Among the eight uniformed services of the United States, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Commissioned Officer Corps (NOAA Corps) stands out as one of the smallest yet most specialized branches. Composed of highly trained officers, the NOAA Corps plays a crucial role in supporting the nation’s environmental science, research and policy efforts.
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When people think of the U.S. Military, they often consider the U.S. Armed Forces, which consists of the U.S. Air Force, U.S. Army, U.S. Marine Corps, U.S. Navy, U.S. Space Force and the U.S. Coast Guard . However, armed forces are only one component of the U.S. Uniformed Services. In total, there are eight U.S. Uniformed Services, including six branches of the U.S. Armed Forces, the U.S. Public Health Service (USPHS) Commissioned Corps and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Commissioned Officer Corps.
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Prestigious national leadership development program’s newest class includes leaders from 34 states and U.S. territories and all three branches of state government.
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Coast Guard leads the Parade of Ships [Image 1 of 9] NORFOLK, VIRGINIA, UNITED STATES 06.06.2012 Photo by Petty Officer 3rd Class David Marin U.S. Coast Guard District 5
By Joe Paul, Project Manager
The United States Coast Guard is a branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the country’s seven uniformed services. Its overall mission is to ensure the safety, security and environmental stewardship of the nation’s waters. The Coast Guard has a wide range of responsibilities, including maritime law enforcement, search and rescue, environmental protection, port security and maintaining navigation aids.
Mission
The Coast Guard works to ensure the safety of vessels, ports and waterways. This involves conducting search and rescue operations, enforcing safety regulations and responding to maritime emergencies. The Coast Guard also plays a crucial role in protecting the nation’s maritime borders and infrastructure from security threats such as terrorism, smuggling and illegal immigration. Doing so requires patrolling coastal waters, conducting security screenings and collaborating with other agencies on security initiatives. Another key responsibility is protecting marine environments and natural resources, such as enforcing environmental regulations, responding to oil spills and other pollution incidents, and promoting sustainable maritime practices.
History
Officially, the Coast Guard is older than the Navy. President Washington established the Revenue Cutter Service to enforce U.S. tariffs in 1790. The modern Coast Guard comes from the 1915 merger of the Revenue Cutter Service and the U.S. Life-Saving Service. It was named the Lifesaving Coast Guard. In 1939, the Lighthouse Service was added, and the Commerce Department’s Bureau of Marine Inspection and Navigation was brought on in 1946.
Despite the belief that the Coast Guard is a close to shore service mostly concerned with navigational aids and coastal security, the Coast Guard is a blue-water or ocean-going maritime service with cutters operating in the Atlantic, Pacific and Arctic Oceans as well as operations in the Caribbean and Berring Seas. The Coast Guard operates Maritime Safety and Security Teams used to deter potential terrorist attacks on the seas, enhance force protection operations, enforce laws, aid in search and rescue missions, and board hostile ships in and around territorial waters.
Ships like the USCGC Steadfast patrol the coastal waters of the United States and its territories on a variety of missions. The Steadfast is homeported out of Astoria, Oregon, on the Columbia River and monitors the “graveyard of the Pacific,” which includes the Columbia River basin and the coasts of Oregon and Washington and is known for rough seas and inclement weather year around.
Rank
The rank structure of the Coast Guard is similar to the Navy, with enlisted personnel and commissioned officers. Enlisted ranks range from seaman recruit to master chief petty officer, while officer ranks range from ensign to admiral. Like other branches of the military, Coast Guard personnel are assigned specific roles and responsibilities based on their rank and expertise.
Seaman Recruit (E-1)
Seaman Apprentice (E-2)
Seaman (E-3)
Petty Officer Third Class (E-4)
Petty Officer Second Class (E-5)
Petty Officer First Class (E-6)
Chief Petty Officer (E-7)
Senior Chief Petty Officer (E-8)
Master Chief Petty Officer (E-9)
Command Master Chief Petty Officer (E-9)
Ensign (O-1)
Lieutenant Junior Grade (O-2)
Lieutenant (O-3)
Lieutenant Commander (O-4)
Commander (O-5)
Captain (O-6)
Rear Admiral Lower Half (O-7)
Rear Admiral (O-8)
Vice Admiral (O-9)
Admiral (O-10)
The highest-ranking enlisted member is the master chief petty officer. Coast Guard officers can also hold rank as a warrant officer in specialties from W-1 through W-4. Chief warrant officers are prior enlisted members who were selected to become specialized members of the officer corps. They hold a unique organizational position and provide comprehensive knowledge and management in a technical specialty. At the top of the rank structure is the Commandant of the Coast Guard, who holds the rank of admiral.
