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Closing small boat stations has proven difficult. Leaving them unchanged is operationally inefficient. These units are enduring parts of the Coast Guard’s force structure, yet their full potential is not always realized. This article proposes a model to better align their m...
The strongest version of this narrative acknowledges the Coast Guard’s operational constraints while proposing a pragmatic solution to modernize its force structure. The article correctly identifies the political and community barriers to closing small boat stations, as well as the growing demand for surge capacity in an era of climate-driven disasters and migration pressures. It also highlights the Coast Guard’s unique flexibility in addressing diverse national needs, from maritime law enforcem...