Are You More Coast Guard or Navy?

By: Zoe Samuel
Estimated Completion Time
4 min
Are You More Coast Guard or Navy?
Image: bwilking / E+ / Getty Images

About This Quiz

The US Navy was founded on Oct. 13, 1775, a full year before the publication of the Declaration of Independence. The US Coast Guard was founded Aug. 4, 1790, several years after America won its independence, as the US Revenue Cutter Service, which was an arm of the tax man under Alexander Hamilton. Which is older? It depends on who you ask. The Navy is "older," but the Coast Guard has been in continuous operation longer than the Navy.

The duties of the Navy and the duties of the Coast Guard are similar but different in key ways. The Coast Guard grew out of a need to police trade, whereas the Navy got its start as a weapon of war. The Navy travels all over the world, both on military missions and humanitarian ones. The Coast Guard deals with certain domestic duties that the Navy does not. Most markedly, the Coast Guard remains in the US and its territorial waters for mission specific reasons, meaning Coast Guardsmen can expect to live someplace where people speak English, whereas a sailor in the Navy can expect to spend time living in places like South Korea, Japan or non-English-speaking nations in Europe.

Are you ready to be "a global force for good" or are you more suited to protecting the home front? Take this quiz and find out!

What do you see as the number one issue facing the United States?
Illegal importation of drugs
Immigration
The balance of power between the superpowers
Health care

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What kind of private sector job would you like if you were not in the service?
I'd want to work for a charity.
I'd be a teacher.
I'd work for an NGO.
I'd want to work for a startup.

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Which of these archaic ships appeals to you the most?
A Spanish frigate
A sloop
A schooner
A canoe

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Which sensory input comes to mind when you think of going to sea?
The smell of the brine
The wind on my face
The churn of the waves
Seasickness

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How do you feel about trying strange foreign foods?
Gross!
I'll try anything after a few drinks.
I'm all in!
I can be persuaded, but I need time.

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If you could own a pleasure boat, what kind would it be?
A catamaran
A 75-foot yacht
A motorized fishing boat
A radio-controlled cigarette boat

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How facile are you with learning languages?
I'm great at it!
I'm middling with it.
I'm OK with it.
I don't know, I only speak 2 or 3 languages, so I've never really tried.

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If you speak a second language, or would want to learn one, which is it, or which would it be?
Spanish
French
Chinese
Klingon

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What would you name a ship, if given the opportunity?
The Snapping Swordfish
Queen Anne's Revenge
The President Ford
The Bad Investment

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What do you think is cool about commandos?
They are really good divers.
They're calm under pressure.
They can fight anyone!
They seem to have an air about them I like.

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What kind of aircraft would you most want to fly?
A Blackhawk helicopter
An F-16
An F-22
One in a video game

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How do you feel about the prospect of being targeted with long-range missiles?
Not good at all
What's to like? That's the deal, right?
I'd be totally fine with it, so long as I have some weapons of my own.
Completely terrified

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Which of these civilian government jobs sounds up your street?
Customs inspector
ATF
IRS Auditor
Pentagon analyst

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Do you mind if you spend all your time on a really huge ship where you have little "contact" with the sea?
I mind. I want to feel the spray on my face.
I wouldn't always mind, but I need to feel connected to the water sometimes.
I wouldn't mind at all.
I would rather have zero contact with the sea, ever.

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How long can you be away from home before homesickness kicks in?
A few weeks
A few months
A few years
A few days

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How important is it that you're usually surrounded by English speakers?
Very important
Pretty important
Not too important
Nothing matters to me more.

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Have you already served in a branch of the military?
Nope, but I have a family tradition.
Yes, I put in my 20.
No, but I've got some of the requisite skills already.
No, and I've no interest in serving in that way.

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How long do you plan on staying in your current career?
The foreseeable future
Until I retire
20 years or so
Until I get a better, more fulfilling offer

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In what non-combat task do your skills lie?
Helping the helpless
Diving
Meteorology
Paperwork

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How long have you wanted to serve your country?
I caught the bug a few months ago.
Since high school
Since college
All my life

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How do you look in Navy blue?
Not good at all
OK
Great!
Like I'm attending a private school

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How important to you are missions to help people who have suffered some sort of disaster?
The most important thing
Pretty darn important
Somewhat important
Not important, because I have nothing to offer

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How eager are you to be on the front lines of a war?
Not eager
I'm not dreaming about it.
I'm all up for it.
I'm terrified of that outcome.

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What would you enjoy about being a Navy SEAL?
Driving those cool rafts
Submarine explosives work
HALO jumps
Being a ninja

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What kind of technology would you most want to master while in the service?
Sonar
Medical tech
Computer technology
Six Sigma

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To which sort of corporate role are you best suited?
Grunt
Executive
Manager
Quant

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How do you express your patriotism?
I wear patriotic shirts.
I volunteer in the community.
I volunteer for worthy public projects.
I worked for the census.

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When you see West Point play Annapolis in football, on whom do you put your money?
Probably West Point
Annapolis, always!
Probably Annapolis
Go Army! West Point, baby!

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If you were in the military, to what rank would you aspire?
XO, so I'm flexible
Warrant Officer, MOS
I don't mind, so long as I get to do important work.
The lowest one

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Which sailor do you look up to the most?
Beau Bridges! He's also a funny guy!
Ferdinand Magellan
Christopher Columbus
Captain Crunch

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You Got: