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George-
 
On USCG and USGCAux "boats" there should be crew with local piloting 
knowledge. On "ships" there is ample room for other navigation equipment. 
Remember, LORAN is still being funded. And they can afford inertial on the 
ships.
 Then there is one other thing about GPS: It can be backed up by the ex-Soviet 
system (still operational, I'm told) and the EU is sounding very serious 
about putting up a third new satnav system on order to avoid reliance on the 
US system. I have no idea if any older systems are operational, i.e. the 
actual "SatNav" system.
 But GPS will all its vulnerablities also has hardened satellites in orbit 
with active spares in orbit, it is unlikely to go away until someone launches 
a dozen "killer" satellites and goes to war with them. It would be much 
easier for a crew to drop and smash a sextant, than for their GPS system to 
go inactive.
 I can't disagree if the military has formally decided to drop celestial nav 
training. I don't think it has much of a role given the time and budget 
requirements these days, against the other options available. While cavalry 
sabers are also still functional, you don't see those being issued to the 
troops in the field any more either.

   

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