Jobs
Coast Guard personnel fulfill critical job functions as:
The following scenario provides an example of the work the Coast Guard does in patrolling waterways to ensure the safety of both leisure and commercial shipping: watch standers at the Coast Guard Station Burlington on Lake Champlain received a call about 18:00 hours, or 6:00 p.m., about a civilian craft in distress after it ran ashore on the rocky coastline. A 45-foot boat was launched, and the crew successfully rescued the operators of the civilian craft in 28 knot winds and 3-to-4-foot waves.
All U.S. Coast Guard imagery is in the public domain and is encouraged to be shared widely.
Outgoing Georgia Chief Justice Michael Boggs’ career reflects a profound dedication to public service and steady leadership during times of change. After 21 years on the bench, including the past eight as a Georgia Supreme Court Justice, Boggs stepped down at the end of March, returning to private practice. after having made a lasting impact on both the state and national legal landscapes.
Continue readingBy Samantha McKenzie, CSG Development Fellow
Since 2023, communities in Arizona, Georgia, Nevada, and Texas have experienced significant debt relief thanks to an initiative of EarnIn, an app-based financial technology company. EarnIn’s partnerships with Undue Medical Debt (formerly RIP Medical Debt) and ForgiveCo have collectively generated $32.6 million in debt relief for more than 18,800 randomly selected individuals.
Residents of Las Vegas, Phoenix and San Antonio were among the first to receive relief when, in September 2023, EarnIn partnered with Undue Medical Debt to erase $22 million in medical debt. By June 2024, EarnIn expanded its efforts, teaming up with ForgiveCo to relieve an additional $10.6 million in consumer debt, primarily credit cards and auto loans, for individuals residing near Atlanta — all of whom came from households with incomes under $100,000.
“Often, the only tool available to consumers in managing debt is to take on more debt, which is the number one obstacle to financial freedom. We believe financial momentum should be accessible to all, and EarnIn is dedicated to offering innovative financial solutions that meet the realities of the needs of working Americans, said Ram Palaniappan, EarnIn founder and CEO.
For many individuals, debt can be a barrier to such larger goals as home ownership, which is largely impacted by loan rates and acceptances that are heavily influenced by buyer credit scores. Not only do potential loan creditors look at credit scores, but they also look at the history of the client’s previous payments, including whether the client has consistently paid on time.
“I am on my own journey to pay off debt, and this brings me one step closer to getting out of the situation I am in. I cried when I saw the notice,” said Shanice, a Georgia resident who had more than $450 in credit card debt forgiven. “… With inflation, it’s like a pit that you can’t get out of. I want people to continue to have hope and know that there is still good in the world.”
The average American carries approximately $104,000 in debt. Substantial burdens like this can promote poor mental health, as its emotional weight on individuals can lead to a constant state of concern. According to a 2017 study by the Royal College of Psychiatrists, 50% of adults with debt problems experience poor mental health, ranging from persistent anxiety to diagnosed medical conditions such as depression.
On behalf of EarnIn and the debt relief initiative, Palaniappan shared that the overarching goal is “to help consumers break the debt cycle and alleviate the emotional burdens that are often coupled with having debt.”
About EarnIn
EarnIn lets you access your money as you earn it — not days or weeks later.
We’re on a mission to reimagine the way money moves to empower every personʼs potential. That starts with payday every day and builds with automated savings tools, credit monitoring, and low-balance alert features.
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EarnInʼs pioneering Earned Wage Access app is backed by world-class partners like A16Z, Matrix Partners, and DST. Since our founding in 2013, 3.8 million customers have given it over 380,000 5-star reviews for helping them access over $15 billion in earnings.
Learn more at EarnIn.com.
Nearly every state and territory will be in session by March, with fiscal policy emerging as a top priority for policymakers in 2025. This focus stems from significant budget gaps as states address deficits in critical areas like education and infrastructure, compounded by the expiration of federal pandemic aid.
Fiscal changes, whether through legislation or constitutional amendment, can be affected by increasing the cost of living and raising taxes, among other challenges. Tax revenue fell during the 2024 fiscal year, making it the first consecutive year of decline since the Great Recession in 2007-09. In 38 states, tax revenue is down from the 15-year growth trend. Despite this, state tax revenue is on track to restabilize, as the declines in 2024 were more gradual than those in 2023.
