August 9, 2007:
The U.S. Coast
Guard has formed a commando unit. The Deployable Operations Group (DOG). The
unit would be trained for scuba operations, so they could look for mines or
underwater bombs. DOG would also be capable to taking out terrorists who had
seized an off-shore oil platform, or port facility ashore. The unit will
consist of several hundred highly trained personnel. Planning for the formation
of DOG began right after September 11, 2001, but was delayed by the formation
of the Department of Homeland Security (which absorbed the Coast Guard). DOG
was officially activated on July 20th. DOG will include personnel from the
Department of Homeland Security, as well as the Coast Guard. This will tactical
law enforcement teams, maritime safety and security teams, port security units,
and oil, chemical and biological response teams. DOG will be fully operational next Summer.
DOG headquarters will be located near Coast Guard headquarters in Washington.
Since the Coast Guard is
usually the first one on the scene if there is any terrorist activity in U.S.
coastal waters, they want to save some time by having DOG immediately available
for action. Otherwise, the Coast Guard would have to call in similar operators
from the FBI or SOCOM (the Department of Defense Special Operations Command).