USCG
United States Coast Guard
The United States Coast Guard Needs to Determine the Impact and Effectiveness of Its Streamlined Inspection Program
Report NumberOIG-23-46Issue DateDocument FileDHS AgencyKeywordsFiscal Year2023The United States Coast Guard Needs to Improve Its Accounting for Non-Capitalized Personal Property Assets
Report NumberOIG-23-23Issue DateDocument FileDHS AgencyFiscal Year2023Review of U.S. Coast Guard's Fiscal Year 2022 Drug Control Budget Formulation Compliance Report
Report NumberOIG-23-09Issue DateDocument FileDHS AgencyFiscal Year2023Review of U.S. Coast Guard's Fiscal Year 2022 Detailed Accounting Report for Drug Control Funds
Report NumberOIG-23-08Issue DateDocument FileDHS AgencyFiscal Year2023Review of U.S. Coast Guard's Fiscal Year 2021 Detailed Accounting Report for Drug Control Funds
Report NumberOIG-22-24Issue DateDocument FileDHS AgencyFiscal Year2022Review of U.S. Coast Guard's Fiscal Year 2021 Drug Control Budget Formulation Compliance Report
Report NumberOIG-22-23Issue DateDocument FileDHS AgencyFiscal Year2022Management Alert - The United States Coast Guard Discontinued the Use of Functional Firearms in DVD Simulation Training
During our ongoing audit of DHS law enforcement virtual training, we learned that the Coast Guard uses functional firearms to conduct DVD-based simulation training. We identified this issue in Coast Guard’s Commandant Instruction 3574.5C, 18 September 2014, Coast Guard Judgmental Use of Force Evaluation and observed a demonstration of this training at one Coast Guard location.
Management Alert - The United States Coast Guard Discontinued the Use of Functional Firearms in DVD Simulation Training
Executive SummaryDuring our ongoing audit of DHS law enforcement virtual training, we learned that the Coast Guard uses functional firearms to conduct DVD-based simulation training. We identified this issue in Coast Guard’s Commandant Instruction 3574.5C, 18 September 2014, Coast Guard Judgmental Use of Force Evaluation and observed a demonstration of this training at one Coast Guard location. According to testimony or policy from four other DHS components that employ or train law enforcement personnel, the use of functional firearms during video-based simulation training is prohibited within their respective components. By using functional firearms capable of firing ammunition, even if emptied of ammunition, in DVD-based simulation training, Coast Guard increased the risk of unintentional injury or death. Coast Guard concurred with our recommendation and took immediate corrective actions to discontinue the use of functional firearms during DVD-based simulation training. The recommendation is resolved and closed.
Report NumberOIG-21-67Issue DateDocument FileDHS AgencyKeywordsFiscal Year2021Coast Guard Should Prioritize Upgrades to Rescue 21 Alaska and Expand Its Public Notifications during Outages
Executive SummarySummary: Rescue 21 Alaska, Coast Guard’s maritime search and rescue communication system, has experienced outages resulting from antiquated equipment in Coast Guard’s District 17. Challenges and funding shortages during system acquisition caused Coast Guard to limit the purchase of new equipment for Rescue 21 Alaska, requiring District 17 to maintain existing equipment for longer than initially planned. Alaska’s winter weather conditions and remote access to communication site locations cause lengthy repair times, further exacerbating the outage impacts. The outages have prevented Coast Guard, at times, from effectively receiving and responding to distress calls from mariners. Coast Guard has made some upgrades to the Rescue 21 Alaska system to enhance distress communication availability and reliability. Although Coast Guard plans for further upgrades, outages persist. When notifying the public about the outages, Coast Guard primarily relies on a “Local Notice to Mariners” posted on their public website. However, this limits who can receive the notices, as not all mariners go to the internet to determine outage locations. Alaska mariners shared other effective methods Coast Guard could use to improve its notifications to the public when there are known VHF distress communications outages. Adequately upgrading the communications equipment and ensuring robust attempts are made to notify the public when outages occur is essential for Coast Guard to achieve its search and rescue mission in Alaska. We made two recommendations to ensure the Coast Guard is prioritizing Rescue 21 Alaska upgrades and appropriately notifying the public of outages. Coast Guard concurred with both recommendations.
Report NumberOIG-21-65Issue DateDocument FileDHS AgencyFiscal Year2021