|
Our
Mission
The
United States Coast Guard Auxiliary is the
civilian component of Coast Guard Forces.
Founded in 1939 by an Act of Congress as
the US Coast Guard Reserves and re-designated
the Auxiliary in 1941. The passage of the
Auxiliary legislation in October 1996, the
Auxiliary’s role was greatly expanded
to enable Auxiliary participation in any
Coast Guard mission authorized by the Commandant.
In general, this law opens all Coast Guard
mission areas to the Auxiliary, with the
exception of combat and direct law enforcement.
Auxiliarists
assist the Coast Guard in non-law enforcement
programs such as public education, vessel
safety checks, safety patrols, search and
rescue operations, radio watch at Coast
Guard Stations, port safety and security,
and marine environmental protection. Auxiliarists
volunteer more than 2 million hours annually
to benefit other boaters and their families.
Here are the various missions, programs
and activities in which Coast Guard Auxiliarists
are currently authorized to participate:
Administrative
Support to Units
Auxiliarists are authorized assignment to
duty to assist and to augment administrative
functions of any Coast Guard unit.
Aids
to Navigation
Qualified Auxiliarists and their facilities
are authorized assignment to duty to support
and augment the Coast Guard’s aids
to navigation (AtoN) program. This includes
verifying position and characteristics of
private aids to navigation (PAtoN), after
qualifying as an aid verifier. Auxiliarists
may assist and support AtoN units in servicing
Federal aids after receiving proper Coast
Guard training. Auxiliarists may also help
the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
(NOAA) and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
in updating nautical and aeronautical charts
and publications.
Bridge
Administration
Qualified Auxiliarists and their facilities
are authorized assignment to duty to support
and augment bridge surveys, investigate
and provide information regarding waterways
safety and navigation situations pertaining
to the bridge program, and provide direct
assistance and support to the bridge program
personnel. Further information regarding
Auxiliary support to the Bridge Program
is contained in the 29 February 1996 MOU
and Joint Action Plan (MOUJAP) addressing
Auxiliary support of the Bridge Administration
Program. The MOUJAP is provided in Appendix
A of this manual. B.5.
Civil
Air Patrol Support
Qualified Auxiliarists and their facilities
may be authorized assignment to duty to
assist the Civil Air Patrol (CAP)/Air Force
Auxiliary (AFA) in conducting authorized
joint USCGAUX-CAP missions as provided for
in the MOU between USCGAUX, USCG, CAP, and
CAP-USAF.
Contingency Preparedness
Qualified Auxiliarists are authorized assignment
to duty to provide facilities for defense
and non-defense exercises. Auxiliarists
and their facilities may also provide support
as unarmed opposition forces (OPFOR) and
may gather information and data for the
development of Coast Guard, State, and local
government contingency plans.
Licensing
of Merchant Mariners
Qualified Auxiliarists are authorized assignment
to duty to administer merchant mariner license
and document examinations, conduct oversight
of approved maritime training courses, and
provide administrative support for the marine
licensing program at the local level.
Marine
Safety, Security, and Environmental Protection
Qualified Auxiliarists and their facilities
are authorized assignment to duty to assist
the marine safety, security, and environmental
protection programs (MSSEP). Auxiliarists
may provide facilities and personnel for
PE, support of pollution prevention activities,
environmental disaster relief operations,
and other assistance as needed at Coast
Guard Marine Safety Offices (MSOs)/Detachments.
Operational
Support
Qualified Auxiliarists and their facilities
are authorized assignment to duty to support
all Coast Guard operational units. Auxiliarists
must be qualified in accordance with current
Coast Guard manual and directive provisions,
and must serve under the Coast Guard active
duty unit commander’s direction.
Port
Safety and Security
Qualified Auxiliarists and their facilities
are authorized assignment to duty to support
the port safety and security (PSS) program.
Auxiliarists may:
• Provide facilities and perform unarmed
observation and reporting.
• Perform harbor and anchorage patrols.
• Provide assistance to Coast Guard
Forces in safety and security zone enforcement,
mostly in the form of Boater Education/advisement
areas.
• Provide support for low risk armed/unarmed
vessel boardings.
• Perform port facility and vessel
verification visits.
• Perform aircraft overflights.
• Augment Coast Guard crews.
• Perform additional administrative
support.
Public
Affairs Support
Auxiliarists are authorized assignment to
duty to support Coast Guard and Auxiliary
Public Affairs programs.
Recreational
Boating Safety
Qualified Auxiliarists and their facilities
are authorized assignment to duty to support
the RBS Program including:
• Conduct Public Education
• Perform recreational VSCs.
• Participate in State Liaison Programs
(SLO), RBSVP, boat shows, and National Safe
Boating Week (NSBW) activities.
|