Bills addressing high housing costs were a focal point of 2024’s legislative sessions and are expected to increase in 2025. States may implement building projects and make zoning and permitting changes to strengthen their fiscal health.
Legislators are expected to explore new ways to fund K-12 schools in 2025, with schools becoming increasingly challenged by declining enrollments and reallocated federal benefits.
Once a reliable source of funding for states, increased fuel efficiency and electric vehicles are lessening the impact of gas tax revenue. Legislators will likely look at new solutions to increase transportation funding support.
Federal assistance through the American Rescue Plan Act will no longer support states in 2025, leading to deficits that may cause future challenges. As policymakers address program needs, priorities and fiscal strategies may shift accordingly.
States may create specific funding methods for natural disasters. In California, these programs allocate resources to mitigation activities, instead of pulling resources from firefighting activities. Other states use loans for those expected to receive federal assistance or provide incentives for local governments who invest in mitigation efforts.
State leaders must reassess their fiscal plans as they approach the end of American Rescue Plan funding and navigate the impact of tax cuts. They must also account for extreme fluctuations caused by the pandemic and its lingering effects in subsequent years. In particular, states in the Midwest and West are projected to cut local property taxes in 2025. States like California and Washington face significant budget gaps in the years ahead.
In Washington, state law requires lawmakers to balance the budget over four years. Heading into this year, the deficit is projected to top $12 billion over the next four years, meaning some combination of tax increases and spending cuts may be necessary.
Newly elected Washington Gov. Bob Ferguson has proposed a 6% reduction to most state agencies and a 3% cut to higher education to meet the state’s budget goals.
During the 2024-25 budget process, California lawmakers began with a nearly balanced budget but faced a projected deficit of approximately $2 billion. Under state law, the governor is required to submit a balanced budget proposal by January 10 each year.
In response to the shortfall, legislators identified around $11 billion in spending cuts and $15 billion in additional solutions, which included $5.5 billion in temporary revenue increases and a $7 billion draw from the state’s rainy-day fund.
State leaders may look to examples like Louisiana, which adopted similar cuts last year, to better evaluate the impact of such changes.
Last November, lawmakers in Louisiana cut approximately $1.3 billion after approving a flat 3% income tax rate.
Beyond fiscal legislation, many bills can impact a state’s economic health. Legislators can mitigate expenditures by amending a bill to reduce its scope or required costs, implementing a “no appropriation” clause or requiring the use of outside funding when possible.
Analysts are projecting that state budgets will tighten; especially as federal pandemic aid is no longer available. Additional concerns include declining transportation revenue due to increased electric vehicle use and the adoption of AI to standardize operations and manage education costs. Even with changes in 2024, states like New York will still need to address statewide deficits in the 2025 legislative sessions. Such financial challenges underscore broader trends in state budgets, particularly as general funds, for the first time since 2011, experienced a slight decline for fiscal year 2025, according to the National Association of State Budget Officers.
While most states’ tax collections dipped below their 15-year trend, 12 states came in above their projected 15-year mark: Alaska (118.5% above trend), New Mexico (16.5% above), Wyoming (10.9%), Nevada (4%), Rhode Island (3.7%), South Carolina (3%), Montana (2.7%), North Dakota (2%), Texas (1.7%), Alabama (0.6%), Florida (0.5%), and Nebraska (0.2%).
As policymakers anticipate the challenges of 2025, fiscal policy will remain at the forefront of legislative agendas. In response, innovative solutions and careful planning will be essential to stabilize budgets and foster long-term economic growth — efforts crucial to supporting the states.
Public comment periods ensure government bodies receive adequate input from citizens, interested parties and even other governmental bodies when they look to change or promulgate rules and regulations. As artificial intelligence gains in popularity, leaders have the opportunity to promote new technology while also protecting constituents.
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Illinois Sen. Elgie Sims will serve as the 2025 CSG National Chair. As a public servant, Sims believes there is a responsibility to exemplify civility and decorum in political spaces, not only for the sake of effective governance but also for the democracy that the next generation will inherit.
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Twenty up-and-coming elected and appointed state officials have been selected by The Council of State Governments as recipients of the 2024 CSG 20 Under 40 Leadership Award.
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