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Coast Guard Deployable Specialized Forces such as the Maritime Security Response Team, Maritime Safety and Security Teams, Tactical Law Enforcement Teams, Port Security Units and Regional Strike Teams located throughout the country, are part of the service’s Maritime Trident of forces that also include shore-based forces and maritime patrol forces. Shore-based forces include Coast Guard stations located around the country and maritime patrol forces include Coast Guard cutters and aircraft.
Since the terrorist attacks of 9/11, the Coast Guard has evolved considerably including a large expansion in Deployable Specialized Forces. After more than seven years from the initial stand-up of the Marine Safety and Security Team program, the Commandant of the Coast Guard Admiral Bob Papp ordered a review of Deployable Special Forces capabilities to ensure doctrine and policy were aligned to meet operational requirements and sustain proficiency.
The results of the review announced today by Admiral Bob Papp in a message to all hands will guide future Coast Guard efforts to sustain mission excellence and proficiency by fully integrating the expanded Deployable Specialized Forces with other Coast Guard forces while filling their vital roles defending America’s maritime borders, ensuring the safety of shipping that fuels our economy and responding to disasters. While the recommendations do not grow the service’s Deployable Specialized Forces, they will adjust existing resources and policy to ensure the service has the capabilities needed to counter all hazards and threats, including terrorism, and to defend America’s maritime borders and waterways.
“I am proud of the Coast Guardsmen in the Deployable Specialized Forces community,” said Coast Guard Commandant Admiral Bob Papp. “By their professionalism and achievements, they continue the rich heritage of those who have gone before us. Coast Guardsmen assigned to the DSF community fill a unique and vital role defending America’s maritime borders, ensuring the safety of shipping that fuels our economy and responding to disasters. They require the Service’s total commitment to prepare and lead them to conduct operations in dangerous and high-risk environments. If we’re going to perform those operations—and we are—we’re going to do it right.”
In response to the findings of the review, Admiral Papp is directing several actions, which can be read here.
Plans to carry out these changes will be created by an implementation team to be chartered by the Coast Guard’s Deputy Commandant for Operations, Vice Admiral Brian Salerno.
