Welcome to the Flotilla 24-8, District 5SR Web Site
WELCOME TO FLOTILLA 054-24-08 GAITHERSBURG, MD!
SERVING SINCE 1974
CREATING A POSITIVE ENVIRONMENT, PROMOTING PERSONAL SUCCESS
BRAVO ZULU!
When you join the Coast Guard Auxiliary, you become a part of a unique force of volunteers from all walks of life who bring their skills, interests, training and life experiences to promote recreational boating safety, while acting as a force multiplier in support of Coast Guard Authorized mission.You could find yourself on patrol saving lives and property, assisting in marine safety and environmental protection, radio watch standing, educating the public on boating safety, doing free vessel safety checks, or as a volunteer in the CG Health Unit, as an interpreter, even serving as a Chaplain or as an Auxiliary chef. IMAGINE THE POSSIBILITIES!
On 29 June 2025 Flotilla 054-24-08 will work with the entire 24th and 25th divisions of the United States Coast Guard Auxiliary for a Public Affairs / Public Education event at Great Falls National Park in McLean Virginia.
These events will focus on water safety, boating safety, proper wearing of a US Coast Guard Approved life vest and teach patrons of the park about their US Coast Guard Auxiliary.
There will also be other events throughout the day that we are there including Marine Safety cleanup to help and assist the park with its clean up efforts to keep our Parks and Waters clean of litter.
The park is located at 9200 Old Dominion Dr, McLean, VA 22102 and will be held from 9 am to 1 pm on 29 June 2025
However, if you miss this event there will be another event on the Maryland side of Great Falls on 12 July 2025 located at 11710 Macarthur Blvd, Potomac, MD 20854
These will be long term events going forward with YOUR Park service and we hope you will come and enjoy the park and learn how to stay safe at the same time.
We look forward to seeing you there
For more information, please visit the National Park Service Website here
Great Falls National Park Safety Day Festival
Happy Birthday United States Coast Guard Auxiliary
Actual Birthday Message Document
23 JUN 2025
FM: CHDIRAUX
TO: ALAUX
ALAUX 024/25
Subj: EIGHTY-SIXTH ANNIVERSARY OF THE UNITED STATES COAST GUARD
AUXILIARY
1. On June 23, 2025, we celebrate the 86th anniversary of the Coast Guard Auxiliary and its
unwavering service to Coast Guard missions and personnel. As generations march by,
Auxiliarists remain our uniformed volunteer sentinels of support ready to answer the Coast
Guard’s every call.
2. Founded by Congress in 1939 to provide the Coast Guard with a corps of volunteers who
owned motorboats or yachts and dedicated to the promotion of maritime safety, Auxiliarists
have exercised unparalleled flexibility and resiliency as the array of Coast Guard mission needs
has grown over the years. Despite immense challenges ranging from wars to massive natural
disasters to even a world-wide pandemic, Auxiliarists have always been right alongside the
Coast Guard offering this fundamental truth, “We are here for you."
3. During the past year, Auxiliarists again distinguished themselves as consummate shipmates
and premier emissaries of maritime safety. They conducted more than 77 thousand recreational
vessel safety checks, distributed boating safety outreach materials to more than 66 thousand
stores and marinas, devoted more than 1.7 million hours of mission support, and unselfishly
accomplished it all by logging over 1.6 million miles of unreimbursed travel in their own
vehicles.
4. Auxiliarists also etched another distinguished list of operational and administrative
achievements into the Coast Guard’s legacy of excellence. Distinct and shining examples ranged
from critical post-Hurricane Milton overflights that helped quickly restore port operations in the
Seventh District to invaluable video production and forensic animation in support of the TITAN
submersible investigation to continued expansion of Auxiliary student programs that yielded
dozens of accessions into the Coast Guard Academy and Direct Commission Officer program as
well as into the Auxiliary.
5. Happy Birthday!...and a heartfelt, “Thank you!” to all Auxiliarists for the honor of their
service!
