Team Coast Guard - (916) 550-USCG

WHAT IS THE COAST GUARD AUXILIARY?

On June 23, 1939, Congress passed legislation that established the Coast Guard Reserve, its volunteer civilian component, to promote boating safety and to facilitate the operations of the Coast Guard. Groups of boat owners were organized into flotillas and these into divisions within Coast Guard Districts around the country. Members initially conducted safety and security patrols and helped enforce the provisions of the 1940 Federal Boating and Espionage Acts. Then in February 1941, a military reserve was created, and the volunteer Reserve was renamed the U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary.

Under legislation passed in 1996, the Auxiliary’s role was expanded to allow members to assist in any Coast Guard mission, except direct law enforcement and military operations, as authorized by the Commandant.

Today, the three components of the service, the Active-Duty Coast Guard, the Reservists, and Auxiliarists, truly constitute TEAM COAST GUARD.

The US Coast Guard Auxiliary is the uniformed volunteer component of the US Coast Guard. Today’s US Coast Guard Auxiliary, working an untold number of hours, is a force multiplier, working alongside and supporting active-duty and reserve-component US Coast Guard units.

WHAT WE DO

Since 9/11, members have been integrated into the Department of Homeland Security and perform a variety of port security functions in addition to promoting boating safety.  US Coast Guard Auxiliarists can be found examining commercial fishing vessels, flying in Coast Guard C-27 aircraft, working in Coast Guard offices, and crewing with the Active Duty.

Today, the Coast Guard Auxiliary has units in all 50 states, Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands, American Samoa, and Guam, and participates in the following kinds of missions:

•  Safety and Security Marine Patrols
• Auxiliary Aviation Patrols
• Search and Rescue
• Mass Casualty or Disaster Response
• Pollution Response & Patrols
• Homeland Security
• Recreational Boating Safety
• Commercial Fishing and Vessel Exams
• Platforms for Boarding Parties
• Recruit for all services in the Coast Guard
• Public Education
• Professional Services – Medical and Legal
• Cyber Security

 In addition to the above, the U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary operates in any mission as directed by the Commandant of the U.S. Coast Guard or the Secretary of Homeland Security.

WHY WE DO IT

Today’s Coast Guard Auxiliary  is an organization of uniformed volunteers. Membership is open to any citizen of the U.S. and its territories and possessions who is seventeen years of age or older (no mandatory maximum age) and a member of the Coast Guard Auxiliary Association, Inc. Our volunteer professionals consist of:

• Former military veterans,
• volunteers who never served in the military for many reasons, including physical or health limitations.
• Or any U.S. Citizen, 17 or older, who wants to volunteer for Community Service and support and promote safe boating.

(916) 550-USCG