In every Coast Guard mission, the role of officers is to lead talented men and women - and leadership responsibility comes fast in America's smallest military service. Some Academy graduates have their first command as soon as two years after receiving their commission.

With so many exciting career opportunities available to Coast Guard officers, it's not surprising that Monster.com ranked "Coast Guard Officer" among its Top Ten Most Adventurous Jobs.

Consider these careers for Coast Guard officers:

• Aviation
• Engineering
• Afloat Operations
• Marine Environmental Safety and Environmental Protection
• Law Enforcement
• Homeland Security
• Finance
• Intergovernmental Operations
• Personnel and Training
• Port Operations and Waterways Management
• Intelligence
• Communications