Boy do I agree with you. This thread got started because a high school kid posted a legitimate question about why someone would choose to join the smallest service. The USCG has its own challenges and rewards - they mostly stay out of the public eye and the young lady deserved to have a response that shed some light on all of their missions, their opportunities, life style and their drawbacks as well. Luigi's son's response was an interesting one that could have shed a lot of light on VMINROTC's original question. Apparently though an honest and thoughtful answer is too deep for many posting on this site. Too bad this was completely hijacked.
Every one of the services has a unique mission and the Coast Guard's is an old one that they perform outstandingly- in peace and war. Maritime Safety, Law Enforcement, Environmental Protection, Border Security and Military Readiness- what a great mix of missions. Since many of the posters seem only to focus on the military portion they might consider that the USCG is in the Gulf today, and in Vietnam they were there as well ( "Market Time" and CG Squadrons One and Three). But just like now, their other missions don't decrease or lose any focus or urgency when they send forces into a war zone- storms still hit mariners at sea, liberian merchant vessels still sail with hatchways held together with epoxy, illegals still keep coming at sea and laws still need to be enforced onthe high seas and they are there night and day. We all are beneficiaries of this multimission service.