Editing United States Coast Guard (section)

==Personnel==
The Coast Guard has a total workforce of 87,569.<ref name="uscg.mil">{{cite web |title=United States Coast Guard > Our Organization > Workforce |url=https://www.work.uscg.mil/Workforce/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191016043323/https://www.work.uscg.mil/Workforce/ |archive-date=16 October 2019 |access-date=16 October 2019 |publisher=U.S. Coast Guard}}</ref> The formal name for a uniformed member of the Coast Guard is "coast guardsman", irrespective of gender. "Coastie" is an informal term commonly used to refer to current or former Coast Guard personnel. In 2008, the term "guardian" was introduced as an alternative but was later dropped. Admiral [[Robert J. Papp Jr.]] stated that it was his belief that no Commandant had the authority to change what members of the Coast Guard are called as the term coast guardsman is found in Title 14 USC which established the Coast Guard in 1915.<ref name="PappMessage">{{cite web |last=Leavitt |first=Michael P |author-link=Michael P. Leavitt |title=Coast Guardsman, Not Guardian |website=Flotilla 23-1 Annapolis, MD |url=http://www.annapoliscgaux.org/Policies/Coast_Guardsmen.pdf |access-date=24 June 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111117075639/http://www.annapoliscgaux.org/Policies/Coast_Guardsmen.pdf |archive-date=17 November 2011 }}</ref>{{#tag:ref|The term ''Coast Guardsman'' is the official term used by the U.S. Coast Guard to refer to a member regardless of the person's gender. In an ALCOAST message effective 1 December 2011 the Commandant, Admiral Papp, directed that the language of the [[U.S. Coast Guard#The Guardian Ethos|Guardian Ethos]] be superseded by the [[U.S. Coast Guard#The Coast Guard Ethos|Coast Guard Ethos]] in an effort to use terminology that would help with the identity of personnel serving in the Coast Guard. The term ''Coast Guardsman'' is the correct form of address used in Title 14 USC and is the form that has been used historically.<ref name="ALCOAST 554/11">Shipmates 17 - The Coast Guard Ethos</ref>|group=Note}} "Team Coast Guard" refers to the four components of the Coast Guard as a whole: Regular, Reserve, Auxiliary, and Coast Guard civilian employees.{{citation needed|date=November 2020}}

===Commissioned officers===
{{main|United States Coast Guard officer rank insignia}}
Commissioned officers in the Coast Guard hold [[pay grade]]s ranging from O-1 to O-10 and have the same rank structure as the Navy.<ref name="ranks">{{cite web |url=http://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/USCODE-2011-title14/pdf/USCODE-2011-title14-partI-chap3-sec41.pdf |title=14 USC §41. Grades and ratings |year=2011 |website=[[United States Government Publishing Office|Government Printing Office]] |access-date=6 August 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131102131557/http://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/USCODE-2011-title14/pdf/USCODE-2011-title14-partI-chap3-sec41.pdf |archive-date=2 November 2013 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="paygrades">{{cite web |url=http://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/USCODE-2011-title37/pdf/USCODE-2011-title37-chap3-sec201.pdf |title=37 USC §201. Pay grades: assignment to; general rules |year=2011 |website=[[United States Government Publishing Office|Government Printing Office]] |access-date=6 August 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131102132442/http://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/USCODE-2011-title37/pdf/USCODE-2011-title37-chap3-sec201.pdf |archive-date=2 November 2013 |url-status=live }}</ref> Officers holding the rank of ensign (O-1) through lieutenant commander (O-4) are considered junior officers, commanders (O-5) and captains (O-6) are considered senior officers, and rear admirals (O-7) through admirals (O-10) are considered flag officers. The [[commandant of the Coast Guard]] and the [[Vice Commandant of the Coast Guard|vice commandant of the Coast Guard]] are the only members of the Coast Guard authorized to hold the rank of admiral.<ref>[[Coast Guard Authorization Act of 2015]], Section 201</ref>

The Coast Guard does not have medical officers or [[Military Chaplain|chaplains]] of its own. Instead, [[United States Navy Chaplain Corps|chaplains from the U.S. Navy]], as well as officers from the [[United States Public Health Service Commissioned Corps|U.S. Public Health Service Commissioned Corps]] are assigned to the Coast Guard to perform chaplain-related functions and medical-related functions, respectively. These officers wear Coast Guard uniforms but replace the Coast Guard insignia with that of their own service.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.uscg.mil/hr/udc/requireduniforms.asp |title=Required Uniforms |website=USCG Uniform Distribution Center |date=23 May 2013 |access-date=16 November 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090928051213/http://www.uscg.mil/hr/udc/RequiredUniforms.asp |archive-date=28 September 2009 |url-status=live }}</ref>

The Navy and Coast Guard share identical officer rank insignia except that Coast Guard officers wear a gold Coast Guard Shield in lieu of a line star or staff corps officer insignia.

