In 1939, Congress established a U.S. Coast Guard Reserve composed of volunteer U.S. citizens who owned motorboats or yachts. In 1941, the original volunteer Reserve was renamed the Coast Guard Auxiliary. Members are not contractually bound, enlisted, or commissioned officers, but are volunteers pledged to serve in the Coast Guard Auxiliary

 The primary purpose of the Coast Guard Auxiliary is to educate all owners and operators in safety requirements for the operation and navigation of small craft. The Auxiliary is a valuable resource in promoting interest in the Coast Guard’s boating safety program. A secondary purpose of the Coast Guard Auxiliary is to utilize the Auxiliary craft and personnel, after suitable training, to perform certain duties of the Coast Guard. The purpose of the Auxiliary is to assist the Coast Guard in performing any Coast Guard function, power, duty, role, mission or operation authorized by law. The Auxiliary’s role does not extend to any Coast Guard military or direct law enforcement missions. In contrast to Coast Guard active duty personnel, the Auxiliary is specifically declared by statute to be non-military.  The Coast Guard is also charged with many civil responsibilities in addition to its military missions. The Auxiliary’s role is entirely within the Coast Guard’s civil responsibilities.

 The Auxiliary’s primary missions are:

  • Member Services.  To carry out its mission, members provide for internal support and assist the Coast Guard in several areas; including Finance, Information Services, Communications Services, Materials, Personnel Services, Member Training, Legal/Parliamentarian, Public Affairs, Publications, Career Counseling, and Records.

 • Recreational Boating Safety.   Several traditional activities conducted by the Auxiliary on behalf of Federal, State, and local governments, to improve the knowledge, safety skills, and operating environment of recreational boaters include; Public Education programs, Vessel Examinations, Distribution of recreational boating safety literature and information to the boating public and commercial organizations, and Liaison for the purposes of enhancing recreational boating safety with other organizations, groups, clubs, and associations.

  • Operations and Marine Safety.  The Auxiliary has general mission to provide resources, personnel, and facilities in support of Coast Guard missions, when requested. These include; Operations (for example, search and rescue), Aviation, Communications, Marine Safety, and verification of Aids to Navigation.

  • Fellowship.  Fellowship makes the team work and binds the entire organization together. The Coast Guard encourages a close working relationship between Auxiliary members and Coast Guard personnel.

 For more information on the U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary, visit our National website.

 

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