http://www.instructables.com/id/Armored-messenger-bag/

As for hook-and-climb, yes, it has its risks as do many other missions. Yet, while it is important to protect out people, sometimes risks must be taken to accomplish the mission. If we only worried about keeping our people safe and not on accomplishing the mission, we’d never go out at all. The death of shipmate is always tragic, but that alone is not reason enough to eliminate a mission. We’ve tragically lost fourteen aviators in the last two years, but no one has proposed that we stop the aviation program. If we cut a mission every time there is a mishap instead of learning and moving on, mission readiness will rapidly deteriorate.

Most Coasties (I’ll say 95%) have never ‘physically’ taken someone to jail, or even ‘lawfully’ told someone they are under arrest. Fact is, most Coasties involved in law enforcement are given enough training to REALLY get themselves in trouble.

Coast Guard does train it’s members in Law Enforcement like a local agency would. I’m not saying it should be identical, but an average cop out of the academy will know A LOT more about “Officer’s Safety” than the average BTM or even BO.

EXAMPLE:
My agency just did joint ops with a Coast Guard boarding team. We stopped a commercial fishing vessel. We put the CG team on board, as we stayed near by on our patrol boat. At one point. The coasties mustered the crew on the fantail (good), but then gathered themselves forward of the [subjects/suspects]. NOBODY on the CG boarding team was watching the “bad guys”, every one of them had their back to the “bad guys”. The “bad guys” were standing about 8 ft. behind the Coasties, and about an arms reach from 3 different knives, AND their hands were in their pockets without a patdown for weapons. 4 Coasties were huddled together with their backs to the “bad guys”, 2 of them were on the phone getting “permission” to do enforcement action from sector. WTF!! I will not say that Coasties don’t know REAL law enforcement, but I will say that MOST Coasties don’t know how REAL law enforcement agencies do REAL law enforcement.

Further, how is anyone (including Coasties) supposed to identify law enforcement personnel from non-law enforcement personnel in the CG????!!! If I stop you on the streets, and you plead that you have a concealed weapon in your car because you’re a Coastie….how do I know that you actually do law enforcement???!!! As far as your I.D. goes, what sets you apart from the Non-Rate at the front desk, who has yet to get U/W? How do I know that you’re L/E, and She/He’s not??

I’m saying this and I have 9 years CG experience. Imagine what a cop is thinking who has no idea what the CG is all about! Until Coast Guard get’s their L/E staff more organized and set apart from their admin staff…this will never change. The Coastie will go to jail every time. So, you have to ask yourself if it’s worth it. Carrying a gun off-duty is a big commitment, and I hope if you chose to challenge the system, that you’re squared away, and are willing to accept the consequences. Don’t get me wrong; I wish there were more good people out there armed and ready for the fight that play for the good guys.

If (when) I carry off-duty, I have to have qualified at that weapon first. I can’t just go buy a weapon and start carrying it off duty. This may be a dept. thing, but it’s every dept. Which means it’s come down to court hearings. CG doesn’t issue you your own weapon, and they don’t make you qualify with your own personal weapon, so what are you carrying off duty??

This appears to be a fight from the Coasties about being a cool guy with a gun in the mall while holding hands with your boyfriend. If you want to be a cop, then get out and earn it. Until then, get some training and experience under your belt.

-Copper

I want to mention that although I think I believe I do ultimately side with KJBanks I disagree with the outlook of his comment, our ultimate goal needs to be cooperation and understanding between us and all Law Enforcement we come in contact with, it strikes me as odd that so many CG Members cannot seem to grasp the concept that Police Officers, and other Federal LE are our “Brothers-in-Blue”.

Lets only train on the basics, so if a large vessel comming into US water does not want to be boarded, all they have to do is not put over there ladder.

I think the need for these skills is already clear, especially with the amount of piracy in the Gulf of Aden, etc, and the CG’s role in preventing it. True, there are other ways to get onboard a ship, but why not have more than a couple of tools in our toolbox? Additionally, the Navy and USMC will never have the capability that the CG does with respect to law enforcement. Even ADM Olson, the Commander of USSOCOM touched on this unique capability of the CG last week at the NDIA SO/LIC Symposium.
My intention is not to criticize ADM Papp, but this seems like a poorly-informed decision that goes against the motto of Semper Paratus. I liked the comparison with the Army, Navy, MC and fast roping.