[walesmd]

If you are in the Coast Guard you can go to Iraq/Afghanistan. I am in Kuwait right now and there are dozens of Coast Guard here, performing customs duty. Usually the Navy performs this but they've been tapped for years.

I've seen many Coasties doing customs in Iraq as well.

Plus, who do you think defends ports in the Middle East? It's not the Navy (for the most part) - they are an offensive force. Coasties perform patrols constantly within ports/harbors here.

Plus, the Coasties are the military's DEA - guess who's tackling the Opium problem in Afghanistan?