All the info you need to join.

• minimum of 17 years of age; no upper limit
• US Citizenship
• cannot have been convicted of a felony
• no phyical requirements other than you must be physically and mentally capable of doing the jobs you choose

• Meet with the local Flotilla Commander, Vice, and or Human Resource Staff Officer
• Attend a flotilla or division meeting (not a requirement, but a good idea)
• learn about history of USCG AUX and our chain of leadership through the take home Auxiliary New Member Course, located here. As well as the New Member Handbook, located here, the New Member Handbook, located here, and the Guide to Protocol and Courtesy for Auxiliary Units and Auxiliarists, located here.
• Fill out the Enrollment Application, located here
• Meet with the local Flotilla Commander, Vice, and or Human Resource Staff Officer, take short exam on the fundamentals of the Auxiliary, and take an ID picture. Remember to bring a proof of citizenship and a check for the prorated amount of the annual dues (annual dues are currently $70).
• Your application will then be submitted for approval and background check.

• Begin the Auxiliary Core Training, Basic Qualification Course II and take a Safe Boating Course.
• Find out what opportunities there are for you in the Auxiliary and learn the tasks associated with the opportunities you choose using the Member Involvement Plan, located here.
• you will be assigned a mentor for new members, who will share you with mentor(s) in your area(s) of interest. 
• you may train all you want at whatever opportunity/ies you choose (please realize that how fast you progress depends on the amount of time you make for Auxiliary activities)
• BUT you may not be able to get officially qualified in all your area(s) of interest until your background check is approved.
• You should attend Flotilla (and perhaps a Division) meetings.
• Give back to the Flotilla by attending monthly meetings and being active in the areas of opportunities you choose.

In the first few months of membership, your primary responsibility and goal is to complete the required training that was discussed during your enrollment process.  We encourage you to get this training completed within the first 90 days.  Doing so will allow you to proceed with training in programs that most attracted you to the organization.  You cannot move out of “AP” Status until you have completed the training outlined below. 

Basic Qualification Course II (BCQ II)– Every member who joined the USCG Auxiliary after February 1, 2018 is required to complete the seven modules of the BCQ II.  The BCQ II is designed to arm you with tools that makes you better aware of the Auxiliary, our role within Team Coast Guard, our missions & programs.  It also prepares you for positions of greater responsibility should you desire to move into leadership and management roles. The BCQ II can be accessed at the Coast Guard Auxiliary's Online Classroom. Again, your mentor can assist you navigating our online training classrooms. There is also a link in the Member Links section on the left.

Core Training – Just like the active and reserve members of the Coast Guard, Auxiliary Volunteers are also required to complete Core Training. Core Training is made up of six online and open-book tests.  They include Workforce Resilience Training, Security Fundamentals, Protecting Personal Information, Sexual Harassment Prevention, Civil Rights Awareness and Ethics/Personal Gifts.  Your mentor can help you navigate our various online training classrooms and will help take the mystique out of the “online test environment”. Click on the New Members section on the left to read more about Core Training and how to enroll in the online classroom environment.

Safe Boating Course - If you have not had a Safe Boating Course, (state, commercial, or local) prior to joining the Auxiliary, we will provide that for you. Work with your mentor and flotilla leaders to get yourself scheduled for this baseline training.

As members of the Auxiliary, we have the privilege of wearing  USCG uniforms with distinctive Auxiliary insignia. When we are in public, those we help do not distinguish between active duty, reserve or volunteers.  It is our responsibility to understand all the components of the USCG Auxiliary.  Your mentor and flotilla leaders will help ensure you understand what uniforms you will need and how to properly wear the uniform.

Once you have completed a Safe Boating Course, Core Training and the BQC II, your flotilla will request a status change to Basically Qualified (BQ).  At that point, you will be entitled to request a USCG Auxiliary ID Card.  Your flotilla leaders can assist you with your ID Card Application Process.

The Coast Guard Auxiliary performs a wide array of missions ranging from Recreational Boating Safety (vessel examiner, marine dealer visitor) to Response (boat crew, coxswain, air crew, pilot, radio watchstander) to Prevention (Aids to Navigation Verifier, Marine Safety specialist) to Mission Support (Food Service specialist, Chaplain, Coast Guard Recruiter) just to name some.

Later on, you may wish to pursue advanced operational training. The AUXOP, or "Operational Auxiliarist" Program is an advanced training program available to members of the Coast Guard Auxiliary who wish to increase their practical relevance to Coast Guard missions, and better assist the Coast Guard to fulfill needed skill sets. Those who complete this training proudly wear the prestigious AUXOP device on their uniforms.

Thank you for making the USCG Auxiliary your volunteer organization of choice. Take advantage of all of the tools made available to you, and rely on your mentor to help you along the way.