Why does the Coast Guard make you pay for everything?

I'm former Air Force and now I'm in the Coast Guard, When I was in the Air Force I did not have to pay for any uniform items, such as stripes or boots. I could just go down to supply and pick it up. I didn't even have to pay for my gore-tex jacket. Now in the Coast Guard it seems like we have to pay for everything. Things like rank insignia to foul weather parkas. Why is this, when other branches of the military give you these things?