Scan barcode
kbusickk18's review
3.0
My husband is SF USCG and asked me to read this. It was very technical for me, but I’m glad I powered through. It’s crazy to see a brief insight into what the USCG has done. It’s maddening that there’s not more information out there. Although, I’m sure there is a reason for that…
zare_i's review
5.0
In the 1980's US government needed specific set of maritime skills to achieve upper hand in conflict with the drug cartels in South America. Being unable to use military they turned to unique organization that blends law enforcement and military skills on the sea and rivers - US Coast Guard.
This is story of the USCG operating well outside their usual duties - in order to effectively support Bolivian task force and DEA, USCG sailors found themselves on the boats and on the ground, going through advanced infantry training and slowly taking over the role of special operations forces.
While this more active role of USCG was a goal of USCG commander of the time (Admiral P.A. Yost Jr) as soon as he left active command, new commanders started dismantling the USCG special ops support teams, all of their activities culminating in complete organizational removal of special ops capabilities (although some of it should have remained in new integrated training division of USCG).
Author describes in very much details birth of new USCG teams, their involvement in War on Drugs, organization hurdles and abilities of seamen assigned the new and challenging task followed by subsequent dissolution of USCG special ops teams. Also described in great detail are international training teams and their success with preparing, training and on several occasions creating-from-scratch coast guard units of allied countries.
While goal of all the post-Yost-era commanders was to keep USCG outside the actual armed combat all the events post September 2001 brought USCG back to the front of maritime security and defense the US coast. I hope someone will publish (semi)official history of the USCG with latest developments and capabilities. I have to admit that this is one highly effective, trained, versatile and capable force.
Only issue I had with the book are reproductions of some of the pictures - some are so small that it is very difficult to see anything on them (this is especially case of panoramic shots of river estuaries and jungle areas). But in general this wont affect your reading experience [well in my case anyway :)].
I wholeheartedly recommend it to all military history fans.
This is story of the USCG operating well outside their usual duties - in order to effectively support Bolivian task force and DEA, USCG sailors found themselves on the boats and on the ground, going through advanced infantry training and slowly taking over the role of special operations forces.
While this more active role of USCG was a goal of USCG commander of the time (Admiral P.A. Yost Jr) as soon as he left active command, new commanders started dismantling the USCG special ops support teams, all of their activities culminating in complete organizational removal of special ops capabilities (although some of it should have remained in new integrated training division of USCG).
Author describes in very much details birth of new USCG teams, their involvement in War on Drugs, organization hurdles and abilities of seamen assigned the new and challenging task followed by subsequent dissolution of USCG special ops teams. Also described in great detail are international training teams and their success with preparing, training and on several occasions creating-from-scratch coast guard units of allied countries.
While goal of all the post-Yost-era commanders was to keep USCG outside the actual armed combat all the events post September 2001 brought USCG back to the front of maritime security and defense the US coast. I hope someone will publish (semi)official history of the USCG with latest developments and capabilities. I have to admit that this is one highly effective, trained, versatile and capable force.
Only issue I had with the book are reproductions of some of the pictures - some are so small that it is very difficult to see anything on them (this is especially case of panoramic shots of river estuaries and jungle areas). But in general this wont affect your reading experience [well in my case anyway :)].
I wholeheartedly recommend it to all military history fans.
More...