Difference between active duty Coast Guard and civilian Coast Guard?

[hagaleah]

I made a previous question titled "Civilian employee of the Coast Guard" and got a really good answer, but one thing I forgot to add to my question was, how do the job duties differ between an active duty member of the Coast Guard and a Federal/Civilian Employee of the Coast Guard? Do both have equal arrest powers and enforce maritime laws? Where does one specify which they want to apply for?

[arrigo]

Civilian (Federal) employees in the Coast Guard primarily serve in clerical (desk jobs) or support jobs (supply, training, administration). They don't go out on vessels etc. They merely serve as civilian employees - not as members of a crew like regular and reserves do.

Look for those jobs on the OPM website under Homeland Security:
http://www.usajobs.gov
You can search by agency, and apply.