The United States Coast Guard Auxiliary (USCGAUX, CGAux, or USCG Aux) is the uniformed, auxiliary service component of the United States Coast Guard. Congress established the unit on 23 June 1939, as the United States Coast Guard Reserve. On February 19, 1941, the entity was renamed the United States Coast Guard Auxiliary. The Auxiliary's purpose is to bolster all USCG undertakings both at sea and in the sky, with the exception of tasks necessitating direct law enforcement. As of 2026, the U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary boasted around 18,000 members.
The Auxiliary collectively dedicates over 4.5 million service hours annually and has accomplished close to 500,000 missions in aid of the Coast Guard.About the AUX Contributions Annually, members of the Auxiliary are instrumental in saving around 500 lives, aiding 15,000 mariners in distress, performing over 150,000 recreational vessel safety checks, and imparting boating safety knowledge to over half a million learners. Collectively, the Coast Guard Auxiliary's efforts save taxpayers several hundred million dollars every year.About the Auxiliary
History
The advent of the single-operator motorboat, followed by the introduction of the outboard engine in the early 20th century, led to a surge in recreational boating on U.S. federal waters. By the time 1939 rolled around, over 300,000 personal watercraft were in use. In the preceding year, the Coast Guard had been alerted with 14,000 assistance requests and had addressed 8,600 situations where boaters were "in peril."
Prior to World War II The U.S. Congress enacted the Coast Guard Reserve Act in 1938, establishing a volunteer reserve unit for the United States Coast Guard. Their primary duties included promoting maritime safety, enhancing boating proficiency among Americans, assisting in legal awareness and adherence, and supporting the active-duty members of the Coast Guard. Boat owners were grouped into flotillas distributed across Coast Guard districts throughout the U.S. These flotillas undertook safety and security patrols and played a role in enforcing the Federal Boating and Espionage Acts of 1940.Auxiliary support of the Federal Boating and Espionage Acts Commandant Russell Waesche and Commodore Malcolm Stuart Boylan are credited as the founders.About the founder Commandant Russell Waesche
In 1941, just two years after its creation, Congress passed legislation to reorganize the Coast Guard Reserve. From that point onward, the Coast Guard would maintain two reserve entities. The original volunteer group was rebranded as the Coast Guard Auxiliary. Concurrently, a new Coast Guard Reserve was established, endowed with military and law enforcement duties.About the founding of the Coast Guard Reserve in 1941
During World War II During World War II, the Coast Guard recognized a distinct class of reservist known as the "Temporary Reservist." Many of these individuals came from the ranks of the Auxiliary. These Temporary Reservists were uniformed and armed but served without pay, akin to a home guard. Additionally, Coast Guard Headquarters set forth directives permitting certain Auxiliarists and their vessels to bear arms. In 1941 the Coast Guard, Coast Guard Reserve, and Coast Guard Auxiliary were transferred from the United States Treasury Department to the United States Department of the Navy and in 1942 the Coast Guard Auxiliary was authorized to wear military uniforms.
During World War II, Auxiliarists played a pivotal role in assisting the Coast Guard with the recruitment and training of active-duty members. In 1942, due to the escalating threat posed by German U-boats, the U.S. Navy sought the acquisition of "as many civilian craft as feasible that were capable of undertaking voyages at sea under fair weather conditions for a duration of at least 48 hours." A significant portion of vessels, both owned and navigated by Auxiliarists and crewed by Coast Guard reservists, constituted the primary American coastal defense against submarines during the initial stages of World War II, forming what was known as the "Corsair Fleet."
However, as newly built war vessels began assuming these roles, the Coast Guard phased out the use of these civilian crafts in anti-submarine warfare. Despite the fact that these 2,000 civilian vessels, equipped with deck-stowed depth charges, never succeeded in sinking a submarine, they did manage to rescue several hundred survivors from torpedo-stricken merchant ships. From 1942 onward and for the remainder of the war, both Auxiliarists and Coast Guard reservists were integral to local Port Security Forces, ensuring the protection of the maritime shipping sector.
Post World War II activities In 1950, Bert Pouncey was elected as the National Commodore, leading to the establishment of the National Board for the Coast Guard Auxiliary. By 1955, Auxiliarists began to engage in initiatives aimed at supporting the recruitment of prospective candidates for the United States Coast Guard Academy.
The North American Boating Campaign was originally known as "Safe Boating Week," observed by the Coast Guard Auxiliary as a courtesy examination weekend in Amesbury, Massachusetts in June 1952. This tradition continued until 1957 when an official National Safe Boating Week observation took place sponsored by the United States Coast Guard Auxiliary in various parts of the country."About the Auxiliary". U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary. http://www.cgaux.org/. Retrieved 29 July 2009. As a result, the U.S. Coast Guard prepared a Resolution, and on 4 June 1958, President Dwight D. Eisenhower signed PL 85-445, to establish National Safe Boating Week as the first week starting on the first Sunday in June. Retrieved July 29, 2009.
In the early part of 1973, due to budgetary constraints, seven Coast Guard stations on the Great Lakes were shut down. Responding to the appeals of the impacted communities, Congress mandated the reopening of these stations, placing them under the operation of the Auxiliary. Local division captains stepped up to manage these stations, ensuring that Auxiliary vessels were constantly on standby to aid vessels in distress. Subsequently, the Auxiliary assumed control of an additional seven stations located on the Mississippi and Ohio Rivers.
