Coming from a commerial fishing family, I can tell you that we definitely appreciate the CG. It is very honourable service. Having contact with them from Alaska to California, the men and women of the Coast Guard has saved many, many lives. They are also part of enforcement and regulation as well doing things like bouy tending, etc. Kodiak has a huge base, and it covers a enormous area of Alaska. Lots of heroes there I can tell you.
I don't know this for certain (saw it on some documentary a few years ago), but the Coast Guard Academy is harder to get through than the other military academies. Someone else here might correct me if I am wrong. Also, aren't there CG in the Persian Gulf right now?
I have several friends who wound up here because of service in the Coast Guard. One went on to the Maritime Academy and became a tanker captain at 33, then a pilot (for large ships) in SE Alaska. Economically, he has thrived. If your son loves the sea, the CG or the Navy are the way to go. IMO
Did you mean harder to get into, or harder to get through.
Not that it means anything, just curious.