ALCOAST 366/08
COMDTNOTE 1000
SUBJ: THE GUARDIAN ETHOS
1. THIS ALCOAST FORMALLY INTRODUCES THE "GUARDIAN ETHOS." AS THE
COAST GUARD MODERNIZES, THE "GUARDIAN ETHOS" WILL ASSIST THE
SERVICE IN TYING OUR MILITARY, MARITIME, MULTI-MISSION CHARACTER TO
A MORE TANGIBLE SERVICE IDENTITY; AN IDENTITY THAT WILL RESONATE
WITH OUR PEOPLE, OUR EXTERNAL PARTNERS, AND CUSTOMERS ALIKE.
2. WE HAVE AN INCREDIBLY RICH HERITAGE AND I BELIEVE IT IS TIME TO
OFFICIALLY DEFINE OUR "ETHOS." ABOUT A YEAR AGO TRAINING CENTER
CAPE MAY WAS CHARGED WITH REFINING THEIR CURRICULUM TO SUPPORT THE
DEVELOPMENT OF A MORE PHYSICALLY FIT APPRENTICE WHO HAD
INTERNALIZED THE COAST GUARD'S CULTURE, CHARACTER AND CORE VALUES
AS DEPICTED IN PUBLICATION NUMBER ONE.  DURING THIS PROCESS THE
"GUARDIAN ETHOS" WAS CREATED:
"THE GUARDIAN ETHOS"
I AM AMERICA'S MARITIME GUARDIAN.
I SERVE THE CITIZENS OF THE UNITED STATES.
I WILL PROTECT THEM.
I WILL DEFEND THEM.
I WILL SAVE THEM.
I AM THEIR SHIELD.
FOR THEM I AM SEMPER PARATUS.
I LIVE THE COAST GUARD CORE VALUES.
I AM A GUARDIAN.
WE ARE THE UNITED STATES COAST GUARD.
3. THE "GUARDIAN ETHOS" IS NOT INTENDED TO REPLACE THE COAST GUARD
CREED.  THE CREED IS A CONTRACT AN INDIVIDUAL MAKES WITH THE COAST
GUARD; THE ETHOS IS DIFFERENT - IT DEFINES THE ESSENCE OF THE COAST
GUARD AND COULD BE VIEWED AS THE CONTRACT THE COAST GUARD AND ITS
MEMBERS MAKE WITH THE NATION AND ITS CITIZENS.
4. THE COAST GUARD HAS SERVED THE AMERICAN PUBLIC FOR OVER 200
YEARS.  THE SURGE CAPABILITIES INHERENT IN A MILITARY ORGANIZATION
COMBINED WITH MULTIPLE AUTHORITIES/COMPETENCIES DUE TO OUR MULTI-
MISSION NATURE MAKE US UNIQUE IN GOVERNMENT AND OF GREAT VALUE TO
OUR NATION.  HOWEVER BECAUSE WE ARE SO MULTI-FACETED, FROM TIME TO
TIME WE ARE NOT WELL UNDERSTOOD.
5.  THE "GUARDIAN ETHOS" IS THE EMBODIMENT OF THE COAST GUARD'S
CAPSTONE DOCTRINE, PUBLICATION NUMBER ONE.
HTTP://WWW.USCG.MIL/TOP/ABOUT/PUB1.ASP   THE "GUARDIAN ETHOS" IS
THE ESSENCE OF OUR SERVICE - IT IS WHO WE ARE.  DATING BACK TO THE
DAYS OF THE STEAMBOAT INSPECTION SERVICE, THE U. S. REVENUE CUTTER
SERVICE, THE U. S. LIFE SAVING SERVICE, AND THE U. S. LIGHTHOUSE
SERVICE, WE HAVE A PROUD HISTORY OF SERVING THE CITIZENS OF THE
UNITED STATES IN THE MARITIME DOMAIN, PROVIDING SAFETY, SECURITY
AND STEWARDSHIP. AS AMERICA'S MARITIME GUARDIANS, WE PROTECT THEM,
WE DEFEND THEM, AND WE SAVE THEM.  WE ARE THEIR SHIELD, AND WE
STAND ALWAYS READY FOR THE CALL TO DUTY.  WE LIVE THE COAST GUARD
CORE VALUES.  INDIVIDUALLY, WE ARE EACH GUARDIANS, WHO HAVE SWORN
AN OATH TO SUPPORT AND DEFEND THE CONSTITUTION AND WHO ADHERE TO
THE COAST GUARDSMAN'S CREED.  TOGETHER, WE ARE THE UNITED STATES
COAST GUARD.
6. THE ADOPTION OF THE "GUARDIAN ETHOS" PROVIDES US WITH A
CONSISTENT SERVICE WIDE TERM FOR OUR PEOPLE.  WE ALSO KNOW
GUARDIANS HONOR THE PAST BUT MUST CONTINUALLY LOOK TO THE FUTURE
AND ADAPT.  TO PROTECT, DEFEND, AND SAVE TODAY AND TOMORROW WE MUST
UNDERSTAND THAT CHANGE AND MODERNIZATION ARE CONSISTENT WITH OUR
GUARDIAN ETHOS.  AS GUARDIANS WE WILL CONTINUALLY CHANGE AND
IMPROVE OUR COAST GUARD.
7. WE ARE GUARDIANS.
8. ADMIRAL THAD ALLEN, COMMANDANT, SENDS.
9. INTERNET RELEASE AUTHORIZED.