Baja Daze- What do you want to do? Simple question, might be a difficult answer. All the posts so far have given very good info. I've been Active Duty Air Force for the past 25 years and have operated with Army, Navy, Marines, Coast Guard, FBI, Dept. of Energy and several foreign nations. It has been my experience that the choice I made early was the correct one for me. I don't think one service is better than another, just different missions and different philosophies. It all comes back to the origional question...what do you want to do?

sorry, sent the reply post to the wrong guy, should have been Hyper Baja...oops

One of my friends went into the CG right out of High School. He's done well, and is still in it.
Cool boats? Not in the CG. Try Customs or the like.
I work with the fine people at USCG Miami Beach. They have one of our lifts for their AMBAR and Safe Boat.
See pic. 200 Mercs, that's it.

I enlisted in 1984-90.... Cape May, Honolulu, Governor's Island NY, Wildwood NJ..... Coast Guard is a fabulous branch!!! Think about it... boats.. boats... boats and where are most of the Coast Guard stations.... near water and resort towns!!!!! Fabulous!!!!!

Want to come to Ft.Lauderdale Fl and install boat lifts???
I'll give you a cool boat... a floating boat lift with a 5hp Merc should get you the chicks.
we pay what the CG does, and drug runners don't shoot at you...they buy from you!:D

USCG is now a part of DHS (Department of Homeland Security). While their mission is not changing, the politics are. I still believe they will fall under an arm of the Navy in time of war.

When you enlist, you will fill out a "dream sheet" of where you would like to be stationed, however your ASVAB scores; vacancies, and job/training placement, will ultimately decide where you will be stationed.

4 years, USAF, sent to Pentagon; 1992-1996
(BEST DECISION I EVER MADE IN MY LIFE!!!!)
(I was Crypto for those of you in the know.)

Still working with DoD, DHS, FBI, DoE, State, 'intelligence', and assorted in Washington DC area.