4 KIA in the last 10 years?

not counting aircraft crashes.

11/2/2010 1:20:08 PM

so you tell the 4 KIA that their job wasn't dangerous.

11/2/2010 1:20:54 PM

i'm sure that more than 4 people were killed in paper mills over the last decade too

i'm not knocking anyone who serves, but trumping up the dangers of the coast guard is laughable

11/2/2010 1:23:17 PM

I agree that it was messed up what these cops did. I disagree though that this is some shocking example of egregious police brutality or forceful/aggressiveness.

For those of you who are not aware, drunk and disorderly conduct is against the law in the North Carolina. They can arrest you for it, make you spend the night in jail, and force you to give them money. And if you are confused and don't immediately comply, they can also rough you up and mace you in the face.

This happens every weekend.

Just because you're in a big group where everybody is drunk and disorderly doesn't mean you get a free pass. And, sure, you technically weren't hurting anybody (unless someone was trying to get through the crowd and was unable to), but again, people get arrested every day for doing things that don't hurt anybody at all (see: the hundreds of thousands of people sitting in prison for drugs).

This Wilmington business is a teeny tiny blip on the injustice radar.

11/2/2010 1:46:35 PM

Quote :

"wdprice3 : yes, because the CG never runs into drug runners with multitudes of weapons or gets deployed to war zones throughout the world"

damn you're such a tool. please go ahead and comment more on things you obviously know nothing about. Because I love hearing how the guys who never served in the military are their loudest proponents and experts.


(1) coast guard members are not "deployed" overseas. It's purely due to a PCS move.

(2) at the height of the Iraq war, there were less than half a dozen cutters assigned to support operations in the middle east, and you had to volunteer to get a PCS before you'd ever get assigned to one.

(3) there has been exactly one (1) death in the coast guard due to combat action since Vietnam. I believe that was a medic voluntarily assigned to a ground force in Iraq.

(4) drug runners rely on speed and not being seen. if they're seen, they dump their cargo. they do not square off against cannons and machine guns.

(5) the vast majority of CG personnel do not intercept drug runners. they patrol waterways looking for reckless recreational boaters and inspecting ships and yards.







[Edited on November 2, 2010 at 2:40 PM. Reason : ]

11/2/2010 2:18:36 PM

Quote :

"(2) there are less than half a dozen cutters assigned to support operations in the middle east, and you have to volunteer to get a PCS before you'll ever get assigned to one. "

i would think this has more to do with geography than anything.

11/2/2010 2:28:44 PM

exactly. what i said. you have to volunteer for a PCS (permanent change of station) to get there in the first place. the coast guard doesn't just stick you out in Qatar (or where ever) for the hell of it. people are competing to get that station. you likely won't get there even if you want to.

the whole point of the Coast Guard is to serve in a public safety capacity and fulfill your military obligation, but in the least disruptive manner to your civilian lifestyle and as close to (or far from) home as you like.

I appreciate the CG as much as the next guy, but face it, it's not an overly dangerous job. YOu want dangerous, try working deep sea fishing vessel. theres a memorial at the fisherman's terminal near where i live, that grows larger and larger with names of the lost and killed every year.







[Edited on November 2, 2010 at 2:44 PM. Reason : ]

11/2/2010 2:38:36 PM

Quote :

"if they're seen, they dump their cargo."

I have no use for anyone who dumps their cargo at the first sight of an Imperial transport.

11/2/2010 2:40:33 PM

Quote :

"(1) coast guard members are not "deployed" overseas. It's purely due to a PCS move. "

Wrong you get assigned to cutters. If you're cutter happens to be deployed, you go with it. This could be to the middle east, south america, Alaska etc. Also, in 2007 the CG created DOG (Deployable Operations Group) which is a group of units trained in maritime anti-terrorism and anti-piracy. They are deployed all over the world to fight terrorism. They lost one boat in Iraq when it was hit by a suicide bomber. 1 Coastgaurdsmen and 5 navy sailors died. MAny more received purple hearts. Last week, another member of DOG fell in the ocean while boarding a ship and drowned under the weight of his gear. The week before a CG cutter off Nicaragua was engaged in a maritime firefight with drug runners. Short story, yes you can be deployed in the Coast Guard.

Quote :

"the whole point of the Coast Guard is to serve in a public safety capacity and fulfill your military obligation, but in the least disruptive manner to your civilian lifestyle"

Wrong again. Active duty personnel are deployed all over the world for months or years at a time. That's a pretty bid disruption to civilian life.

Quote :

"YOu want dangerous, try working deep sea fishing vessel."

Hmmm... and who do these dangerous fishing vessels call when they are in need of help? Thats right, the coast guard! The coast guard heads out to sea when no one else will, even the Navy. Maybe their death rates are lower because they are well trained at their jobs?


- My tidbit about being contracted into the Coast Guard was not meant to to start a inner-service quarrel. I love all branches and considered joining every one of them. We all have certain jobs to do. Some are more dangerous than others. I can think of plenty of jobs in the coast guard that are more dangerous than jobs in the other branches. My point was, that the dude has no leg to stand on just because he's a cop. Talking about sacrifice, at least he gets to stay at home. Talking about danger? At least his job isn't conducted wile trying to survive 15' seas or worrying about terrorist boats full of explosives........

11/2/2010 5:13:27 PM

oh, shut the fuck up already.

even the Village People won't sing about being in the Coast Guard.

11/2/2010 5:25:09 PM