Coast Guard History
The U.S. Coast Guard celebrates its birthday on this date each year (Month, Day, and Year).
What is August 4, 1790?
The Coast Guard's large, commissioned vessels are called these.
What are cutters?
This federal agency is responsible for enforcing U.S. maritime law.
What is the U.S. Coast Guard?
This compass direction is 90 degrees.
What is East?
This Coast Guard mission focuses on saving lives at sea.
What is Search and Rescue (SAR)?
This first U.S. Treasury Secretary convinced Congress to create the Revenue Marine, the predecessor to the Coast Guard.
Who is Alexander Hamilton?
A Coast Guard vessel must generally be at least this many feet long to be called a cutter.
What is 65 feet?
Boaters are required to carry this lifesaving device for each person on board.
What is a life jacket (personal flotation device/PFD)?
Red and green buoys help boaters safely navigate these.
What are channels (or waterways)?
The emergency radio channel monitored by the Coast Guard for marine distress calls is this VHF channel.
What is Channel 16?
The Coast Guard was originally created under this federal department.
What is the Department of the Treasury?
These orange, fast-response boats are commonly used for search and rescue missions.
What are Response Boats–Small (RB-S)?
This illegal activity involves transporting prohibited drugs by sea.
What is drug smuggling (drug trafficking)?
This device uses satellites to determine a vessel's location.
What is GPS (Global Positioning System)?
This three-letter distress call is universally recognized in maritime emergencies.
What is SOS?
The Coast Guard's official motto is this Latin phrase meaning "Always Ready."
What is "Semper Paratus"?
This Coast Guard cutter class is known for national security, long-range patrols, and homeland defense.
What is the Legend-class National Security Cutter?
The Coast Guard has the authority to stop and board vessels under this federal title.
What is Title 14 of the U.S. Code?
Mariners use these paper or electronic maps to navigate safely.
What are nautical charts?
Before leaving on a boating trip, you should share this document with someone on shore detailing your plans.
What is a float plan?
Daily Double
During peacetime, the Coast Guard is part of this cabinet department.
What is the Department of Homeland Security?
The Coast Guard operates these specialized cutters to keep shipping lanes open in frozen waters.
What are icebreakers?
This law requires recreational boat operators to obey navigation rules to prevent collisions.
What are the Navigation Rules (Rules of the Road/COLREGS and Inland Navigation Rules)?
Daily Double
This system of lights, buoys, and daymarks is collectively known as these.
What are Aids to Navigation (ATON)?
This Coast Guard aircraft is commonly used for long-range search and rescue missions.
What is the MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter?