What is the toughest job in the United States Coast Guard? Why?

Any of the operational jobs are tough. It all depends on the weather you have to operate in. Being a boat coxswain is one of the toughest. Usually they are junior enlisted, responsible for the boat and crew. They are constantly making tough decisions to accomplish the mission and keep their crew safe. They often operate independently, far from shore, and in all weather. They also get very little recognition for their work. Being on an 82ft patrol boat, out of San Francisco, with a LtJg as CO, was also frightening. He didn't know what he was doing, so you really had to watch out for your own safety.

I would say it would have to be ASM... Or AST I believe they call it now.... Yes, the guys who jump from a perfectly working helicopter into 20 foot seas with 50kt winds.. Some of those guys were then left behind because after the rescue there was not enough room onboard and they had to wait for another helo... Not easy!!

With respect for my shipmates, I think all of our jobs are difficult and I think each of us doesn't understand fully what the other rates go through!
We are a great team!!!!

All, Everyone has a tough job that never give up..

I have no clue. I don't know anything about the Coast Guard. All I know is that they are on boats. I really wonder how many of us are really able to answer this.

Human Resources because they have to work past 1500 to type the Plan of the Day.

The Recruiter...... ;o)

I'd say their Search and Rescue folks, notably their swimmers.

i would have to say the ones that walk around on River Street, Savannah GA on St. Patricks day without giving in and grabbing a beed from a vendor.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1snF6PF0UTA

I was always rather singularly struck by this particular video...I'd always found it one of the more interesting I'd seen about USCG, you know? We also have a family friend who'd been Army enlisted, went Army WOCS for helicopters, finished his bachelors in aviation at Embry Riddle Univ, then went interservice to USCG for helicopters as well, either by direct commission, or by an OIS (indoc program), as opposed to their OCS, from what I'd gathered when he and I chatted at one point....

Cook, they work every holiday, weekends, and many have to cook all three meals which can be an 18hr work day, they get crapped on by the crew because the food they get from their supplier is the same type as cafeteria food.
You should feel how hot the galley and mess deck on a 378 is from the heat radiating from the engine room, mainly when the Shia is down by the equator, even the engineering divisions don't suffer in sweltering heat like that.