6. Internet release is authorized.
With utmost respect,
Brent R. Schmadeke
Captain, U.S. Coast Guard
Chief, Office of Auxiliary and Boating Safety (CG-BSX)
National Safe Boating Week 2025
R 131730Z MAY 25 MID120001931012U
FM COMDT COGARD WASHINGTON DC
TO ALCOAST
BT
UNCLAS
ALCOAST 218/25
SSIC 16210
SUBJ: NATIONAL SAFE BOATING WEEK
A. Recreational Boating Statistics, COMDTPUB P16754.37
B. Elijah Cummings Coast Guard Authorization Act of 2020,
Section 8316
C. COMDT COGARD WASHINGTON DC 291558Z APR 25/ALCOAST 202/25
1. National Wear Your Life Jacket at Work Day is Friday, 16 May, and
National Safe Boating Week (NSBW) is Saturday, 17 May, through
Friday, 23 May. The six most important things you can do:
a. Wear a life jacket,
b. Educate yourself through knowledge and skills-based training,
c. Wear your engine cut-off switch link,
d. Abstain from using alcohol while underway,
e. Register your Beacon, and
f. Get a free vessel safety check from the USCG Auxiliary at:
(Copy and Paste URL Below into Browser)
https://www.cgaux.org/vsc/
2. Since 1958, the week prior to Memorial Day weekend has
been designated NSBW. Boating remains a highly popular,
relatively safe, and memory-creating form of outdoor recreation.
Preventing loss of life and damage is nonetheless a goal we all
share, and I ask you to take precautions and encourage others to
do so to make boating as safe as possible. COMDT (CG-BSX) works
extensively with the States and the recreational boating safety
community on efforts to encourage model boating behavior.
To become more familiar with these efforts please visit:
(Copy and Paste URL Below into Browser)
https://www.uscgboating.org
3. Per REF (A), 75% of boating fatalities were drownings, and 87%
of those were victims that were not wearing life jackets. Please
encourage and incentivize life jacket wear (2024 statistics
will be released in June). Just like seatbelt wear, you never know
when you will need it, but when you do, it's critical. Most states
require life jacket wear by children. For adults, an inflatable life
jacket is not cumbersome and easy to don. REF (A), the 2023
Recreational Boating Statistics, may be found at:
(Copy and Paste URL Below into Browser)
https://uscgboating.org/statistics/
4. Boater Education makes a difference. Our statistics show that 75%
of fatalities occurred on boats where the operator did not receive
safety instruction. Applicable state boating education requirements
may be found by visiting the state boating law section at:
(Copy and Paste URL Below into Browser)
https://uscgboating.org/regulations/state-boating-laws.php
5. Wearing an engine cut-off switch (ECOS) link became a requirement
in most situations when REF (B) modified 46 U.S.C. Section 4312.
Specific circumstances when ECOS link wear is required,
frequently asked questions, and supporting information
may be found at:
(Copy and Paste URL Below into Browser)
https://uscgboating.org/recreational-boaters/engine-cut-offdevices.php
6. New fire extinguisher regulations for recreational vessels took
effect on April 20, 2022. These regulations do not change
the number of fire extinguishers required onboard. Per these
regulations, owners of recreational vessels are now relieved from
certain inspection, maintenance, and record keeping requirements.
A series of frequently asked questions and supporting information
may be found at:
(Copy and Paste URL Below into Browser)
https://uscgboating.org/recreational-boaters/fire-extinguisherfaq.php
7. Alcohol consumption remains the single greatest contributing
factor in recreational boating fatalities. Last year, 17% of
deaths involved alcohol. We believe these numbers may be under
reported, since data from NHTSA on alcohol involvement in motor
vehicle deaths is higher. Please encourage sober boating on our
Nation's waters. Per REF (C), if you are an operational unit,
please participate in Operation Dry Water (ODW) which takes place
July 4-6.
8. During National Safe Boating Week, all Coast Guard units and
commands are encouraged to participate in activities and special
events that highlight safe boating. Units are encouraged to
collaborate with their District Recreational Boating Safety
Specialists, while planning National Safe Boating Week public
outreach strategies and events such as Sector and Station open
houses, and Auxiliary involvement.
9. POC: Tom Dardis, COMDT (CG-BSX-2) at: (571) 607-7393 or
[email protected].
10. RADM Wayne R. Arguin, Assistant Commandant for Prevention
Policy (CG-5P), sends.
