What is the Coast Guard Auxiliary?

     Since its creation by Congress in 1939, the U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary (the Auxiliary) has served as the civilian, non military component of the Coast Guard. Today, the 27,000 volunteer men and women of the Auxiliary are active on the waterways and classrooms in over 2,000 cities and towns across the nation.

     Each year, Auxiliarists save almost 500 lives, assist some 15,000 boaters in distress, conduct more than 150,000 vessel safety checks of recreational vessels, and teach over 500,000 participants in boating and water safety programs.The results of these efforts saves taxpayers hundreds of millions of dollars every year.

Why Join the Auxiliary?

Be Part of the Action & Help Save Lives

     Since the recreational boating population in the United States is growing rapidly, the Coast Guard Auxiliary needs a few good men and women like you.

     As an Auxiliarist, you will have the opportunity to select and participate in one or more of the Auxiliary's major programs.

     If you feel strongly about the rewards you can get from serving your community, the Coast Guard Auxiliary is the right place for you!

     You can choose from on-the-water Operations, the Auxiliary's Public Education Program, Vessel Safety Check Program, Radio Watchstander, Coast Guard Recruiting, Marine Environmental Protection or Coast Guard Administration and many more exciting areas. Pick one or all! The choice is yours!

Increase Your Skills

     The Auxiliary and the Coast Guard provide specialized training on all aspects of boating, as well as leadership and administration. Auxiliarists receive valuable training in seamanship and related skills, and enjoy the sense of confidence of knowing that they are better and safer boaters.

Support the Coast Guard

     Auxiliarists provide direct operational and administrative support to many local Coast Guard units. You can wear the Coast Guard Auxiliary uniform and become part of Team Coast Guard. When you qualify through training, you can take part in Search and Rescue operations, stand radio watch at the Coast Guard Station, work with the Marine Safety Office on pollution matters or work in the Recruiting Office.

Service to Your Community

     Auxiliarists aren't paid with money, but with satisfaction. We furnish and maintain our own equipment and can choose to participate at a level tailored to our individual capabilities. We provide boating safety programs for youth and adults and examine recreational vessels for safety equipment to ensure that our neighbors will be safe on the waterways.

Enjoy Fun & Fellowship

     In all activities, we enjoy fellowship - the good company of other Auxiliarists at meetings and training sessions, on patrols and other missions and at ceremonies and social events. One of the Auxiliary's trademarks is good old-fashioned hospitality. Friends, neighbors and interested members of the public are always welcome to attend one of our flotilla meetings. In addition, dedication to boating safety provides the atmosphere for getting together to swap boating experiences and participate in cruises and rendezvous. You'll find a special camaraderie among Auxiliarists that's hard to beat. There's time to relax and have fun at Auxiliary outings, training sessions, patrols, VSCs, classes, and conferences. Auxiliarists make lasting, meaningful friendships. Knowing that you belong to a special group of people and directly participate in helping save lives gives your Auxiliary membership a special meaning.

     The Auxiliary has members in all 50 States, Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, American Samoa, and Guam. The only qualifications you need to become a member of the US coast Guard Auxiliary are the following:

1. Be a U.S. Citizen
2. Be over 17 years of age
   
3. Clear a background check*

If you would like more information about joining the U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary, would like to take a tour of our facility or would like to attend a monthly Flotilla Meeting, please contact the Flotilla Human Resources Officer (FSO-HR) Lawrence A. Vars at [email protected]

*To meet the increasing demands of the Coast Guard, (due to the sensitive nature of some of its missions), the Department of Homeland Security has also mandated that all prospective Auxiliary members submit to, and be qualified in, terms of security by utilizing citizenship verification, fingerprint and background check. Those who are cleared will be eligible for membership in the Auxiliary.