Information about the Auxiliary

Why Join the Auxiliary?

When you become a member of the United States Coast Guard Auxiliary, you join a dedicated group of volunteers who love boating and who perform valuable services to the United States Coast Guard and Boating Public. Being an Auxiliarist will add a new dimension to your boating activities and will enable you to share in the worthwhile experience of assisting boaters and saving lives, as well as being an important part of Team Coast Guard.

Here's why you should join:

• You'll be working side-by-side with the United States Coast Guard to save lives and property.
• Knowing that you are helping to save lives - either directly through Search and Rescue Operations or indirectly, through the Auxiliary's Public Education and Courtesy Examination Programs.
• Special Training — the Auxiliary and the Coast Guard provide training on all aspects of boating.
• Fellowship — the Auxiliary provides opportunities to meet and have fun with fellow boaters and others with like interests.

Do you enjoy boating? Then, boat with the best:
The United States Coast Guard Auxiliary.

What are the Eligibility requirements?

Membership is open to citizens of the United States and its territories and possessions, who are 17 years of age or older and who have never been convicted of a felony. Facility (radio station, boat or aircraft) ownership is desirable, but not mandatory. Individuals with special training or experience in any Auxiliary program are encouraged to join. Membership is also open to all active duty or former members of any of the uniformed services and their reserve components.

There are many benefits

As an Auxiliarist, you have the opportunity to increase your knowledge of boating safety and acquire special training through advanced classes or by taking correspondence courses from the Coast Guard Institute. Instruction in navigation, meteorology, communications, and search and rescue operations enhances the value of you to the Auxiliary while adding to your own boating pleasure.

You will find great personal satisfaction in providing a valuable public service to the boaters. The possibility of saving lives — even one human life — is always in your path as an Auxiliarist.

Dedication to boating safety provides you with the atmosphere for getting together to swap boating experiences and participate in exercises, group outings, etc. You'll find special fellowship among Auxiliarists that's hard to beat. There's time to relax and have fun at Auxiliary outings, rendezvous, cruises and conferences. Auxiliarists make lasting, meaningful friendships.

There are Special Benefits for Young People.

If you're 17 years of age and thinking about a career in the Coast Guard, this is for YOU! You can join the Auxiliary, learn tremendous boating skills, advance your future career and pay in the Coast Guard while having fun learning in a friendly, supportive environment.

Under present Coast Guard recruiting requirements, Coast Guard recruits who are Auxiliarists in good standing and currently qualified at the level of Boat Crew in the Auxiliary Operations Program may be enlisted in pay grade E-2 (SA/FA) out of boot camp. Likewise, active duty Coast Guard personnel who are currently qualified as Auxiliary Vessel Coxswains may be enlisted up to a pay grade of E-3 (SN). What does that mean to you? It means Auxiliary membership and involvement translates into a monthly pay increase of over $100!

There are Dues and we wear Uniforms.

Naturally, there are dues to pay. Average dues are about $33.00 per year.  If you join mid-year, your dues are prorated for the first year.

You are entitled (and expected) to wear a uniform similar to those worn by the Coast Guard, but with different markings (silver rather than gold, basically). There are many Auxiliary activities that require you to wear a uniform in order to participate, especially when you are dealing with the public. The cost of a minimum uniform is very reasonable.

ABOUT THE AUXILIARY

PRELUDE

Tens-of-thousands of men and women of the U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary (the Auxiliary) have spent millions of volunteer hours helping the U.S. Coast Guard (the Coast Guard) carry out its mission. They have saved countless lives through their work and are probably best known for their boating safety classes and Vessel Safety Checks.

Here we present a broad knowledge of the Auxiliary, as we become an increasingly important member of "Team Coast Guard" — the combined Active, Reserve, Auxiliary and Civilian components of the Coast Guard.

HISTORY

When the Coast Guard "Reserve" was authorized by act of Congress on June 23, 1939, the Coast Guard was given a legislative mandate to use civilian volunteers to promote safety on and over the high seas and the nation's navigable waters. The Coast Guard Reserve was then a non-military service comprised of unpaid, volunteer U.S. citizens who owned motorboats or yachts.

Two years later, on Feb. 19, Congress amended the 1939 act with passage of the Auxiliary and Reserve Act of 1941. Passage of this act designated the Reserve as a military branch of the active service, while the civilian volunteers, formerly referred to as the Coast Guard Reserve, became the Auxiliary. So, February 19 is formally recognized as the birth of the Coast Guard Reserve while June 23 is recognized as birthday of the Coast Guard Auxiliary.

