The U.S. Coast Guard is one of the five Armed Forces of the United States and the only military organisation within the Department of Homeland Security. The Coast Guard protects against hazards to people, maritime commerce, and the environment, defends our maritime borders, and saves those in peril. It responds quickly to disasters to restore the Nation's waterways and promotes resiliency of the Maritime Transportation System. When called upon, it defends the nation at home and abroad alongside the other Armed Forces. In the heartland, in the ports, on the seas, and around the globe, the Coast Guard is "Here to Protect, Ready to Rescue." This book explores and describes the fundamental roles and forces of today's Coast Guard while tracing its history and how the Coast Guard acquired its diverse mission set.