Q 01/05

Which Founding Father persuaded Congress in 1790 to create the Revenue Cutter Service?

A) Alexander Hamilton

B) Thomas Jefferson

C) John Adams

D) Benjamin Franklin

Answer · why

A) Alexander Hamilton

As first Treasury Secretary he wanted the cutters to stop smugglers dodging the tariffs that funded the new government.

Q 02/05

The Coast Guard celebrates its birthday on which date, when Congress authorized ten revenue cutters in 1790?

A) July 4

B) January 28

C) March 1

D) August 4

Answer · why

D) August 4

The Tariff Act also authorized just 40 revenue officers; each cutter got one master and three mates.

Q 03/05

The modern Coast Guard was created on 28 January 1915 by merging the revenue cutters with which agency?

A) The Life-Saving Service

B) The Lighthouse Service

C) The Steamboat Inspection Service

D) The Bureau of Navigation

Answer · why

A) The Life-Saving Service

The Life-Saving Service's surfmen had an unofficial motto: 'You have to go out, but you don't have to come back.'

Q 04/05

What is the Coast Guard's Latin motto?

A) Semper Fidelis

B) Semper Paratus

C) Semper Supra

D) Semper Vigilans

Answer · why

B) Semper Paratus

It means 'Always Ready'; the Marines' Semper Fidelis and Space Force's Semper Supra are the others.

Q 05/05

Which federal department has the Coast Guard operated under in peacetime since 2003?

A) Department of Defense

B) Department of Transportation

C) Homeland Security

D) Department of the Treasury

Answer · why

C) Homeland Security

It sat in the Treasury from 1790 to 1967 and Transportation from 1967 to 2003, and can be transferred to the Navy in wartime.