From the NFRW Armed Services Committee

By Christine Benedict (NY)

Dating back to June 23, 1939, the Coast Guard Auxiliary has tremendous history of outstanding uniformed volunteer service, keeping both America’s waterways and its boating public safe. Congressional authorization created the Coast Guard’s “Volunteer Reserve” force in 1939. Since then the Coast Guard Auxiliary and its talented and devoted uniformed volunteer workforce has supported Coast Guard missions along our nation’s coasts and inland lakes and rivers.

Using their own boats and aircraft, auxiliarists can be seen patrolling the waterways to offer vessel safety checks or flying above to assist active duty personnel in life saving search and rescue operations.

Even though there were limitations throughout most of 2020 due to COVID, the Coast Guard Auxiliary personnel overcame those restrictions and found ways to remain engaged and simultaneously socially distanced. The Coast Guard Auxiliary still saved 65 lives and $5 million in property, administered almost 17,000 vessel safety checks, and logged almost 2 million hours of activity in support of other Coast Guard missions. Always ready to engage where needed most, highly trained Coast Guard Auxiliary Health Services members volunteered at Coast Guard clinics nationwide. 

The Coast Guard Auxiliary and its incredible volunteer workforce is truly an innovative augmentation of the Coast Guard.

We thank the many Auxiliary clergy, watercraft operators, pilots, medical staff, musicians, cyber security professionals and so many more outstanding professionals for their ongoing and invaluable assistance to the Coast Guard and its missions.

Happy 84th Birthday to the Coast Guard Auxiliary!