{| style="background-color:#F7F8FF; border:1px solid #8888aa; padding:5px; margin-bottom:15px; font-size:90%; text-align:center;"
|+ '''Commissioned officer grade structure of the United States Coast Guard'''

|- style="background-color:#CCC;"
!'''[[U.S. uniformed services pay grades#Officer pay grades|US DoD Pay Grade]]'''||O-10||O-9||O-8||O-7||O-6||O-5||O-4||O-3||O-2||O-1
|- align=center
|- style="background:#CCCCCC;"
!'''[[Ranks and insignia of NATO#Ranks|NATO Code]]'''||OF-9||OF-8||OF-7||OF-6||OF-5||OF-4||OF-3||OF-2||colspan=2|OF-1<!--The NATO Code for Lieutenant (junior grade) is OF-1, not OF-2. Please DO NOT change-->
|-style="text-align:center;"
|'''Insignia'''
| [[File:USCG O-10 insignia.svg|70px]]
| [[File:US CG O9 insignia.svg|70px]]
| [[File:US CG O8 insignia.svg|70px]]
| [[File:US CG O7 insignia.svg|70px]]
| [[File:US CG O6 insignia.svg|70px]]
| [[File:US CG O5 insignia.svg|70px]]
| [[File:USCG O-4 insignia.svg|70px]]
| [[File:US CG O3 insignia.svg|70px]]
| [[File:USCG O-2 insignia.svg|70px]]
| [[File:USCG O-1 insignia.svg|70px]]
|-style="text-align:center;"
| '''Title'''
| [[Admiral (United States)|Admiral]]
| [[Vice admiral (United States)|Vice admiral]]
| [[Rear admiral (United States)#Rear admiral|Rear admiral]]
| [[Rear admiral (United States)#Rear admiral (lower half)|Rear admiral (lower&nbsp;half)]]
| [[Captain (United States O-6)|Captain]]
| [[Commander (United States)|Commander]]
| [[Lieutenant commander (United States)|Lieutenant commander]]
| [[Lieutenant (navy)|Lieutenant]]
| [[Lieutenant (junior grade)#United States|Lieutenant (junior&nbsp;grade)]]
| [[Ensign (rank)|Ensign]]
|-style="text-align:center;"
|'''Abbreviation'''
| ADM
| VADM
| RADM
| RDML
| CAPT
| CDR
| LCDR
| LT
| LTJG
| ENS
|}

===Warrant officers===
{{main|Warrant officer (United States)}}

Highly qualified enlisted personnel in pay grades E-6 through E-9 with a minimum of eight years' experience can compete each year for appointment as warrant officers (WO). Successful candidates are chosen by a board and then commissioned as chief warrant officer two (CWO2) in one of twenty-one specialties. Over time, chief warrant officers may be promoted to chief warrant officer three (CWO3) and chief warrant officer four (CWO4). The ranks of warrant officer (WO1) and chief warrant officer five (CWO5) are not currently used in the Coast Guard. Chief warrant officers may also compete for the Chief Warrant Officer to Lieutenant Program. If selected, the warrant officer will be promoted to lieutenant (O-3E). The "E" designates over four years' active duty service as a warrant officer or enlisted member and entitles the member to a higher rate of pay than other lieutenants.{{citation needed|date=November 2020}}

{| style="border:1px solid #8888aa; background:#f7f8ff; padding:5px; font-size:95%; margin:0 12px 12px 0;"
|+ '''Warrant officer grade structure of the United States Coast Guard'''
|- style="background:#ccc;"
![[U.S. uniformed services pay grades#Warrant Officer pay grades|US DoD Pay Grade]]!!W-4!!W-3!!W-2
|- style="background:#ccc;""text-align:center;"
!NATO Code||WO-4||WO-3||WO-2
|- style="text-align:center;"
|| '''Insignia'''
|| [[File:US CG CW4 insignia.svg|center|45px]]
|| [[File:US CG CW3 insignia.svg|center|45px]]
|| [[File:US CG CW2 insignia.svg|center|45px]]
|- style="text-align:center;"
| '''Title'''
| [[Warrant officer (United States)|Chief Warrant Officer 4]]
| [[Warrant officer (United States)|Chief Warrant Officer 3]]
| [[Warrant officer (United States)|Chief Warrant Officer 2]]
|- style="text-align:center;"
| '''Abbreviation'''
||CWO-4
||CWO-3
||CWO-2
|}

