The U.S. Coast Guard is one of five branches of the US Armed Forces, and falls under the jurisdiction of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. The Coast Guard is the nation's oldest continuous seagoing service with responsibilities including Search and Rescue (SAR), Maritime Law Enforcement (MLE), Aids to Navigation (ATON), Ice Breaking, Environmental Protection, Port Security and Military Readiness. In order to accomplish these missions the Coast Guard has 38,000 active-duty men and women, 8,000 Reservists, and 35,000 Auxiliary personnel who serve in a variety of job fields ranging from operation specialists and small-boat operators and maintenance specialists to electronic technicians and aviation mechanics. The Coast Guard, during an average day, will:

• Conduct 109 search and rescue cases
• Save 10 lives assist 192 people in distress
• Protect $2,791,841 in property
• Launch 396 small boat missions
• Launch 164 aircraft missions, logging 324 hours
• Board 144 vessels
• Seize 169 pounds of marijuana and 306 pounds of
   cocaine worth $9,589,000
• Intercept 14 illegal migrants
• Board 100 large vessels for port safety checks
• Respond to 20 oil or hazardous chemical spills totaling 2,800 gallons
• Service 135 aids to navigation