I would point out we have a Coast Guard already and all they need is funding . They have been in most thin water action America has been in
This Deep Water Sailor intends to establish and set the US Coast Guard record entirely straight. I navigated the USCG Cutter Burton Island, WAGB 283, from north pole to south pole and back again, twice, visiting many many of the ports in the Pacific along the route.
"Revenue Marine" was the former name for the Coast Guard and its original purpose was to blockade ports, run down and apprehend or destroy Pirates and French Man-o-Wars, and borer patrol along all of the United States Coast.
Other ships of the Coast Guard still make the polar traverse today. Coast Guard Cutters are found in every sea across the globe alongside our sister ships of the US Navy. Principally, Coast Guard Cutters are Life Stations, Rescue Ships, and support to Aids to Mariners whereas Naval Vessels are DoD with first strike capability.
The sea favors no man whether Holligan or Squid. I suspect that drug interdiction puts live ammunition and active weaponry in the hands of Coast Guardsmen more often today than their Naval counterparts. We don't bang away from 20 miles off shore and send in the Marines while drinking coffee either! Plenty of Coast Guard operated small craft saved many Army and Marine hides from along the banks of the Vietnamese rivers and waterways.
sorry for the rant, but this old Coastie is feeling sensitive tonight...