Coast Guard Auxiliary
Stored: Coast Guard Auxiliary
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United States Coast Guard Auxiliary (USCGAUX) is the uniformed volunteer component of the U.S. Coast Guard, established in 1939, with approximately 21,000 members supporting non-combat, non-law enforcement missions across all 50 states, Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands, American Samoa, and Guam, enhancing maritime safety and security.
Mission
The Coast Guard Auxiliary’s mission is to assist the active-duty Coast Guard by promoting recreational boating safety, conducting vessel safety checks, supporting search and rescue operations, and educating the public, all without pay. It augments Coast Guard capabilities in coastal and inland waters, contributing over 3.8 million volunteer hours annually to protect lives and property.
Parent organization
The USCGAUX operates under the United States Coast Guard, within the Department of Homeland Security since 2003 (previously under the Department of Transportation), reporting to the Commandant via the Assistant Commandant for Prevention Policy (CG-5P).
Legislation
The Auxiliary was initially created as the Coast Guard Reserve on June 23, 1939, and re-designated as the Coast Guard Auxiliary by the Coast Guard Auxiliary and Reserve Act of 1941 (Public Law 77-8), formalized under Title 14 U.S.C. Chapter 23.
Partners
- U.S. Coast Guard active duty for operational support
- State boating agencies for safety education
- Nonprofit organizations (e.g., U.S. Power Squadrons) for joint safety initiatives
Number of employees
The USCGAUX has approximately 21,000 volunteer members as of 2025, per Coast Guard estimates, organized into 16 districts and over 1,000 flotillas, with no paid staff, though supported by Coast Guard personnel.
Organization structure
The Auxiliary is structured with a national leadership and regional divisions:
Leader
The United States Coast Guard Auxiliary is led by the National Commodore, currently Alex Malewski as of January 2025, elected biennially by members.
Divisions
The structure includes:
- 16 Districts covering U.S. regions and territories.
- Flotillas for local operations (over 1,000 units).
- National Staff for program oversight (e.g., Public Education, Vessel Exams).
List of programs
- Recreational Boating Safety Program[1]
- Vessel Safety Check Program (VSC)
- Public Education Courses (e.g., Boating Skills and Seamanship)
- Operational Support (e.g., SAR, pollution response)
Last total enacted budget
The USCGAUX’s FY 2024 budget was approximately $5.2 million, per Coast Guard budget documents, funding equipment, training, and administrative costs, separate from the Coast Guard’s $13.8 billion allocation, with volunteers providing unpaid labor.
Staff
The Auxiliary’s 21,000 volunteers include boat owners, pilots, and professionals trained at Coast Guard facilities, serving without compensation, organized into flotillas and led by elected officers from Flotilla Commanders to the National Commodore.
Funding
Since 1941, the USCGAUX has been funded through Coast Guard appropriations under Title 14, with FY 2024’s $5.2 million supporting operational needs; volunteers self-fund uniforms and travel, amplifying its cost-effectiveness (valued at $160M in services annually).
Services provided
The Auxiliary conducts over 103,000 vessel safety checks, teaches 112,000 students in boating courses, assists in 2,500+ search and rescue cases yearly, and supports Coast Guard missions like harbor patrols and pollution response, logging 3.8 million hours in 2024.
Regulations overseen
The USCGAUX operates under Title 14 U.S.C. Chapter 23, which defines its roles and limits (no law enforcement or combat), but does not create regulations, adhering to Coast Guard directives.
Headquarters address
2703 Martin Luther King Jr Ave SE, Washington, DC 20593
History
Founded as the Coast Guard Reserve on June 23, 1939, by the Coast Guard Reserve Act, it was re-designated the Auxiliary in 1941 (Public Law 77-8) to focus on civilian support. It played key WWII roles (e.g., coastal patrols), grew post-9/11 with homeland security tasks, and celebrated its 85th anniversary in 2024, adapting to modern boating safety needs.
Related
See Also Links to related programs articles or organizations:
External links
References
- ↑ "Boating Safety". United States Coast Guard Auxiliary. https://www.cgaux.org/programs/boating-safety.php.