11. Internet release is authorized
FM COMDT COGARD WASHINGTON DC
TO ALCOAST
BT
UNCLAS
ALCOAST 218/25
SSIC 16210
SUBJ: NATIONAL SAFE BOATING WEEK
A. Recreational Boating Statistics, COMDTPUB P16754.37
B. Elijah Cummings Coast Guard Authorization Act of 2020,
Section 8316
C. COMDT COGARD WASHINGTON DC 291558Z APR 25/ALCOAST 202/25
1. National Wear Your Life Jacket at Work Day is Friday, 16 May, and
National Safe Boating Week (NSBW) is Saturday, 17 May, through
Friday, 23 May. The six most important things you can do:
a. Wear a life jacket,
b. Educate yourself through knowledge and skills-based training,
c. Wear your engine cut-off switch link,
d. Abstain from using alcohol while underway,
e. Register your Beacon, and
f. Get a free vessel safety check from the USCG Auxiliary at:
(Copy and Paste URL Below into Browser)
https://www.cgaux.org/vsc/
2. Since 1958, the week prior to Memorial Day weekend has
been designated NSBW. Boating remains a highly popular,
relatively safe, and memory-creating form of outdoor recreation.
Preventing loss of life and damage is nonetheless a goal we all
share, and I ask you to take precautions and encourage others to
do so to make boating as safe as possible. COMDT (CG-BSX) works
extensively with the States and the recreational boating safety
community on efforts to encourage model boating behavior.
To become more familiar with these efforts please visit:
(Copy and Paste URL Below into Browser)
https://www.uscgboating.org
3. Per REF (A), 75% of boating fatalities were drownings, and 87%
of those were victims that were not wearing life jackets. Please
encourage and incentivize life jacket wear (2024 statistics
will be released in June). Just like seatbelt wear, you never know
when you will need it, but when you do, it's critical. Most states
require life jacket wear by children. For adults, an inflatable life
jacket is not cumbersome and easy to don. REF (A), the 2023
Recreational Boating Statistics, may be found at:
(Copy and Paste URL Below into Browser)
https://uscgboating.org/statistics/
4. Boater Education makes a difference. Our statistics show that 75%
of fatalities occurred on boats where the operator did not receive
safety instruction. Applicable state boating education requirements
may be found by visiting the state boating law section at:
(Copy and Paste URL Below into Browser)
https://uscgboating.org/regulations/state-boating-laws.php
5. Wearing an engine cut-off switch (ECOS) link became a requirement
in most situations when REF (B) modified 46 U.S.C. Section 4312.
Specific circumstances when ECOS link wear is required,
frequently asked questions, and supporting information
may be found at:
(Copy and Paste URL Below into Browser)
https://uscgboating.org/recreational-boaters/engine-cut-offdevices.php
6. New fire extinguisher regulations for recreational vessels took
effect on April 20, 2022. These regulations do not change
the number of fire extinguishers required onboard. Per these
regulations, owners of recreational vessels are now relieved from
certain inspection, maintenance, and record keeping requirements.
A series of frequently asked questions and supporting information
may be found at:
(Copy and Paste URL Below into Browser)
https://uscgboating.org/recreational-boaters/fire-extinguisherfaq.php
7. Alcohol consumption remains the single greatest contributing
factor in recreational boating fatalities. Last year, 17% of
deaths involved alcohol. We believe these numbers may be under
reported, since data from NHTSA on alcohol involvement in motor
vehicle deaths is higher. Please encourage sober boating on our
Nation's waters. Per REF (C), if you are an operational unit,
please participate in Operation Dry Water (ODW) which takes place
July 4-6.
8. During National Safe Boating Week, all Coast Guard units and
commands are encouraged to participate in activities and special
events that highlight safe boating. Units are encouraged to
collaborate with their District Recreational Boating Safety
Specialists, while planning National Safe Boating Week public
outreach strategies and events such as Sector and Station open
houses, and Auxiliary involvement.
9. POC: Tom Dardis, COMDT (CG-BSX-2) at: (571) 607-7393 or
[email protected].
10. RADM Wayne R. Arguin, Assistant Commandant for Prevention
Policy (CG-5P), sends.
11. Internet release is authorized