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Insider hacking and the Coast Guard
Totally agree that the coast guard is underfunded, especially since they are so critical to US security. The CG has always been stretched thin and Congress is way to eager to trim the CG's budget whenever it can to appropriate more money to the DOD. The operator of that boat was sentenced to 3 months in the brig with reduction in pay grade. That doesn't mean he gets reduced pay, it means that while he's locked up he's stripped of rank. Basically a kick in the balls. There was no chance of retention after a courts martial where one is found guilty; if you are going to serve time however in a military brig you still have to have a military rank. He was separated immediately following confinement. The CG then turned over its own investigation to the civil courts so the family could file their own suits against the operator with heavier consequences. The other members were all separated but one i believe, and my sources tell me that he wasn't allowed to re enlist. I agree it does seem like a bit of a slap on the wrist, but that is why the CG wanted to separate and turn the case over since it was a double jeapardy situation and they knew the civil court would be able to hand out a healthier punishment. The nite of the accident the CG boat wasn't doing the 50 plus knots it's capable of (the media of course blew it out of proportion ) they were actually doing 19. They were responding to a non emergent grounded vessel. Because the vessel was not in danger the CG boat should have been traveling 8 knots. The vessel it ended up hitting was actually unlit which is a violation of inland navigation rules. I'm not trying to stick up for the crew here, but showing that from the facts that were present the CG prosecutor couldn't get a homicide charge verdict, so they went for the deriliction of duty charge since it was the most likely to stick. Like i said tho they handed the investigation over to the family's attorneys in order to prosecute the operator in civilian court. Very unfortunate a little boy lost his life. But it was an isolated situation and it doesn't represent the professionalism of the CG as a whole.— April 12, 2015 6:39 a.m.
Insider hacking and the Coast Guard
Visduh: You are right about the boating accident. That was a terrible tragedy and the CG held those people accountable. It also caused a change in screening and qualification process to avoid things like that in the future. You are however extremely wrong in your comments about 'security missions '. The CG has conducted security and law enforcement missions since 1790. Did you know that in WWI the CG had the highest percentage of casualties as a whole per US armed forces? In WWII the CG was responsible for escorting merchant ships across the Atlantic where they hunted hunted submarines. Thousands of coasties were killed. Right now specialized CG teams are conducting counter piracy missions off the coast of Africa because under international law if the navy engages pirates it's an act of war. Search and rescue is the 'bread and butter ' of CG missions alright, but it is because they are the best in the world at it. However it's not the CG's primary mission. Have u ever been to the ports of Los Angeles or NY? The CG works 24/7 at these ports to keep terrorists from blowing them up. Not just by driving boats but also planning and intelligence. Everyday ships come to our ports from places like iraq and China. Coast Guard teams board these ships offshore and ensure they are safe and secure prior to entering our waters. And for shipping safety the CG is the lead federal agency for SOLAS, or safety of life at sea where they inspect and regulate the shipping industry ensuring that all ships both domestic and international that deal in US commerce are doing it to an industry standard. Oh and the CG is also the lead federal agency for protection of our marine ecosystem and precpreventing oil disasters. The CG enforces the laws that protect the oceanic environment and keep our seas from being over fished. Like i said i agree with you on the boat accident, but please do research before making comments that may not be accurate— April 11, 2015 10:57 a.m.