Carteret County is one of only five counties in the nation to earn the designation of a certified Coast Guard Community. The Coast Guard is a well-respected organization that is supported and celebrated by many here on the Crystal Coast. Since the year 1790, the United States Coast Guard has evolved into a very dynamic and responsive organization upheld by active duty, reserve, and auxiliary members who are dedicated to 11 statutory missions. Since the Homeland Security Act of 2002, the Coast Guard’s missions include coastal security, drug interdiction, aids to navigation, search, and rescue, living marine resources, marine safety, defense readiness, migrant interdiction, maritime environmental protection, polar ice operations, and law enforcement, through a spirit of honor, respect, and devotion to duty. The Coast Guard has an incredibly large footprint, within a very small organization, that has been instrumental in our way of life here on the Crystal Coast. We are in great debt to those who have served our community during fair and foul times in our country’s history.

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As a designated United States Coast Guard Community, Carteret County celebrates the service and sacrifice of the men and women of the Coast Guard—active duty, reserve, veteran, retired, auxiliary, and their families. The purpose of the Carteret County Coast Guard Community Association is to support our county’s efforts to champion the Coast Guard. We intend to serve as an ongoing vehicle for support, programs, activities, and celebrations that lift up our Coast Guard stakeholders here in Carteret County. As our organization grows, we want to join you in continued efforts to uplift our Coast Guard Community through awareness of the Coast Guard, celebrating veterans and retirees, assisting with growing the fleet through recruiting, and supporting current service members, auxiliaries, and their families. We also invite all Coast Guard members, veterans, and retirees to come join our association.