===Enlisted personnel===
{{See also|List of United States Coast Guard enlisted ranks|List of United States Coast Guard ratings}}
Enlisted members of the Coast Guard have pay grades from E-1 to E-9 and also follow the same rank structure as the Navy. Enlisted members in pay grades of E-4 and higher are considered ''[[Petty officer#United States|petty officers]]'' and follow career development paths very similar to those of Navy petty officers.<ref>{{cite web |title=U.S. Coast Guard: List of Ranks, Insignia, and Pay Range |url=https://www.federalpay.org/military/coast-guard/ranks |access-date=13 November 2022}}</ref>

Petty officers in pay grade E-7 and higher are ''[[Chief Petty Officer#United States|chief petty officers]]'' and must attend the Coast Guard [[Training Center Petaluma#Chief Petty Officer Academy|Chief Petty Officer Academy]], or an equivalent Department of Defense school, in order to be advanced to pay grade E-8. The basic themes of the school are:
* Professionalism
* Leadership
* Communications
* Systems thinking and lifelong learning

Enlisted rank insignia is also nearly identical to Navy enlisted insignia. The Coast Guard shield replacing the [[List of United States Navy enlisted rates#E-4 to E-6|petty officer's eagle]] on collar and cap devices for petty officers or enlisted rating insignia for seamen qualified as a [[List of United States Navy enlisted rates#E-1 to E-3|"designated striker"]]. Group Rate marks (stripes) for junior enlisted members (E-3 and below) also follow Navy convention with white for seaman, red for fireman, and green for airman. In a departure from the Navy conventions, all petty officers E-6 and below wear red chevrons and all chief petty officers wear gold.<ref>{{Cite web |title=USCG Military Uniforms Branch |url=https://www.dcms.uscg.mil/Our-Organization/Assistant-Commandant-for-Human-Resources-CG-1/Personnel-Service-Center-PSC/Personnel-Support-Division-PSC-PSD/Military-Uniforms-Branch-PSC-PSD-mu/ |access-date=2025-03-10 |website=www.dcms.uscg.mil}}</ref>

{|style="border:1px solid #8888aa; background:#f7f8ff; padding:5px; font-size:95%; margin:0 12px 12px 0;"
|+ '''Enlisted and non-commissioned officer grade structure of the United States Coast Guard'''<br /><small>''{{nobold|Note: Crossed anchors in the graphics indicate a rating of [[Boatswain's mate (US Coast Guard)|Boatswain's Mate]]}}''</small>
|- style="background:#ccc;"
![[U.S. uniformed services pay grades#Enlisted pay grades|U.S. DoD Pay grade]]||Special||colspan=3|E-9||E-8||E-7||E-6||E-5||E-4||E-3||E-2||E-1
|- style="background:#ccc;" "text-align:center;"
!NATO Code||colspan=4|OR-9||OR-8||OR-7||OR-6||OR-5||OR-4||OR-3||OR-2||OR-1
|- align=center
||'''Insignia'''
|| [[File:USCG MCPOCG Collar.png|41px]]<br />[[File:USCG MCPOCG.svg|center|40px]]
|| [[File:USCG MCPO Collar.png|41px]]<br />[[File:USCG MCPOCG (reserve).svg|center|40px]]
|| [[File:USCG MCPO Collar.png|41px]]<br />[[File:USCG CMC.svg|center|40px]]
|| [[File:USCG MCPO Collar.png|41px]]<br />[[File:USCG MCPO.svg|center|40px]]
|| [[File:USCG SCPO Collar.png|41px]]<br />[[File:USCG SCPO.svg|center|40px]]
|| [[File:USCG CPO Collar.png|41px]]<br />[[File:USCG CPO.svg|center|40px]]
|| [[File:Insignia of a United States Coast Guard petty officer first class.svg|41px]]<br />[[File:USCG PO1.svg|center|40px]]
|| [[File:USCG-PO2.png|41px]]<br />[[File:USCG PO2.svg|center|40px]]
|| [[File:USCG-PO3.png|41px]]<br />[[File:USCG PO3.svg|center|40px]]
|| [[File:USCG SM.svg|45px]]
|| [[File:USCG SA.svg|45px]]
|| [[File:USCG SR.svg|45px]]
|- align=center
||'''Title'''
|| [[Master Chief Petty Officer of the Coast Guard]]
|| [[Master Chief Petty Officer|Deputy Master Chief Petty Officer of the Coast Guard]] or<br />Other senior enlisted leaders{{refn|
* Master Chief Petty Officer of the Coast Guard Reserve Force
* Command Master Chief Petty Officers for the Deputy Commandants
* Area Command Master Chief Petty Officers|group="Note"}}
|| [[Command Master Chief Petty Officer]]
|| [[Master Chief Petty Officer]]
|| [[Senior Chief Petty Officer]]
|| [[Chief Petty Officer]]
|| [[Petty Officer First Class]]
|| [[Petty Officer Second Class]]
|| [[Petty Officer Third Class]]
|| [[Seaman (rank)|Seaman]]
|| [[Seaman Apprentice]]

