Defense Operations Program

Coast Guard forces possess the authorities, capabilities and capacity to carry out homeland security and defense operations, either under Coast Guard control or under the control of a Department of Defense Combatant Commander. The Service provides trained, equipped and mission-matched forces in support of Combatant Commanders’ initiatives as outlined in the 2008 DoD-DHS Memorandum of Agreement. Coast Guard Defense Operations include: Maritime Interception and Interdiction Operations; Military Environmental Response; Port Operations Security and Defense (including maintaining a Title 10 Reserve force and providing Aids to Navigation support for battle-space preparation); Theater Security Cooperation; Coastal Sea Control Operations (including providing DoD the only assured access in ice-covered and ice diminished waters); Rotary Wing Air Intercept Operations; Combating Terrorism Operations; and Maritime Operational Threat Response Support.