Innovation and efficiency have been the hallmarks of Coast Guard combat operations in the Northern Persian Gulf during Operation Iraqi Freedom.
Units and personnel of the U.S. Coast Guard and its predecessor services have served with distinction in every major American conflict since the founding of the United States, and Operation Iraqi Freedom (OIF) proved no exception to this rule. As with many past combat operations, Coast Guard units in OIF exceeded all expectations in many roles representing some of the service's core missions over its long history, such as escort duty, port security, force protection, coastal security, aids to navigation, and maritime interdiction operations. From the outset, the Coast Guard's training and experience in various maritime operations played an important role in Coalition combat operations.