|| [[Seaman Recruit]]

|- align=center
|'''Abbreviation'''||MCPOCG||DMCPOCG||CMC||MCPO||SCPO||CPO||PO1||PO2||PO3||SN||SA||SR
|- align=center
|colspan="14"|
|}

===Training===

====Officer training====
[[File:Coast Guard training near North Head Lighthouse.jpg|thumb|Training exercise at [[Cape Disappointment State Park|Cape Disappointment State Park, Washington]] ]]

The [[United States Coast Guard Academy|U.S. Coast Guard Academy]] is a four-year [[United States service academies|service academy]] located in [[New London, Connecticut]]. Approximately 200 cadets graduate each year, receiving a [[Bachelor of Science|Bachelor of Science degree]] and a commission as an [[Ensign (rank)|ensign]] in the Coast Guard. Graduates are obligated to serve a minimum of five years on active duty. Most graduates are assigned to duty aboard Coast Guard cutters immediately after graduation, either as Deck Watch Officers (DWOs) or as Engineer Officers in Training (EOITs). Smaller numbers are assigned directly to flight training at [[Naval Air Station Pensacola]], Florida or to shore duty at Coast Guard [[United States Coast Guard Sectors|Sector]], District, or Area headquarters units.{{citation needed|date=November 2020}}

In addition to the Academy, prospective officers, who already hold a college degree, may enter the Coast Guard through [[Officer Candidate School]] (OCS), also located at the Coast Guard Academy. OCS is a 17-week course of instruction that prepares candidates to serve effectively as officers in the Coast Guard. In addition to indoctrinating students into a military lifestyle, OCS provides a wide range of highly technical information necessary to perform the duties of a Coast Guard officer.<ref>{{cite web |title=OFFICER CANDIDATE SCHOOL (OCS) |url=https://www.gocoastguard.com/get-started/officer-applications/officer-candidate-school-ocs |website=Go Coast Guard |access-date=31 March 2023}}</ref>

Graduates of OCS are usually commissioned as ensigns, but some with advanced graduate degrees may enter as [[Lieutenant (junior grade)|lieutenants (junior grade)]] or [[lieutenant]]s. Graduating OCS officers entering active duty are required to serve a minimum of three years, while graduating reserve officers are required to serve four years. Graduates may be assigned to a cutter, flight training, a staff job, or an operations ashore billet. OCS is the primary channel through which the Coast Guard enlisted grades ascend to the commissioned officer corps. Unlike the other military services, the Coast Guard does not have a [[Reserve Officers' Training Corps]] (ROTC) program.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://pocketsense.com/coast-guard-rotc-scholarships-7259234.html|title=Coast Guard ROTC Scholarships|website=Pocketsense.com|access-date=23 February 2022}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.gocoastguard.com/active-duty-careers/officer-opportunities/programs/college-student-pre-commissioning-initiative |title=College Student Pre-Commissioning Initiative (Scholarship Program) |website=GoCoastGuard.com |date= |access-date=10 February 2022}}</ref> However, the Coast Guard does have the Select Reserve Direct Commission, an officer program for prospective candidates interested serving as a Coast Guard Reserve Officer.<ref>{{cite web |title=Direct Commission Officer Programs |url=https://www.gocoastguard.com/get-started/officer-applications/direct-commission-officer-programs |website=United States Coast Guard |access-date=6 October 2023}}</ref>

