How do I request Coast Guard support of a community or commercial event?
You may contact your local Coast Guard unit or the Coast Guard's Community
Relations Branch in
The Coast Guard participates in official civil ceremonies, including
inaugurals, dedications of public buildings and projects, ceremonies for
official visitors, and the convening of legislative bodies. The Coast Guard
often participates in patriotic programs, national holiday celebrations and
events open to the public with no charge for admission. However, uniformed
Coast Guard personnel may not participate as ushers, escorts, doormen,
drivers, etc., for non- military guests or local dignitaries.
Additionally, the Coast Guard participates in commercial events under
certain conditions. The Coast Guard generally does not participate in events
that charge for admission, unless our participation is incidental to the
program, is patriotic in nature, and does not benefit or appear to benefit
selectively the commercial activity of the sponsor. The Coast Guard does not
participate in events that charge for admission if our participation is, or
could be considered to be, the primary or major attraction. As an example, a
color guard appearance at a professional football game is incidental to the
event, is not designed to be a drawing factor for the game and does not add
to the spectators' cost.
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Where
can I find information about joining the Coast Guard?
Check
out the Coast Guard Recruiting website at: http://www.gocoastguard.com
or to locate a Coast Guard Recruiting Office by phone, please call
1-877-NOW-USCG (1-877-669-8724).
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How do I find out if there's a Coast Guard unit near my home, and how do I
arrange a visit?
Check
out our map and listing of Coast Guard units on our Service's home page at: http://www.uscg.mil/top/units.
If you need assistance in contacting the unit nearest you, call the
Coast Guard's Community Relations Office at (202) 372-4620.
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How do I request a Coast Guard speaker for my organization?
Contact
the Coast Guard district public affairs office nearest you (see table below)
or the Coast Guard's Community Relations Branch in
Coast
Guard District Public Affairs Offices:
First
Coast Guard District |
Eighth
Coast Guard District |
Thirteenth
Coast Guard District |
Fifth
Coast Guard District |
Ninth
Coast Guard District |
Fourteenth
Coast Guard District |
Seventh
Coast Guard District |
Eleventh
Coast Guard District |
Seventeenth
Coast Guard District |
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How do I request an exhibit of Coast Guard artwork for my organization?
The Coast Guard's Community Relations Branch maintains a collection of
original artwork. Works from
this collection can be requested for exhibit by public entities such as
museums, libraries, schools, and veterans' organizations as well as Coast
Guard units, other military services and branches of the federal government.
Requesting organizations are responsible for the safety and continued good
condition of the artwork while it is in their custody.
Works and easels for displaying them are available by placing a request
through the Coast Guard's Community Relations Branch, (202) 372-4643, at
least six months prior to the intended display.
Long-term displays of several weeks to months are preferred,
especially when these are viewed by a large audience.
Images of works in the collection along with titles, artist names and
captions can be viewed on the following site.
Coast Guard Visual Imagery website:
http://cgvi.uscg.mil/media/main.php?g2_itemId=123273
Much of the information from both these sites can be downloaded or
copied to create handouts.
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How
do I request a Coast Guard aircraft exhibit?
Requests must be submitted in writing on Department
of Defense Form 2535, to the Coast Guard Headquarters Community
Relations Branch for review and approval, after which it will be forwarded
to the appropriate Coast Guard area commander for consideration.
Coast Guard aircraft participate in appropriate public events that help
contribute to public knowledge of the Coast Guard.
Participation may be a flyover, demonstration or static display.
Appropriate events include airport dedications, air shows, expositions and
fairs.
Static displays must be held at airfields or heliports. Civilian sponsors
must agree to provide or reimburse transportation, meals and lodging costs
of Coast Guard participants. Sponsors also must provide suitable aircraft
fuel at military contract prices. Sponsors are required to pay all costs
over military contract prices, including any transportation and handling
charges, if fuel is not available at such prices.
Aerial demonstrations must be within FAA guidelines and must be over open
water or suitable open areas of land, where spectators will be safe.
The Coast Guard may support flyovers for civic-sponsored, public ceremonies
such as: Armed Forces Day, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Veterans Day and
for similar local holidays overseas; memorial services for dignitaries of
the armed forces or federal government; national conventions of veterans'
organizations; and occasions of more than local interest designed primarily
to encourage the advancement of aviation.
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Where
can I see the Coast Guard Cutter EAGLE?
EAGLE's schedule can be found on the
EAGLE's primary mission is to assist in the training of Coast Guard
Academy cadets. The Commanding
Officer of EAGLE begins planning the port schedule one year in advance, with
requests or recommendations on domestic port visits due at the Coast Guard
Academy not later than 1 September the year before the cruise.
The Coast Guard receives more requests than can be accommodated
without interfering with EAGLE's training mission.
For more information, contact the Coast Guard's Community Relations
Branch at (202) 372-4620.
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How
may I request that the Coast Guard Band perform in my town?
Requests for the Coast Guard Band at public events must be in the best
interests of the Coast Guard. The
Coast Guard will participate only if the event (parade, concert, etc.) meets
general community relations criteria, at no additional cost to the
government. The sponsor - often a local newspaper - must fund
transportation, meals, lodging, promotion efforts, ticket printing and
distribution, programs, sites, and all incidental expenses connected with
the appearance. Such funding is
legally considered as a gift.
The band conducts a regional tour each year, with free public concert
appearances. Daytime school visits are often included in the band's tour.
Tour schedules are normally decided one year in advance and generally do not
allow for added performances. If you want your community considered in a
future tour, submit your suggestion early to the Coast Guard's Community
Relations Branch at (202) 372-4620. For
the tours, the Community Relations Branch funds tour transportation and per
diem. Local sponsors are required to fund and carry out promotion, ticket
printing and distribution, programs, sites, and all incidental expenses
connected to the performance.
Also, please note that there are several restrictions on use of the Coast
Guard Band:
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How may I request that the Coast Guard
Ceremonial Honor Guard support my organization's event?
The Coast Guard Ceremonial Honor Guard is stationed at U.S. Coast Guard
Telecommunications and Information Systems Command,
Within the Ceremonial Honor Guard are separate teams - a precision drill
team, a parade unit and a color guard. These units may be available for
public performances; however, official Honor Guard activities take priority
over other appearances. Please
contact the Coast Guard Community Relations Branch at (202) 372-4620 to
request support for engagements outside
Requests from the public for events must be in the best interests of the
Coast Guard and the event sponsor. The Coast Guard will participate only if
the event meets general community relations criteria and is without
additional cost to the government. The sponsor must fund transportation,
meals, lodging, promotion efforts, ticket printing and distribution,
programs, sites, and all incidental expenses connected with the appearance.
Neither the Ceremonial Honor Guard, nor its units, go on tour.
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May
I use the words "
Federal
law (14 USC, Section 639) is the basis for Coast Guard policy. The law
protects the words " United States Coast Guard," or any variation
thereof, including but not limited to "USCG" and
The Coast Guard may approve the use of its protected words by non-federal
entities provided that the usage falls within the provisions of the federal
law, the public interest is served and the Coast Guard in no way appears to
endorse a product or service.
Requirements for Coast Guard approval apply to all forms of promotional
materials (such as advertising, marketing, publicity or public relations)
intended for use via any media (such as publications, radio, television,
visual aids, billboards, direct mail, telephone solicitation, direct-sale
video, CD-ROM, Internet programs, toys and other entertainment media). While
the requirement applies primarily to the use of the name "Coast Guard"
in a commercial promotion, it also applies to promotions by non-profit
organizations. For example, a non-profit association would need Coast Guard
approval for a press release or a public service announcement claiming Coast
Guard support for their project.
To submit a request, please contact the Community Relations Branch at (202)
372-4620.
To obtain Coast Guard approval and cooperation, sponsors must submit
scripts, layouts with text, photographs and/or illustrations for review. To
be approved, promotional material:
The words
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May I use Coast
Guard insignia, such as the Coast Guard Seal, Emblem and Mark, in
promotional material or on products?
The Coast Guard Seal is a pair of crossed anchors superimposed by a life
ring with shield and surrounded by a line grommet. The Seal must not be
reproduced outside the Coast Guard.
The Coast Guard Mark - known as the racing stripe - and Emblem -
similar to the Seal but without the line grommet - must not be reproduced
outside the Coast Guard without approval. Vendors or others wishing to
reproduce these identifying symbols must submit an outline of the intended
use to LT Tony Migliorini
or fax a copy of the proposed design to the Community Relations Branch at
(202) 372-4985.
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May
I photograph or videotape Coast Guard personnel for my promotional material?
