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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.
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:
Be a U.S. Citizen
Be over 17 years of age
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 Staff
Officer for Human Resources or visit http://join.cgaux.org/
* 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.
