"When asked by an incredulous Hannity who would then protect the country, Sandoval responded that "the cops" and "the Coast Guard" could do the job. He must have forgotten that the police force is otherwise occupied and that the Coast Guard is part of the U.S. military he so abhors."
Not that it would change Sandoval's mind but I thought the Coast Guard was part of homeland security now.
You are correct. And before that they were under the Dept. of Transportation (DOT).
That being said; I don't think (or know of) there having been any change in having Coast Guard recruits go through Navy basic training, before being sent to their duty station.
When I was in Great Lakes, myself, I remember the Coast Guard recruits being looked down upon by the others. It didn't take me too long to realize the error of that way of thinking....
In those days we learned;
N. never
A. again
V. volunteer
Y. yourself
Nowadays, I'm even considering reenlisting, but I won't.