[xone]

NOAA and Public Health Service are the hard ones.

You gotta be near DC for those, never saw either, not in the desert, or Oki or the boat. Leaving me to conclude that while they exist, they do squat for the pointy end of the spear.

[LonePalm]

You gotta be near DC for those, never saw either, not in the desert, or Oki or the boat. Leaving me to conclude that while they exist, they do squat for the pointy end of the spear.

Only partially true. They just have different jobs.

The Public Health Service was created to look after the Merchant Marine. These days they seem to focus mostly on infectious diseases. They work closely with the CDC.

NOAA is primarily known for the National Weather Service. Along with the National Ocean Service and National Geodetic Survey. They are essential to the functioning of the pointy end of the spear. They produce all of the maps and charts for the other services and civilian commerce.

SpyNavy

Garde la Foi, mes amis! Nous nous sommes les sauveurs de la République! Maintenant et Toujours!
(Keep the Faith, my friends! We are the saviors of the Republic! Now and Forever!)
LonePalm, le Républicain du verre cassé (The Broken Glass Republican)