In approved
promotional material, the Coast Guard will permit the use of its personnel
provided that:
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How
may I obtain official Coast Guard photographs for personal or commercial
use?
Upon
request, the Coast Guard may supply official photographs for use in approved
promotions. Official photographs are available on the Coast Guard Imagery
database, accessible through the World Wide Web at http://cgvi.uscg.mil.
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May
I advertise on Coast Guard Internet sites?
Official Coast Guard Internet sites may not include any advertisements.
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May I link my
Internet page to and from Coast Guard Internet sites?
Official
Commercial and personal Internet sites may include links to official Coast
Guard Internet sites. The Coast Guard Emblem and Mark may be used as
hyperlink buttons from a commercial site to an official Coast Guard site
provided that the insignia is used in good taste and is not used to portray
the commercial site as an official Coast Guard site. The Coast Guard Seal is
reserved for official Coast Guard use and may not be used as a hyperlink
button on such sites. Coast Guard logos and graphics may not be used to
create a non-official Internet site that gives the appearance and general
look and feel of the official USCG Internet site.
Information presented on Coast Guard Internet sites is considered public
information and may be distributed, copied or linked by non-Coast Guard
Internet sites. However, the contents of Coast Guard Internet sites may not
be used for commercial purposes or to imply endorsement by the U.S. Coast
Guard of products or services.
The words
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How
may I obtain a Coast Guard flag?
The Coast Guard has both an Ensign (vertical red stripes) and a Standard
(white field with blue eagle).
The Ensign is a symbol of United States Coast Guard law enforcement
authority and is, by law, restricted to official use only.
The Coast Guard Standard is used during parades and ceremonies and is
adorned by our 34 battle streamers. Service-related organizations may use
the Standard on temporary loan with approval from the Coast Guard's
Community Relations Branch.
The Coast Guard cannot donate or sell flags to individuals or organizations.
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What
does it mean to be "A Coast Guard City"? How can my city
earn this designation?
The Commandant takes great pride in the many services provided by the men
and women of the Coast Guard to American citizens in general and, in
particular, to the residents of the communities in which they are assigned.
It is the intent of this program, in accordance with federal law, to provide
for the recognition of those cities that, in return, have made special
efforts to acknowledge the professional work of the Coast Guard men and
women assigned to their area by regularly reaching out to them and their
families and making them feel "at home at their home away from home."
Such efforts should be indicative of a longstanding and enduring
relationship with an emphasis on considerations the community has made for
the members of the Coast Guard family and their dependents.
Background
On November 13, 1998, a law was enacted that allowed the city of
In accordance with that provision, on June 3, 2000,
Procedures
A city or municipality must make formal request by letter, signed by the
mayor or city manager, addressed to Commandant (G-I), 2100 Second
Upon approval by the Commandant, the appropriate congressional committees
will be notified and a required 90-day waiting period will begin. With no
dissent from either committee, the requesting city will be proclaimed to be
"A Coast Guard City." The proclamation will have a five-year term after
which the city will be required to apply for recertification.
Recertification is an abbreviated form of the procedures required for the
original request in that the city need only provide a letter six months
prior to the end of the five-year term describing its on-going relationship
with the Coast Guard with examples of their recent programs and projects.
Requirements
A city's request will be judged against the following list of actions and
programs that are examples of the types of support shown Coast Guard
personnel in cities where the Coast Guard serves. It is not necessary for a
city to have initiated nor replicated every one of the actions listed.
Rather, a city should be able to demonstrate that its people and the
community at large have consistently reached out to the local Coast Guard
command(s) in a manner that would include, but not be limited to, a number
of the initiatives below. In addition, the request should specify which
groups or organizations within the community are responsible for, or
participated in, the initiatives. They could include city government,
Chamber of Commerce, non-government organizations (e.g., Navy League), civic
organizations (e.g., Lions, Kiwanis, etc.), corporate, police/sheriffs/fire
departments,
Questions
regarding this program should be directed to the Community Relations Branch
of the Office of Public Affairs in Coast Guard Headquarters, (202) 372-4620.
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USCG Internal Resources | External Community Organizations |
---|---|
Authority and Guidance | America's Waterway Watch |
Joint Civilian Orientation Conference (JCOC) | Boating Safety |
Naming Board Requests | Military Service Organizations |
Public Service Awards | Youth Organizations |
Partnership in Education (PIE) |