Welcome to Flotilla 35-07 - Calumet Harbor, Chicago, Illinois

 "And what organization wouldn't be envious of our all volunteer workforce of almost 30,000? Our Coast Guard Auxiliary is truly the envy of the world. On an annual basis they contribute nearly 4 million hours in support of our missions."
~Admiral Paul Zukunft

Admiral Paul Zukunft (right), Immediate Past Commandant, United States Coast Guard, during his 2017 State of the Coast Guard address.

 About Flotilla Calumet Harbor

Saving lives is our #1 goal. Flotilla 35-07 is committed to supporting Coast Guard Station Calumet Harbor in having highly trained operations staff ready to go at a moments notice by training new volunteers. Our AOR (Area of Operation) is the southern half of Lake Michigan and its adjoining rivers.

Flotilla 35-07 operates on the South Western portion of Lake Michigan from the City of Chicago and South East into the Waters of Indiana. We also patrol on the Chicago, Calumet and Illinois Rivers South West to Lacon on the Illinois. Our flotilla is devoted to assisting the U.S. Coast Guard.

We strive to maintain highly trained personnel to assist the Coast Guard at a moment's notice with Search and Rescues, Safety Patrols, and Radio Watches. We also teach numerous public boating safety courses, perform Vessel Safety Checks, and participate in many other boating and sporting shows in and around the Chicagoland area.

Surface Operations

The Operations Program is fundamental to the Auxiliary's support to the U.S. Coast Guard. Members who become qualified as either coxswain or crew serve on boats owned by Auxiliary members. These specially equipped boats perform safety patrols under U.S. Coast Guard orders to support "search and rescue" (SAR), escorts, safety zones, regatta patrols, pollution cleanup, aids to navigation (ATON) discrepancy reporting, and other missions as directed by the U.S. Coast Guard.

Auxiliarist taking part in the Operations Program must become qualified, as per Commandant Instruction, as Coxswain or Crew. The training and qualification process involves classroom and underway training. The U.S. Coast Guard Boat Crew and Seamanship Manual and the Boat Crew & Coxswain Qualification Guides are the manuals used in training. Coast Guard Auxiliary Crew & Coxswain Training is an important part of Operations and takes place most Saturday morning at the Westrock Training Room, located near Station Calumet Harbor. Operational Facility Patrols and underway training begins in late April and runs until the end of October.

Communications Watchstanding

Becoming a watchstander is one of the fastest ways to really help the active duty Coast Guard in their missions. By getting qualified at Station Calumet Harbor, you can serve (at your convenience) as a radio watchstander. This means you will work in the radio watch center at the station and monitor for radio calls for assistance. You will maintain communications with any Coast Guard boats that are underway. You will answer the station's telephones. If a MAYDAY call comes in, you will handle the communications.

It takes about 80 hours of training on-site to learn to do this. But, it is a rewarding task; you are freeing up an active duty member for other tasks. You will be working with the station in the same manner and under the same orders as an active duty Coast Guard person.
Normal watches ("shifts") are four hours each, 24/7. You can arrange the times to suit your availability and desires. All it takes is some basic people skills and a commitment to help the public and the Coast Guard. You'll receive all the training and practice you need.

AUXFS - Auxiliary Food Service Specialist  

In addition to boat crew members and watchstanders, Flotilla 35-07 members also augment the active duty coast guard at Station Calumet Harbor by serving in the station’s galley as Auxiliary food service specialists or AUXFSs. An Auxiliary FS serves in the galley at the station or aboard a cutter. The AUXFS member will either augment the help in the galley or free up the active duty culinary specialist to attend advanced training, go TDY, or take a leave without leaving the unit short-handed.

The AUXFSs can also assist with events such as VIP events, Change of Commands, and unit morale activities. An AUXFS can be available for a variety of time schedules, from a single meal event to weeks, depending on their availability to serve.  It takes about 18-22 hours of basic food service training, along with completing a series of personal qualifying skills and tasks (PQS) to demonstrate their skills. The training is based on the CS3 Striker Course, emphasizing safety and sanitation, working in a galley and basic food preparation.