What is the Coast Guard Auxiliary?  

The Auxiliary is the volunteer civilian, non-military component of the United States Coast Guard. Auxiliarists serve side-by-side with members of the Coast Guard and wear similar uniforms. We are a diverse group of about 40,000 people. Our love of the water, knowledge of boating, and willingness to serve fellow boaters binds us together to promote safe boating.

In the 1930's, as today, most calls for help resulted from boaters' lack of basic seamanship knowledge or ignorance of the law. As a result, the Coast Guard, which is responsible for maintaining pleasure boat safety standards, decided it needed a new approach to the problem of water safety. Thus, the United States Congress in 1939 established what was to become the Auxiliary to help promote water safety. In 1941, Congress gave it the title of the United States Coast Guard Auxiliary.

The Auxiliary built its foundation on four cornerstones, Public Education, Vessel Examination, Operations, and Fellowship. The Vessel Examination program offers boaters free, annual checks of their boats' safety equipment and a general view of other equipment. Its Operations program helps in search and rescue efforts, regatta patrols, boat parades, and other similar efforts. Its Public Education courses reach people in all age groups.   The Vessel Examination and Public Education programs help prevent problems.

Operations also seeks to prevent problems, but when needed, it does search and rescue (SAR) missions. We think of our Public Education program as preventive SAR.  Members use their boats, aircraft, or marine radio stations for SAR missions. They equip them at their own expense. The Coast Guard repays them for fuel used in Operations and for any damage to their facilties while on missions.

The Fourth cornerstone, Fellowship, binds us together. All work and no play make for a dull organization, and the Auxiliary is not dull. We train together, work together on SAR and other missions, have social gatherings, and have area and national conferences where friendships are made and renewed at meetings, dinners, and parties.

The Coast Guard Auxiliary is a Service Organization. It requires time, financial support, and dedication to new knowledge. We give our time to train and to serve. We buy our own uniforms and equip our boats or aircraft. We have many opportunities for special training. The Auxiliary does much of this, and the Coast Guard gives us some help.

The "pay" is great. We get immeasurable satisfaction from our volunteer service. We take satisfaction in knowing that we are trained and able to meet the demands placed upon us. In the words of a National Commodore, "There is no greater satisfaction than service to a fellow human being, especially the saving of a life". The rewards of knowing that you have performed important services are many. The "thank you" received from a student or from a boater whom you have helped makes it worthwhile.

There is a place for YOU in the Coast Guard Auxiliary. Please consider joining us. Make it a family affair. We need both women and men.

If you are interested in joining the Coast Guard Auxiliary, contact Flotilla Commander Richard Lindley at 979-648-2812 or by e-mail at: USCGA710@laward.com