Why Join?
Are you looking for adventure while serving your country and your community?
If you are looking for some adventure in your life, consider joining the U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary. Wherever your interests lie, and whatever life skills you have, chances are that the Coast Guard Auxiliary can offer you an area to serve that will enrich your life in ways you may not have imagined.
The Auxiliary offers you a unique opportunity to make a real difference in your local community and across the country.
We welcome and recognize your past experience, skills and talent. We challenge you to have fun learning new skills and qualifications in company with a very special group of volunteers. The Coast Guard Auxiliary offers a number of opportunities, but the tasks can generally be divided into three service areas:
Recreational Boating Safety
One of the Auxiliary's primary missions is recreational boating safety. This mission is accomplished by qualified members delivering Public Safety Boating Education training and classes, by providing voluntary vessel safety checks to boaters, by visiting with and educating local marine related industries, and by general outreach to the boating public through boat shows and other public venues and events.
Operations and Marine Safety
For those interested in boating, the Auxiliary offers a rigorous level of hands-on training and qualification as boat-crew and coxswain. Qualified Auxiliarists perform regular safety patrol missions in their local area and support local boating activities on-the-water such as regattas, fireworks & fleet visits.
In addition, the Auxiliary works side-by-side with their active-duty USCG counterparts in many other mission areas, including environmental protection, Commercial Vessel Safety Inspections, Port Security and Planning, Licensing and Documentation, and other vital operational roles. Auxiliarists receive training virtually identical to that of their active duty and reserve counterparts.
Mission Support
The Auxiliary needs people with leadership, administrative and technical skills (such as web site design, computer server administration, graphic design, photography, videography, communications, public relations/public affairs, instruction and instructional design, and personnel services) to support those Auxiliarists involved in the recreational boating safety and operations & marine safety missions. There is also a very active Interpreter Corps, that has more than 400 interpreters that speak over 50 languages and perform translation missions of support to the International Affairs Directorate.
Incident Management
The Coast Guard utilizes the Incident Management Center concept when responding to Natural Disasters i.e., floods and hurricanes in order to effect a safe and effectual evacuation system. We are trained in these systems and assist the Active Duty Coast Guard in their response to assist our nation in times of natural disasters. Members of this unit were able to assist in this manner in recent hurricanes and floods, i.e., Hurricanes Harvey, Michael or Maria.
Guardian Benefits
Above and beyond the intrinsic benefits we all receive by volunteering our time and talents, serving as Auxiliarists, we are privileged to receive many other benefits not available to other volunteer organizations. Both directly through your service as a volunteer member of a component of the United States Coast Guard, and through the National Board of the United States Coast Guard Auxiliary Association, Inc. these benefits are provided to you as an enhancement of your volunteer service. The following is a listing of some of those benefits.
Base Exchange Shopping Privileges
Auxiliarists in uniform or with proper identification, can purchase anything sold in the Coast Guard Exchange Stores, or online through the Coast Guard Exchange System excluding state tax free items. Dependents may accompany Auxiliarists to the Exchange, but may not make individual purchases. Coast Guard Auxiliarists are also welcome at Department of Defense Exchanges, but according to current policy, only uniform items or accessories may be purchased.
Uniforms and Awards
The pride of wearing the Coast Guard uniform as an Auxiliarist is amplified by awards and advancement, with ample opportunities to receive recognition by completing Coast Guard training courses and participating in missions as directed by current Coast Guard regulations, policy, or federal law. The Auxiliary, having special status as a component of the United States Coast Guard means that you have the opportunity to earn many of the same awards and decorations as active duty or reserve members of the Coast Guard.
Tax Deductions
Uniforms, their cleaning and maintenance, and reasonable out of pocket expenses incurred in the performance of your duties are "considered" contributions for tax purposes. The foregoing is not intended to be advice on deductions. You should consult your professional tax advisor.
Insurance Coverage
The Auxiliary, as a component of the Coast Guard is at all times considered to be a Federal Instrumentality by law. This means while you are assigned to duty by proper authority you are entitled to certain protections just as any other member of the Coast Guard. Such protection includes medical, hospitalization, disability and death benefits should an accident occur in the performance of your duty. If your boat, aircraft or other authorized Auxiliary facility is damaged or destroyed while legitimately engaged in Coast Guard operations, coverage for repairs or replacement may be provided. Government liability coverage protects the Auxiliarist from third party claims made as a result of actions that occur when the Auxiliarist is performing authorized missions and has been properly assigned to duty.
Coast Guard Federal Credit Union
The Coast Guard Credit Union provides all the services of a bank, but returns profits to the members instead of the stockholders. From savings and checking accounts to home equity lines of credit, the Credit Union has a lot to offer.
Coast Guard Mutual Assistance
Mutual Assistance provides an emergency fund that can provide fast financial relief when a member faces an unexpected or "impossible" financial burden that would cause personal hardship if no assistance were provided. Auxiliarists may apply for such a loan and are considered as "Sponsor Members" under the program. If approved, the emergency loan is interest free.
Work-Life Programs
Auxiliarists can take advantage of certain Coast Guard Work-life Programs such as:
• Family Wellness,• Dependent Resources,
• Employee Assistance,
• Relocation Assistance
Esprit de Corps
One of the in tangible benefits of serving your country is comradeship. training, completing missions, and the over all service experience is best understood through sharing it with those we serve with. In addition, you will find a special camaraderie among Auxiliarists that is unique to serving our nation as a volunteer. Along with our missions we find time to relax and have fun at morale events, training sessions, patrols, meeting the public teaching boating safety classes, and conferences. Through your Auxiliary service you will make lasting, meaningful friendships both in and outside of the Coast Guard.