Readiness of the U.S. Coast Guard

Highlights

GAO evaluated the Coast Guard's and Navy's mobilization planning to consider whether improvements have been made in this area since an earlier report reviewed these same issues. The review focused on: (1) the need to more fully evaluate the Coast Guard's wartime roles and missions, and (2) the readiness of Coast Guard forces.

Recommendations

Recommendations for Executive Action

Agency Affected	Recommendation	Status
Joint Chiefs of Staff	The Secretary of Transportation, in consultation with the Commandant of the Coast Guard and the Joint Chiefs of Staff, should reach agreement with the Secretary of the Navy on the specific wartime missions that should be assigned to the Coast Guard.	Closed – Implemented DOT has reached an agreement with the Navy concerning Coast Guard responsibilities in the Maritime Defense Zone. This has become an ongoing liaison to ensure that Coast Guard responsibilities in wartime are currently defined. Because the Maritime Defense Zone agreements are not attributable to this recommendation, an accomplishment report will not be prepared.
Department of the Navy	The Secretary of Transportation, in consultation with the Commandant of the Coast Guard and the Joint Chiefs of Staff, should reach agreement with the Secretary of the Navy on the specific wartime missions that should be assigned to the Coast Guard.	Closed – Implemented DOT has reached an agreement with the Navy concerning Coast Guard responsibilities in the Maritime Defense Zone. This has become an ongoing liaison to ensure that Coast Guard responsibilities in wartime are currently defined. Because the Maritime Defense Zone agreements are not attributable to this recommendation, an accomplishment report will not be prepared.
Department of Transportation	The Secretary of Transportation, in consultation with the Commandant of the Coast Guard and the Joint Chiefs of Staff, should reach agreement with the Secretary of the Navy on the specific wartime missions that should be assigned to the Coast Guard.	Closed – Implemented DOT has reached an agreement with the Navy concerning Coast Guard responsibilities in the Maritime Defense Zone. This has become an ongoing liaison to ensure that Coast Guard responsibilities in wartime are currently defined. Because Maritime Defense Zone agreements are not attributable to this recommendation, an accomplishment report will not be prepared.
United States Coast Guard	The Secretary of Transportation, in consultation with the Commandant of the Coast Guard and the Joint Chiefs of Staff, should reach agreement with the Secretary of the Navy on the specific wartime missions that should be assigned to the Coast Guard.	Closed – Implemented DOT has reached an agreement with the Navy concerning Coast Guard responsibilities in the Maritime Defense Zone. This has become an ongoing liaison to ensure that Coast Guard responsibilities in wartime are currently defined. Because the Maritime Defense Zone agreements are not attributable to this recommendation, an accomplishment report will not be prepared.
Joint Chiefs of Staff	The Secretary of Transportation should direct the Commandant of the Coast Guard to: (1) sponsor an interagency working group to fully resolve the coordination problems between the Coast Guard and other agencies with wartime and mobilization port responsibilities; (2) develop specific and reasonable, dependable sources to satisfy logistical support requirements for the Reserve at mobilization; and (3) emphasize Reserve training to ensure that mobilization training of individual reservists is maximized. Increased formal training should be provided to those rates (job specialties) for which adequate training is not provided through augmentation.	Closed – Implemented A working group, the National Security Affairs Emergency Mobilization Preparedness Board, has been established to address interagency mobilization and port responsibilities. The Coast Guard has placed emphasis on its Reserves and unit training and logistics needs. Because these efforts cannot be linked to this recommendation, no accomplishment report will be prepared.
Department of the Navy	The Secretary of Transportation should direct the Commandant of the Coast Guard to: (1) sponsor an interagency working group to fully resolve the coordination problems between the Coast Guard and other agencies with wartime and mobilization port responsibilities; (2) develop specific and reasonable, dependable sources to satisfy logistical support requirements for the Reserve at mobilization; and (3) emphasize Reserve training to ensure that mobilization training of individual reservists is maximized. Increased formal training should be provided to those rates (job specialties) for which adequate training is not provided through augmentation.	Closed – Implemented A working group, the National Security Affairs Emergency Mobilization Preparedness Board, has been established to address interagency mobilization and port responsibilities. The Coast Guard has placed emphasis on its Reserves and unit training and logistics needs. Because these efforts cannot be linked with this recommendation, no accomplishment report will be prepared.
Department of Transportation	The Secretary of Transportation should direct the Commandant of the Coast Guard to: (1) sponsor an interagency working group to fully resolve the coordination problems between the Coast Guard and other agencies with wartime and mobilization port responsibilities; (2) develop specific and reasonable, dependable sources to satisfy logistical support requirements for the Reserve at mobilization; and (3) emphasize Reserve training to ensure that mobilization training of individual reservists is maximized. Increased formal training should be provided to those rates (job specialties) for which adequate training is not provided through augmentation.	Closed – Implemented A working group, the National Security Affairs Emergency Mobilization Preparedness Board, has been established to address interagency mobilization and port responsibilities. The Coast Guard has placed emphasis on its Reserves and unit training and logistics needs. Because these efforts cannot be linked with this recommendation, no accomplishment report will be prepared.
United States Coast Guard	The Secretary of Transportation should direct the Commandant of the Coast Guard to: (1) sponsor an interagency working group to fully resolve the coordination problems between the Coast Guard and other agencies with wartime and mobilization port responsibilities; (2) develop specific and reasonable, dependable sources to satisfy logistical support requirements for the Reserve at mobilization; and (3) emphasize Reserve training to ensure that mobilization training of individual reservists is maximized. Increased formal training should be provided to those rates (job specialties) for which adequate training is not provided through augmentation.	Closed – Implemented A working group, the National Security Affairs Emergency Mobilization Preparedness Board, has been established to address interagency mobilization and port responsibilities. The Coast Guard has placed emphasis on its Reserves and unit training and logistics needs. Because these efforts cannot be linked to this recommendation, no accomplishment report will be prepared.

See All 8 Recommendations

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Topics

National Defense

Agency missionsCombat readinessDefense contingency planningMobilizationMilitary forcesMilitary reserve personnelShipsPort securityHarborsForce structure