Membership is open to all citizens of the United States and its territories who are at least 17 years old. Fill out and submit the form below or call the Coast Guard Customer Info line at 1-877-875-6296 (in the Washington area call 202-267-6896). TDD (Telephone for the hearing impaired) numbers are 1-800-689-0816 and in the Washington, DC, area 202-267-6707
Who is the Coast Guard Auxiliary?
Since its creation by Congress in 1939, the U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary has served as the civilian, non-military component of the Coast Guard. Today, the 33,000 volunteer men and women of the U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary are active on the waterways and classrooms in over 2,000 cities and towns across the nation. Each year, Auxiliarists (folks just like you) save almost 500 lives, assist some 15,000 boaters in distress, conduct more than 150,000 courtesy safety examinations of recreational vessels, and teach over 500,000 students in boating and water safety courses. The results of these efforts save taxpayers hundreds of millions of dollars every year.
Why Should I Join?
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! Either through on- water Operations, the Auxiliary's Public Education Program, Courtesy Examination Program, Radio Watch stander, Coast Guard Recruiting, Marine Environmental Protection or Coast Guard Administration.
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.
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 classes for youth and adults and examine recreational vessel for safety equipment to ensure that our neighbors will be safe on the waterways.
ENJOY FUN AND FELLOWSHIP -- In all activities, 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 he 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, CMEs, 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.
Programs For Members
Below is a brief but comprehensive listing of the U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary's many missions.
Surface (water) Missions
Safety Patrol - Patrol under Coast Guard orders using an Auxiliary Operational Facility.
Regatta Patrol - Patrolling organized regattas and boat parades.
Chart Update Patrol - Verifying the accuracy and completeness of information published on charts and related navigation publications.
PWC Patrol - Patrolling on a Personal Water Craft (PWC).
Be A Better Boater
Air Operations Missions SAR Mission - Search And Rescue call out or the air equivalent to a vessel safety patrol.
Enforcement of Laws and Treaties - Air support of a Coast Guard law enforcement mission.
MEP Mission - Air support in the area of Marine Environmental Protection.
Ice Operations Mission - Air support in the area of ice patrol operations.
Logistics Mission - Transportation of personnel.
Training Mission - Training missions involving air operations.
Land-based Operations Missions Radio Watch stander - Serving as a qualified watch stander at a Coast Guard or Auxiliary facility.
Officer of the Day Duties - OOD at a Coast Guard facility either ashore or afloat.
B-2 Alert SAR Standby - Time spent on stand-by.
B-0 Alert SAR Standby - Standing by under with an Auxiliary Operational Facility for immediate call out.
SAR Call Out - Search And Rescue call out involving communication facilities.
CG Crew Augmentation - Serving as a qualified crew on Coast Guard, not Auxiliary, vessels.
Enforcement of Laws and Treaties - Providing surface support of Coast Guard law enforcement mission.
MEP Mission - Surface support for a Marine Environmental Protection mission.
Auxiliary Radio Net Mission - Maintaining Coast Guard authorized Auxiliary radio nets.
Aids to Navigation Mission-Federal - Servicing federal or private Aids to Navigation.
Bridge Administration - Inspecting bridges.
Public Education Missions PE Other Than State/Youth - Auxiliary multi-lesson public education classes.
State and Youth Courses - State public education classes and youth courses.
MT Instructor Mission - Member training activity, including specialty courses, boats crew training, and basic qualification classes.
Environmental Missions Enforcement of Laws and Treaties - Provide support to a Coast Guard law enforcement mission.
Marine Environmental Protection - Provide support to the Coast Guard in the area of Marine Environmental Protection.
Coast Guard Support and Boating Safety Missions CG Operational Support - A service provided to operational Coast Guard units in support of Coast Guard programs.
CG Administrative Support - Provide support to the Coast Guard in areas other than operations or recruiting.
RAP Mission - Coast Guard Recruiting Assistance Program (RAP).
Courtesy Marine Examinations - Vessel Safety Checks; Personal Water Craft Safety Checks; Uninspected Passenger Vessel; and Commercial Fishing Vessel.
Public Affairs Mission - Promoting the Coast Guard, Coast Guard Auxiliary or Coast Guard Reserve.
Recreational Boating Safety Visitor - Participating in the Recreational Boating Safety Visitation Program.
Agency Support Missions Federal Agencies - Provide non-operational support to other federal agencies, such as Customs, Corps of Engineers and NOAA.
State Agencies - Provide support to state agencies, such as the Department of Natural Resources, State Police and Marine Patrols.
Local Agencies - Provide support to local agencies, such as local police, sheriff's offices, fire/rescue and Harbormasters.