Lawyers, engineers, intelligence officers, military aviators holding commissions in other branches of the U.S. Armed Forces requesting interservice transfers to the Coast Guard, graduates of maritime academies, and certain other individuals may also receive an officer's commission in the Coast Guard through the [[Direct Commission Officer]] (DCO) program. Depending on the specific program and the background of the individual, the course is three, four or five weeks long. The first week of the five-week course is an indoctrination week. The DCO program is designed to commission officers with highly specialized professional training or certain kinds of previous military experience.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Direct Commission Programs {{!}} GoCoastGuard.com |url=https://www.gocoastguard.com/active-duty-careers/officer-opportunities/programs/direct-commission-programs |access-date=28 October 2022 |website=www.gocoastguard.com}}</ref>

====Recruit training====
[[File:Flags Across America 111105-G-ZR255-029.jpg|thumb|Recruit companies visiting [[Arlington National Cemetery]] for their one day of off-base liberty, which is their only break in an eight-week boot camp at the [[United States Coast Guard Training Center Cape May|Coast Guard Training Center]] in [[Cape May, New Jersey]]]]
Newly enlisted personnel are sent to eight weeks of [[recruit training]] at [[United States Coast Guard Training Center Cape May|Coast Guard Training Center Cape May]] in [[Cape May, New Jersey]]. New recruits arrive at [[Charles W. Sexton|Sexton Hall]] and remain there for three days of initial processing which includes haircuts, vaccinations, uniform issue, and other necessary entrance procedures. During this initial processing period, the new recruits are led by temporary company commanders. These temporary company commanders are tasked with teaching the new recruits how to march and preparing them to enter into their designated company. The temporary company commanders typically do not enforce any physical activity such as push ups or crunches. When the initial processing is complete, the new seaman recruits are introduced to their permanent company commanders who will remain with them until the end of training. There is typically a designated lead company commander and two support company commanders. The balance of the eight-week boot camp is spent in learning teamwork and developing physical skills. An introduction of how the Coast Guard operates with special emphasis on the Coast Guard's core values is an important part of the training.

The current nine Recruit Training Objectives are:
* [[Self-discipline]]
* Military skills
* [[Shooting|Marksmanship]]
* Vocational skills and academics
* Military bearing
* Physical fitness and wellness
* Water survival and swim qualifications
* [[Esprit de corps]]
* [[U.S. Coast Guard#Symbols|Core values]] (Honor, Respect, and Devotion to Duty)<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.forcecom.uscg.mil/Portals/3/Documents/TCCM/Documents/Helmsmannew.pdf?ver=2017-05-23-160144-093 |title=Training Center Cape May |publisher=United States Coast Guard |access-date=17 January 2024}}</ref>

====Service schools====
Following graduation from recruit training, most members are sent to their first unit while they await orders to attend advanced training in [[Class "A" Schools]]. At "A" schools, Coast Guard enlisted personnel are trained in their chosen [[List of United States Coast Guard ratings|rating]]; rating is a Coast Guard and Navy term for enlisted skills synonymous with the Army's and Marine Corps' [[United States military occupation codes|military occupation codes]] (MOS) and Air Force's [[Air Force Specialty Code]] (AFSC). Members who earned high [[ASVAB]] scores or who were otherwise guaranteed an "A" School of choice while enlisting may go directly to their "A" School upon graduation from Boot Camp.<ref>{{Cite web |title=ASVAB score requirements changing for "A" schools |url=https://www.mycg.uscg.mil/News/Article/2816942/asvab-score-requirements-changing-for-a-schools/https://www.mycg.uscg.mil/News/Article/2816942/asvab-score-requirements-changing-for-a-schools/ |access-date=8 August 2022 |website=www.mycg.uscg.mil |language=en-US }}{{Dead link|date=October 2022 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref>

===Civilian personnel===
The Coast Guard employs over 8,577 civilians in over two hundred different job types including [[Coast Guard Investigative Service]] [[special agents]], lawyers, engineers, technicians, administrative personnel, tradesmen, and federal firefighters.<ref name="uscg.mil"/><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.uscg.mil/civilian/default.asp |title=USCG Civilian Careers |publisher=United States Coast Guard |date=28 June 2013 |access-date=16 March 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100110052727/http://www.uscg.mil/civilian/default.asp |archive-date=10 January 2010 |url-status=live }}</ref> Civilian employees work at various levels in the Coast Guard to support its various missions.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Civilian Careers (CG-121) {{!}} U.S. Coast Guard |url=https://www.dcms.uscg.mil/Our-Organization/Assistant-Commandant-for-Human-Resources-CG-1-/Civilian-Human-Resources-Diversity-and-Leadership-Directorate-CG-12/Office-of-Civilian-Human-Resources-CG-121/Civilian-Careers/ |access-date=8 August 2022 |website=www.dcms.uscg.mil}}</ref>