Cape & Islands Division 11

America's Volunteer Lifesavers^sm

Division Captain's message to new visitors to our web site.

Welcome to the Division 11 web site. An Act of Congress founded the United States Coast Guard Auxiliary in September 1939 (then known as the CG Reserve) to assist the Coast Guard in its mission of boater safety and education. World War II and many new missions for the members quickly overcame that purpose including beach patrols, offshore patrols on members own vessels with the “Corsair Fleet” looking for enemy submarines. Many German submarine crews were surprised to find a civilian style vessel peering at them as they surfaced along the Atlantic coast.

The Cape Cod area in those days was part of Division 6, but in the mid 1960’s was chartered as a separate division from the Cape Cod Canal to Provincetown. We now have six flotillas and over 300 members who perform a great variety of missions. The first mission is boater education with the teaching of many courses each year for the public.  During the boating season members patrol for the Coast Guard, relieving the active duty crews for law enforcement missions and off shore lifesaving. Vessel Safety Checks are performed free of charge for the recreational boaters to make sure that boaters have a safe and pleasant time.

Division 11 also has a large part in the saving of the Cape Cod lighthouses, adopting each of the Cape Cod lighthouses and acting as tour directors for public open houses all year round, as well as doing much maintenance on the buildings and grounds. 

A newer life saving mission involves Commercial Fishing Vessel Safety Checks and has resulted in several known cases where, although the vessel was lost, the fisherman were saved. This is also a voluntary, non-law enforcement program and in 2005 Div. 11 performed over 200 commercial fishing vessel examinations on the fishing fleets from Provincetown to the canal.

Additionally we have members who volunteer for administrative and communication watch stander duties at the various coast guard stations and Group Woods Hole, again relieving the active duty personnel for other more urgent training and missions. 

This is just a snapshot of Division 11’s many dedicated auxiliarists who devote hundreds of hours and many dollars to their chosen activities. Membership is open to all US citizens who have an interest in saving the lives of boaters and those participating in other water related activities.

It is with great pride and honor  that I am assuming the leadership of this group of dedicated individuals, and look forward to 2007 being another superior year for our division and those we serve.

Please visit our "Info about the Auxiliary" page for more information about the United States Coast Guard Auxiliary.

Michael J. Sekerak, DCP 11

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