The United States Coast Guard Auxiliary is the uniformed volunteer component
of the U. S. Coast Guard. Created by an Act of Congress in 1939, the Auxiliary directly supports the Coast Guard in
all missions, except military and law enforcement actions in all 50 states, Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands, American
Samoa and Guam. Auxiliary members conduct safety patrols on local waterways, assist the Coast Guard with homeland
security duties, teach boating safety classes, conduct free vessel safety checks for the public, as well as many other
activities. Applicants must be U.S. citizens, at least 17 years of age, and pass a basic background check. There are
no upper age limits or height/weight standards, although for operational activities, you must be physically able to
perform certain tasks. There are no minimum service hours -- you can serve as little or as much as you want. You do
not have to own a boat or participate in water-based operations to join the Auxiliary. Finally, the Auxiliary supports
its members through local unit meetings, regional conferences and enjoys heartfelt fellowship with each other.
Please contact the
Flotilla 19 Flotilla Commander or go directly to the
USCG Auxiliary website for more information.
