general rule.

The Coast Guard has a military mission and I have never said otherwise but as our JAG explained it (and maybe he was oversimplifying for the masses) they were not a part of the military because that would violate the Posse Comitatus Act. That, he said, is why they were under (at the time) the DOT. Like I said, he may have over simplified things and he may even have allowed his ego get involved in some imaginary DOD/DOT territorial dispute but that would seem out of character for him. I personally don't claim to be an expert, I am just a lowly enlisted Intel NCO and Military Police instructor, I only base this on what the JAG has told me in conversation.

Normally I wouldn't care enough to look into it but since I am currently in the ass crack of Afghanistan (as a civilian this time even though I am still an NCO in the National Guard) I might look into it when the ISP here is having a good day. If you still think I have disrespected anyone you are as wrong as two boys kissing.

Are you always abusive and hostile over what is at best a minor misunderstanding Kyle? That wouldn't be very respectful of others and yet you claim to value respect so much.

[railbuggy]

Way to much energy being wasted here,we are on the same side,RIGHT?

[Coastie Kyle]

Are you always abusive and hostile over what is at best a minor misunderstanding Kyle? That wouldn't be very respectful of others and yet you claim to value respect so much.

Do you think a few Marines would get a little pissed off if I said the USMC wasnt really a branch of the military? "OH, minor misunderstanding, sorry guys!?". You DID disrespect past and current coasties, NOT anyone else. So no shit Im the only one on offensive, you just compaired me to someone in NOAA. What the hell do I need to respect you for, I didnt say "you are not, and never were, in the military". And trust me, I am being calm over all this. It doesnt matter what you or your jag say, or think. The fact is, the USCG has ALWAYS, and will ALWAYS be a branch of the military. Im done fighting over something that doesnt need to be fought over. Peace out gangsta's.

[nkluksda]

If anyone doubts the status of the Coasties, read the information below:

"Five of the uniformed services make up the armed forces, four of which are within the Department of Defense. The Coast Guard has both military and law enforcement duties, and is currently under the control of the Department of Homeland Security; however, Title 14 of the U.S. Code states that the Coast Guard is part of the military at all times. It is therefore the only branch of the military not under the control of the Department of Defense, at least in peacetime; during war, control of the Coast Guard passes to the Department of the Navy if Congress declares war or at the request of the President. [1] The Commandant of the Coast Guard reports directly to the Secretary of Homeland Security. The commissioned corps of the US Public Health Service and NOAA Commissioned Corps operate under military rules with the exception of the applicability of the Uniform Code of Military Justice, to which they are subject when militarized by executive order or while detailed to any component of the armed forces."

There - according to Title 14 of USC, they are military AT ALL TIMES.
Now can we get back to discussing / fretting about the oncoming United Socialist States of America ???

[nkluksda]

Just to add a point - our troop does overnighters on CV-10, USS Lexington, often. The Lex's evening program has a 'salute to veterans'. During this program the services' flags are paraded and all veterans of that branch are asked to come on stage to be recognized. The USCG flag is always included with the usual four and Coasties are recognized with their brethren in the other branches.

[Coastie Kyle]

Damnit nkuluksda, thank you. And sorry to everyone else for contributing to that "off subject" being dragged out WAY longer than it had to be.

[railbuggy]

Cheers