Yep.
Can you present an argument to the American people that a 10 year enlisted veteran can do something that a new recruit can't?
Sure. I'm a Surfman, BMCS(E-8) and Officer in Charge of a Station in the Coast Guard. I have just about 20 years of active duty and another 6 years of reserve time. Most of that is in the Coast Guard but I also served in the Navy and the Army Reserve. Depending on whether a Seaman or Fireman goes to "A" school or strikes the rate of Boatswains Mate it takes anywhere from 1 to 3 years to become a BM3(E-4) in the Coast Guard. It takes about 1 month to certify them as a watchstander, 6 months after that to certify them as crewman on the two boat types we have, and another month after that to certify as a Boarding Team Member. Once that person gets certified as a crewman they start breaking in as a Coxswain, the driver of the boat. That will take six months to a year. After that they start breaking in as a Heavy Weather Coxswain and then as a Surfman. It took me from 1994 to 1999 to get certified as a Surfman, with some time off for an injury. Right now it takes anywhere from 5 to 6 years to certify a Surfman.
In addition to all of the experience that person is gaining driving a boat in heavy weather, they are also gaining experience with training and leading the crewmen and engineers on the boat. They are learning to maintain, repair and inspect the boats so that they are ready for sea. They are learning the training program, how to procure supplies, going to school to become a Boarding Officer and enforce all of the federal laws and regulations that we have to enforce. All of that is directed towards preparing that BM to become the Officer in Charge (OIC) of a station or cutter.
Enlisted people get called OIC to differentiate us from a Commanding Officer but the responsibilities are the same. At the ten year mark most BM's are just getting to the point where they have both the technical expertise and the leadership to pass their Officer in Charge Review Board, screen successfully for a command, and then take command of a unit. My OIC review board was two hours long. There were seven or eight people sitting on the board ranging from Master Chiefs, Warrant Officers, a civilian employee, and a Captain (O-6).
During that board they fired question after question at me for about two hours straight on everything from SAR policy, General Salvage policy, training programs, galley management, policies such as sexual harrassment, DADT, Tuition Assistance, maintenance of the boats and stations, how to deal with personnel issues such as rape, sexual assault, drug or alcohol problems, etc. etc.
My board was pretty short because I did well. The board can go up to three hours. The success rate for the boards is pretty low, very few people pass the Sector or Group pre board and then pass the District Board on the first try. Somebody with one or two years in the Coast Guard couldn't possibly answer any of those questions or have a good working knowledge of all of those programs. I also bring a lot more knowledge and experience to my job than an officer would ever be able to, because they have not been driving small boats for their whole career. That isn't a dig at officers in the Guard, we just have different jobs. I also happen to be cheaper to pay, train and feed than commissioned officers.
If I were to leave the Coast Guard today and go to work as a commercial salvor or take my expertise and go to a company like Sea Ark or SAFE Boat I could expect a pretty substantial payraise. Go to work as a cop because of my law enforcement experience? My pay would be about the same as now with the potential for a lot more earnings. I can only advance one more time in the Coast Guard so my pay is pretty close to being maxed out right now. If the Coast Guard were to discharge every enlisted person who had more than 10 years service we would come to a grinding halt. If we tried to contract that work out? Good luck on keeping your costs down. Try getting Sea Tow or Tow Boat US to come out in the weather that we go out in. Not to mention the chances of contracting out jobs like Rescue Swimmer in a helo, diver, etc.
I haven't even touched on the knowledge of our Machinery Technicians (MK) and all of the stuff that they know about the boats, engines, PMS, and the fact that most of them are great boatcrewman because of the experience they have. I know plenty of MKs who left the Coast Guard and went to work for Detroit Diesel, Honda, Cummins or Paxman facilities and started earning some serious cash.
I have also worked closely with the Border Patrol in the past. Border Patrol Agents are pretty damn impressive with the knowledge and professionalism that I have seen them demonstrate, but that all comes from experience. Some of them have been stationed in the same area for 8 or 10 years and know those places like the back of their hand. They are the ones who pass that knowledge on to the newer agents. If they were let go all that experience would be going with them. Same thing with Customs. I would bet that most of the LEO's on here would echo what I am saying about both of those agencies.