Benefits
Benefits of Membership -- Above and beyond the intrinsic benefits we all receive by volunteering our time and talents, Auxiliarists are privileged to receive many other benefits not available to other volunteer organizations. Both the Coast Guard and the National Board, Inc. provide these benefits as an enhancement to our volunteer service. The following is a listing of some of the benefits available to members:
Coast Guard Federal Credit Union
The Coast Guard Credit Union provides all the services of a bank, but returns profits to the members instead of the stockholders. From savings and checking accounts to home equity lines of credit, the Credit Unit has a lot to offer.
Coast Guard Mutual Assistance
Mutual Assistance provides an emergency fund that can provide fast financial relief when a member faces an unexpected or "impossible" financial burden that would cause personal hardship if no assistance were provided. Auxiliarists may apply for such a loan and are considered as "Sponsor Members" under the program. If approved, the emergency loan is interest free.
Coast Guard Work-Life Programs
Auxiliarists can take advantage of certain Coast Guard Work-life Programs such as:
Family
Wellness
Dependent Resources
Employee Assistance
Relocation Assistance
Insurance
A variety of insurance programs benefit the Auxiliarist operating under Coast Guard orders. This includes medical, hospitalization, disability and death benefits should an accident occur in the performance of your duty.
If your boat, aircraft or other authorized Auxiliary facility is damaged or destroyed while legitimately engaged in Auxiliary operations, coverage for repairs or replacement would be provided. Government liability coverage protects the Auxiliarist from third party claims made as a result of actions that occur when the Auxiliarist is performing authorized missions and has been properly assigned to duty.
In order to maintain this coverage, all incidents and accidents must be reported to your issuing authority for the mission. As a caution, there must be strict adherence with the terms of all Coast Guard regulations and orders, as well as the Auxiliary Manual or the claim will be denied.
Exchange Privileges Auxiliarists in uniform, with proper identification, can purchase anything sold in the Coast Guard Exchange Stores except liquor and cigarettes. Dependents may accompany Auxiliarists to the Exchange, but may not make individual purchases. Members of the Auxiliary are also welcome at Department of Defense Exchanges, but only uniform items or accessories may be purchased.
Publications
Members receive the Auxiliary National publication, The Navigator, their own District publication, and other bulletins to keep abreast of Coast Guard, Auxiliary and general boating information.
Uniforms and Awards
The pride of wearing the Auxiliary uniform is amplified by awards and advancement, with ample opportunities to receive recognition by completing Auxiliary training courses and participating in programs authorized by your Flotilla leadership.
Tax Deductions
Uniforms, their cleaning and maintenance, and reasonable out of pocket expenses incurred in the performance of your duties are "considered" contributions for tax purposes. The foregoing is not intended to be advice on deductibility. Your should consult your professional tax advisor.
Fellowship
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, you will find a special camaraderie among Auxiliarists that is hard to beat. Along with our missions we find time to relax and have fun at Auxiliary outings, training sessions, patrols, CMEs, classes, and conferences. Auxiliarists make lasting, meaningful friendships.
Education
Specialty Courses
Seamanship
Navigation
Communication
Search & Rescue
Patrols
Weather
Auxiliary Administration
These advanced courses can be self-taught or class room. Test is taken at end of course.
Auxiliary National "C" Schools
The National "C" schools Vision Statement consist of viewing training as a three tiered educational process and delivery system. These three levels are flotilla level training and certification, district/division training (including the annual National Training Conference), and the National "C" schools.
The national staff conducts national schools at CG training facilities in different parts of the country. Auxiliarists who have been active in their mission area, meet the course prerequisites, and agree to further train members in their own district/division upon return, are eligible to apply. All national schools have course prerequisites.
All Auxiliary national school are classified as CG "C" school training for purposes of messing, berthing, classroom, and logistics. Due to the limited number of quotas available to these schools, Auxiliarists are ineligible to attend if they have been enrolled in any Auxiliary national school within the past three years.
Coast Guard Courses
SAR School Training. National Search and Rescue schools may be offered annually to Auxiliarists in locations varying from year to year throughout the country. The general program consists of classroom lectures interspersed with practical problems, guest speakers prominent in the field of search and rescue, workshops, examinations, and homework. The SAR School training is advanced training designed to provide specific instruction to CG and selected Auxiliary personnel who may participate in SAR activities in CG Operations Centers (OPCENs).
Coast Guard Correspondence Courses
All correspondence courses offered by the CG Institute, except classified courses, are available to Auxiliary members. Aviation, boat-handling, damage control, electrical, electronics, telephone technician, navigation are a few that are offered.
