A BRIEF HISTORY
OF THE AUXILIARY
The Coast Guard Auxiliary's precursor was the United States Coast Guard Reserve, established by an act of Congress on 23 June 1939. It was composed of unpaid civilian volunteers -- U. S. citizens who owned motorboats or yachts.
In 1941 Congress created a military Reserve and renamed the original reserve the Coast Guard Auxiliary: "The purpose of the Auxiliary is to assist the Coast Guard, to promote safety, to effect rescue, to promote efficiency in the operation of motor boats and yachts, to foster a wider knowledge of and better compliance of laws and regulations governing the operation of motor boats, and to facilitate other operations of the Coast Guard."
That simple charge has expanded since 1939. As the educational arm of the Coast Guard, the Auxiliary taught boating education to recreational boaters. This was accomplished through classes in Boating Operation and Safety open to the public, Courtesy Marine Examinations, and Marine Dealer Visits.
In 1996 the first official change was made in the duties of the Auxiliary. Congress clarified the Auxiliary's role to: "assist the C G as authorized by the Commandant in performing any CG function, power, duty, role, mission or operation authorized by law." In addition, the Auxiliary was allowed to assist other Federal agencies, state authorities and local governments in other areas than boating safety.
The Coast Guard is a military unit; but the Auxiliary, by law, is non military. This means that Auxiliarists can participate in all CG activities except law enforcement and actual combat.
Before the official expansion of responsibilities in 1996 our primary concern was with education related to recreational boaters. After the change in law the Auxiliary became more involved with other aspects of Coast Guard missions. We took a more active role in search and rescue through the use of our own facilities and resources by water, land, and air. We became involved with in watch standing at Coast Guard stations, expanded our Courtesy Marine Examinations (now called Vessel Safety Checks) to include commercial fishing boats, patrols for port security, air reconnaissance, administration and a wide variety of other duties as requested.
The 9/11/01 tragedy brought new challenges to Coast Guard Auxiliarists, and new opportunities to apply their training and their dedication. And the role of the Coast Guard itself was given new emphasis when the service became the lead agency in the newly established Department of Homeland Security. Coast Guard duties did not expand, per se, but were intensified to address the increased threat of additional acts of terrorism. When a senior Coast Guard official was asked if they could do the job with their present manpower he replied, simply, "We have the Auxiliary."
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DIVISION 12 BOARD MEETING
and ELECTIONS
Thursday November 19, 2009 at 7:00 P.M.
(Note new location and starting time!)
Coast Guard Island
Alameda, CA
(The fourth Thursday of every month unless otherwise posted.
Uniform is Tropical Blues or appropriate civilian attire.
Here is a link to driving directions, a map
of CGI, and procedures to get on base.)
SEMPER GUMBY: An
article in the
Chonicle
about an Auxiliary boat on patrol in the Bay. Some of it
is fun; some not.
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