Editing United States Coast Guard (section)

===Role===
The Coast Guard carries out three basic roles, which are further subdivided into eleven statutory missions. The three roles are:
* [[Bering Sea Patrol|Maritime safety]]
* [[Maritime security (USCG)|Maritime security]]
* [[Missions of the United States Coast Guard#Protection of natural resources|Maritime stewardship]]

With a decentralized organization and much responsibility placed on even the most junior personnel, the Coast Guard is frequently lauded for its quick responsiveness and adaptability in a broad range of emergencies. In a 2005 article in ''[[Time (magazine)|Time]]'' magazine following [[Hurricane Katrina]], the author wrote, "the Coast Guard's most valuable contribution to [a military effort when catastrophe hits] may be as a model of flexibility, and most of all, spirit." Wil Milam, a [[rescue swimmer]] from [[Alaska]] told the magazine, "In the Navy, it was all about the mission. Practicing for war, training for war. In the Coast Guard, it was, take care of our people and the mission will take care of itself."<ref>[http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,1122007,00.html The Coast Guard Gets It Right] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071222051431/http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,1122007,00.html |date=22 December 2007 }} Amanda Ripley. TIME. 23 October 2005.</ref>