In 1976, the Coast Guard initiated a comprehensive assessment of the Auxiliary through a private research entity, the University Sciences Forum of Washington. After conducting interviews with pivotal figures from both the Coast Guard and the Auxiliary and scrutinizing questionnaires completed by approximately two thousand Auxiliarists, the researchers deduced that the Auxiliary was thriving. Their conclusion was succinct: "In summary," they stated, "we view the Auxiliary as the most cost-effective asset readily accessible to the COGARD. Its performance is exemplary, and its members stand out as some of the most dedicated and professional volunteers in the country."
Enhanced role for the auxiliarist In 1996, a legislative act by Congress broadened the Auxiliary's scope, permitting its members to aid in any mission sanctioned by the Commandant of the U.S. Coast Guard. However, present policies prohibit Auxiliary members from holding deputized law enforcement powers or participating in military combat tasks. By 2004, the Coast Guard Auxiliary consisted of 35,000 members, together contributing a total of 2 million hours of service each year.The U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary History Highlights A complete timeline of historical events for the Coast Guard Auxiliary
Under the Department of Homeland Security In 2003 the Coast Guard, Coast Guard Reserve and Coast Guard Auxiliary were realigned to be under the United States Department of Homeland Security.USCG as part of DHS As of 2004, the Coast Guard Auxiliary had 35,000 members who collectively provided 2 million man hours of service annually.
On 19 June 2009, the commandant of the Coast Guard awarded the Coast Guard Unit Commendation to Auxiliary members for "performance ... nothing short of stellar" from the period of 24 June 1999, to 23 June 2009.U.S. Coast Guard's ALCOAST 365/09, COMDTNOTE 16790, 19 June 2009 On the 75th anniversary of the USCG Auxiliary, 23 June 2014, the Commandant awarded another Coast Guard Unit Commendation ribbon to all Auxiliarists.
On 24 June 2014, the commandant of the Coast Guard ADML Paul F. Zukunft awarded the Coast Guard Unit Commendation to the Coast Guard Auxiliary for "exceptionally meritorious service from June 24, 2009 to June 23, 2014, while providing unprecedented levels of dedicated public service and operational support to the U. S. Coast Guard's missions".
On 16 May 2019, the commandant of the Coast Guard ADML Karl Schultz awarded a third Coast Guard Unit Commendation for "exceptionally meritorious service from June 24, 2014 to June 23, 2019 while providing extraordinary levels of public service and support to the United States Coast Guard".Coast Guard Unit Commendation 2019
On 25 May 2024, the commandant of the Coast Guard ADML Linda Fagan awarded the Coast Guard Unit Commendation to Coast Guard Auxiliary for "exceptionally meritorious service from June 24, 2019, to June 23, 2024, while providing extraordinary levels of public service and support to the United States Coast Guard".
Awards and decorations
1st rowPresidential Unit Citation with Hurricane Katrina special claspDepartment of Homeland Security Outstanding Unit AwardCoast Guard Unit Commendation with one 3⁄16" Silver Star and one 3⁄16" Bronze Star
Programs and missions
The Auxiliary primarily acts as a force enhancer for the Coast Guard. Auxiliarists are dedicated to fostering safety, security, and aid for the citizens of the United States, whether it's in harbors, seaports, along the coasts, on the country's canals, rivers, or even in the skies. The task of promoting and enhancing recreational boater safety has been fully entrusted to the Auxiliary by the USCG. Furthermore, the Auxiliary actively aids both active-duty members and reservists in executing a range of missions, including search and rescue, marine safety, management of waterways, environmental preservation, and various duties related to homeland security.Mission of the USCG AuxiliaryAdditional info about the Auxiliary Missions
Missions
Recreational Boating Safety
The Auxiliary's most prominent role is promoting recreational boating safety ("RBS" in Auxiliary parlance). The Auxiliary has several distinct programs that support this mission, most visibly: Providing free Vessel Safety Checks (formerly "Courtesy Marine Examinations") to recreational boaters; Delivering a Public Education (or "PE") program, which consists of a range of courses on boating-related topics such as seamanship, knots, laws and regulations related to boating, weather, and navigation; and Acting as a liaison to local businesses/organizations (such as marinas, boating clubs, civic clubs, etc.) through RBS Partnership Program Visitors (formerly "Marine Dealer Visitors).
Surface and Air Operations
The Coast Guard Auxiliary participates in both surface and aerial activities, termed "AUXAIR," to bolster the Coast Guard's efforts in areas like search & rescue, marine safety/security, environmental protection/response, and to some degree, tasks related to law enforcement and national defense. Auxiliarists who possess boats and aircraft have the option to provide them for Coast Guard use, designating them as Auxiliary "facilities." Auxiliarists qualified as boat crewmen, coxswains, pilots, air crew, and air observers can take part in these activities. Beyond their primary roles, Auxiliary aircraft can also serve as official modes of transportation for active-duty members when commercial travel options are either impractical or not suitable.
Auxiliary University Programs