Present Era

Off-loading cocaine from the CGC Steadfast at Puerto Caldera, Costa Rica, Dec. 2, 2007 Transit Zone drug interdiction had been de-emphasized in deference to source country operations. Through the efforts of Admiral Kramek, who was Commandant of the Coast Guard and also Coordinator for Drug Interdiction transit zone drug interdiction was again proven to be … Read more

MH-68A Stingrays The United States Coast Guard’s Helicopter Interdiction Tactical Squadron (HITRON) seizures and set the stage for the continued airborne use of force in maritime drug interdiction efforts.  Due to the success during the test and evaluation stage, the HITRON program was validated and designated a permanent Coast Guard unit. HITRON grew to 40 … Read more

LCDR Burbank received his commission from the U.S. Coast Guard Academy in May 1985, and was assigned to the Coast Guard Cutter Gallatin (WHEC 721). In January, 1987, he reported to naval flight training at Pensacola, Florida, and graduated in February 1988. Burbank was then assigned to Coast Guard Air Station Elizabeth City, North Carolina, … Read more

CASPER –Chin Turret Drug Interdiction efforts in the Caribbean had produced positive results during the proof of concept surge operations of 1996 through 1998. A large part of the success was due to much better intelligence information and cooperation among the agencies involved. This combined with integrated surface and air interdiction assets produced a very … Read more

In Executive Order 13115, the President established the Interagency Task Force on the Roles and Missions of the United States Coast Guard. The President directed the Task Force to “provide advice and recommendations regarding the appropriate roles and missions for the United States Coast Guard through the year 2020.” While the Executive Order sought a … Read more

Operation ALLIED FORCE was a NATO contingency response aiming at ensuring full compliance with UN Security Council Resolution 1199 (Sept. 23rd 1998). NATO intervened in Kosovo in support of the resolution so as to bring an immediate ending of the Serbian violence inflicted upon the Kosovar Albanians and restore stability in a strategic region. As … Read more

HH-65C Shipboard Operations Group-Air Station Atlantic City became operational 18 May, 1998. The Air Station is located at the William J. Hughes Federal Aviation Administration Technical Center at the Atlantic City International Airport, New Jersey. The establishment of Group-Air Station Atlantic City was the result of a Coast Guard aviation streamlining initiative to realign unit … Read more

Operation FRONTIER LANCE was a proof of concept operation designed to evaluate the Coast Guard’s ability to stage an interagency operation from foreign soil as well as test various interdiction assets. It also was an effort to adapt to a shift in smuggling routes and disrupt the increased flow of drugs into Haiti and the … Read more

There have been several mass migrations from Cuba and Haiti over the years. Starting with the Mariel Boat Lift in 1980, which brought over 124,000 Cubans to the United States, migrant interdiction operations have demanded a substantial commitment of Coast Guard assets.  The first exodus of Haitians followed the collapse of the Duvalier regime in … Read more

The Deepwater Mission Analysis was a thorough look at the Coast Guard’s missions conducted beyond the normal operating range of shore based small boats. These missions generally require extended on scene presence, long transit to the operating area, forward deployment of forces, or a combination of these factors. A Mission Analysis Review Board (MAR) examined … Read more