When America entered World War II, 50,000 Auxiliary members joined the war effort. They guarded waterfronts, carried out coastal picket patrols, rescued survivors from scuttled ships and did anything else they were asked to do. Many of their private vessels were placed into service.

After the war, Auxiliarists resumed their recreational boating safety duties. The Auxiliary's four cornerstones - Vessel Examination, Education, Operations and Fellowship - were established and remained the Auxiliary's pillars into the 1990s.

The well-known Vessel Safety Check, a free examination available to any recreational boater, helps boaters ensure their craft complies with Federal boating regulations.

As for Education, the Auxiliary teaches boating safety to recreational boaters of all ages.

The Auxiliary operates safety and regatta patrols and is an integral part of the Coast Guard Search and Rescue team. Auxiliarists also stand communication watches, assist during mobilization exercises, perform harbor and pollution patrols, provide platforms for unarmed boarding parties and recruit new people for the Service.

Following passage of the Coast Guard Authorization Act of 1996. the Auxiliary assists the Coast Guard, as authorized by the Commandant, in performance of any Coast Guard function, duty, role, mission or operation authorized by law.

ORGANIZATION

The Auxiliary has members in all 50 states, Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands, American Samoa, and Guam. Membership is open to men and women, 17 years or older, U.S. citizens of all states and territories, civilians or active duty or former members of any of the uniformed services and their Reserve components, including the Coast Guard. Facility (radio station, boat or aircraft) ownership is desirable but not mandatory. Although under the authority of the Commandant of the U.S. Coast Guard, the Auxiliary is internally autonomous, operating on four organizational levels: Flotilla, Division, District Regions and National.

• Flotilla - The Flotilla is the basic organizational unit of the Auxiliary and is comprised of at least 15 qualified members who carry out Auxiliary program activities. Every Auxiliarist is a member of a local Flotilla. Each Flotilla is headed by a Flotilla Commander (FC).

• Division - For maximum administrative effectiveness in carrying out Auxiliary programs, Flotillas in the same general geographic area are grouped into Divisions. The Division provides administrative, training and supervisory support to Flotillas and promotes District policy. Each Division is headed by a Division Captain (DCP), and Division Vice-Captain (VCP) and usually consists of five or more Flotillas.

• District/Region - Flotillas and Divisions are organized in Districts comparable to the Coast Guard Districts and must be assigned the same district number. Some Districts are further divided into Regions. The District/Region provides administrative and supervisory support to Divisions, promotes policies of both the District Commander and National Auxiliary Committee. All Districts and Regions are governed by a District Commodore (DCO), District Vice Commodore (VCO), and District Rear Commodore (RCO), under the guidance of the Coast Guard District Commander. At this level, Coast Guard officers are assigned to oversee and promote the Auxiliary programs.

• National - The Auxiliary has national officers who are responsible, along with the Commandant, for the administration and policy-making for the entire Auxiliary. These officers comprise the National Executive Committee (NEXCOM) that is composed of the Chief Director of Auxiliary (an Active Duty officer), National Commodore and the National Vice Commodores.
  
  NEXCOM and the National Staff make up the Auxiliary Headquarters organization. The Chief Director is a senior Coast Guard officer and directs the administration of the Auxiliary on policies established by the Commandant. The overall supervision of the Coast Guard Auxiliary is under the Assistant Commandant for Operations (G-O), who reports directly to the Commandant.

POSTLUDE

Auxiliarists are dedicated civilians who believe strongly in the Coast Guard and its missions. A hearty thank you is the only pay an Auxiliarist expects. Personally, we receive tremendous satisfaction for a job well done. We have proven valiant throughout the years and take the oath of membership seriously.

We contribute immeasurably and proudly to Team Coast Guard.

What do we do?

We conduct Safe Boating Courses for the public at no charge (other than the cost of books and materials) that may earn you discounts on your boat insurance. There are several types of courses available.

At your request, we can perform a FREE Vessel Safety Check. This is an audit of safety equipment on your boat. Only you are told of any deficiencies. If your boat passes the examination, we will affix a decal to your boat. Boat with confidence, knowing your equipment is up to safety standards.

Our Operations Program provides patrols for boat races and surface or air searches and rescues. In addition, we help the Coast Guard protect the marine environment and report on the condition of aids to navigation.

Availability permitting, we can provide you with speakers, safety booths and participants for parades as part of our Public Affairs mission.

© 2007 Division 11 1NR , Sector South Eastern New England