U.S. Coast Guard Missions, Districts, Distress Signals, and General Orders

Comprehensive vocabulary flashcards covering the 11 General Orders of the Sentry, the 11 Coast Guard statutory missions, command areas and numbered districts, and maritime distress signals.

General Order 1

To take charge of this post and all government property in view.

General Order 2

To walk my post in a military manner, keeping always on the alert and observing everything that takes place within sight or hearing.

General Order 3

To report all violations of orders I am instructed to enforce.

General Order 4

To repeat all calls from posts more distant from the guardhouse than my own.

General Order 5

To quit my post only when properly relieved.

General Order 6

To receive, obey, and pass on to the sentry who relieves me all orders from the commanding officer, officer of the day, and officers and petty officers of the watch.

General Order 7

To talk to no one except in the line of duty.

General Order 8

To give the alarm in case of fire or disorder.

General Order 9

To call the officer of the deck in any case not covered by instructions.

General Order 10

To salute all officers and all colors and standards not cased.

General Order 11

To be especially watchful at night, and during the time for challenging, to challenge all persons on or near my post and to allow no one to pass without the proper authority.

Maritime Safety

A core Coast Guard role dedicated to protecting those on the sea through Search and Rescue and Marine Safety missions.

Search and Rescue (SAR)

A Coast Guard mission focused on operating a national distress/response communication system, deploying surface and air assets, and planning, coordinating, and conducting operations for persons and property in distress.

Marine Safety

A Coast Guard mission dedicated to establishing standards and inspecting commercial vessels, partnering with states to reduce recreational boating accidents, investigating casualties, and licensing U.S. mariners.

Maritime Security

A core Coast Guard role dedicated to protecting the U.S. from threats delivered by sea.

Ports, Waterways, and Coastal Security (PWCS)

A Coast Guard mission that conducts harbor patrols, completes vulnerability assessments, enforces security zones, approves security plans, and assesses foreign port antiterrorism measures.

Drug Interdiction

A Coast Guard mission that deploys cutters, aircraft, and deployable specialized forces to patrol, interdict, and seize maritime drug trafficking vessels.

Migrant Interdiction

A Coast Guard mission that deploys cutters and aircraft to prevent, disrupt, and interdict maritime smuggling and maritime migration by undocumented migrants to the U.S.

Defense Readiness

A Coast Guard mission providing forces to the Department of Defense (DoD) for worldwide joint military operations and defending DoD force mobilization and expeditionary operations.

Maritime Stewardship

A core Coast Guard role dedicated to protecting the sea itself.

Ice Operations

A Coast Guard mission involving Polar Operations for scientific and defense support, domestic icebreaking for commerce and navigation, and International Ice Patrol operations.

Aids to Navigation and Waterways Management

A Coast Guard mission responsible for maintaining navigation aids, monitoring traffic via Vessel Traffic Services, and regulating bridges spanning navigable waters.

Marine Environmental Protection

A Coast Guard mission that prevents and responds to oil and hazardous substance spills, prevents illegal dumping, and halts invasions by aquatic nuisance species.

Living Marine Resources

A Coast Guard mission safeguarding U.S. marine resources, protected species, protected areas, and critical habitats from unlawful acts and environmental degradation.

Other Law Enforcement

A Coast Guard mission protecting U.S. maritime borders, the Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ), and high seas areas by detecting, deterring, and interdicting foreign vessels engaged in illegal activities.

High Intensity White Flashing Light

A recognized maritime distress signal authorized specifically for inland waters only.

Code Flags November Charlie

A recognized international distress signal consisting of the maritime signal flags November (N) over Charlie (C).

LANT AREA COMMAND

The Coast Guard Atlantic Area operational command located in Portsmouth, Virginia.

PAC AREA COMMAND

The Coast Guard Pacific Area operational command located in Alameda, California.

COAST GUARD HEADQUARTERS

The central administrative headquarters of the U.S. Coast Guard located in Washington D.C.

District 1 (Northeast District)

The Coast Guard district headquartered in Boston, MA.

District 2 (East District)

The Coast Guard district headquartered in Portsmouth, VA.

District 3 (Southeast District)

The Coast Guard district headquartered in Miami, FL.

District 4 (Heartland District)

The Coast Guard district headquartered in New Orleans, LA.

District 5 (Great Lakes District)

The Coast Guard district headquartered in Cleveland, OH.

District 6 (Southwest District)

The Coast Guard district headquartered in Alameda, CA.

District 7 (Northwest District)

The Coast Guard district headquartered in Seattle, WA.

District 8 (Arctic District)

The Coast Guard district headquartered in Juneau, AK.

District 9 (Oceania District)

The Coast Guard district headquartered in Honolulu, HI.