Celebrating and Protecting the U.S. Coast Guard

When you think about the U.S. Coast Guard, you might first envision orange helicopters and large boats performing search and rescue missions. While the Coast Guard’s 230-year history is rich with high-stakes pararescue missions, its legacy as America’s oldest maritime first responder goes beyond oceans and coastlines.
 
On Aug. 4, 1790, Congress authorized Secretary of the Treasury Alexander Hamilton’s proposal to build 10 cutters – armed government vessels – to enforce trade laws, prevent smuggling and suppress piracy. Within three years, one of these “revenue cutters” was running a pirate vessel ashore in Chesapeake Bay.
 
The essential duties of the original Revenue Cutter Service, not to mention the name of the organization itself, expanded and adapted to the needs of a growing country. The Coast Guard motto of Semper Paratus – “Always Ready” – has been apparent with every disaster that’s hit our nation.
 
They looked for survivors in 1900 when a Category 4 hurricane struck Galveston, Texas. They rescued victims and farm animals in 1937 when severe flooding swept the Mississippi and Ohio River valleys. They oversaw cleanup efforts in the aftermath of the 2010 Deepwater Horizon oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico.
 
What started as 10 vessels developed into a fleet of 243 cutters, 201 aircraft, over 1,600 boats and 56,000 members overseeing millions of square miles of ocean and inland waterways.
 
The USCG’s core mission is to ensure our nation’s maritime safety, security and stewardship. This is accomplished through the 11 missions outlined in the Homeland Security Act of 2002, including drug interdiction, defense readiness and marine environmental protection.
 
We are proud to support members of this unique and esteemed military branch that operates as first responder, humanitarian aid, law enforcement and environmental guardian. Team Wendy’s mission is to protect those who risk their lives every day in combat, rescue or adventure. Coast Guard SAR operations rank as one of the Coast Guard’s oldest core missions: In 1831, the RCS was the first federal agency tasked with looking for endangered persons.
 
To support the Coast Guard’s incredible work, we wanted to modify the Team Wendy EXFIL^® LTP helmet to better fit the mission profile of USCG rescue swimmers, a team of highly trained rescue and survival experts who work in heavy seas and adverse weather conditions. We altered the Team Wendy bump helmet’s cupped chinstrap to a sport chinstrap, which comfortably accommodates a snorkel. We also made the rescue helmet shell in Rescue Yellow, a new option for the LTP. These mission-ready Coast Guard helmets were made available to the rescue swimmers late last year, and now all rescue swimmer teams have access to them.
 
It’s an honor to have the opportunity to protect these courageous men and women, playing a part in the amazing legacy of the United States Coast Guard. We congratulate them on 230 years of service.
  
By Michael Silva
U.S. Military Market Manager