The Coast Guard Base, like hundreds of other military installations, uses private security because it is cost effective. The price of training, billeting and quartering military personnel to do that job is far, far higher than paying a contract security company, which is responsible for benefits, etc. Even at highly critical bases, first line security is almost always handled by contract guards. Along with every coastie, marine or airman comes his housing, dependents, etc. and prevents him from being in another assignment.