Identity of the Guardian

Last week I formally introduced the Guardian Ethos to all the men and women of the Coast Guard. As the Coast Guard modernizes, the Guardian Ethos will assist the Coast Guard in tying our military, maritime, multi-mission character to a more tangible identity; an identity that will resonate with our people, our external partners, and customers alike.

About a year ago, our training center at 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 – the Coast Guard’s capstone doctrine. During this process, the Guardian Ethos was created.



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.

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.

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.

The adoption of the Guardian Ethos provides us with a consistent service-wide term for our people. We also know that 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.

We are Guardians.

Admiral Thad Allen
Commandant, United States Coast Guard