Yep, as a mariner IMHO its the best investment you can make. The Coast Guard will come out and save your a** when you need them.
When your drifting 200 miles from shore in 20ft seas with nothing but a PFD keeping you afloat, on a cold stormy night; they are angles.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gp32mUEuM3k&feature=player_embedded
The Coast Guard Academy is also the hardest school to get into in this country. They won't even look at you if your GPA isn't at least 4.0, they don't care who your daddy is either. They only want the best of the best.