United States Coast Guard Auxiliary

United States Coast Guard Auxiliary
Seal of the United States Coast Guard Auxiliary
FoundedJune 23, 1939 (1939-06-23)
Country United States
Branch U.S. Coast Guard
TypeVolunteer uniformed auxiliary service
Role
SizeApproximately 21,000 auxiliarists[1]
Part of Homeland Security
Motto(s)Semper Paratus (Always Ready)
ColorsWhite, Red, Blue
   
March"Semper Paratus"
EngagementsWorld War II
September 11 attacks
Decorations Presidential Unit Citation
DHS Outstanding Unit Award
Coast Guard Unit Commendation
Websitehttps://www.cgaux.org/
Commanders
Commandant of the Coast GuardAdmiral Linda L. Fagan
Chief Director of AuxiliaryCaptain Troy P. Glendye, USCG
National CommodoreCommodore Agostino Formato
Insignia
Racing Stripe
Flag
Flag (1940)

The United States Coast Guard Auxiliary (USCGA, USCGAUX, CGAux, or USCG Aux) is the uniformed, non-military volunteer component of the United States Coast Guard.[2][3][4] 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 or military actions. As of 2022, the U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary boasted around 21,000 members.[1]

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.[5] 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.[6]

  1. ^ a b Fagan, Linda. "The Commandant of the United States Coast Guard – Auxiliary Policy Statement" (PDF). The Commandant of the United States Coast Guard. Retrieved 20 December 2022.
  2. ^ "Title 14, United States Code, Section 821". United States Code. U.S. House of Representatives, Office of the Law Revision Counsel. Retrieved 6 November 2023.
  3. ^ "Coast Guard Office of Auxiliary & Boating Safety (CG-BSX)". Retrieved 26 January 2021.
  4. ^ "14 U.S. Code § 3901 - Administration of the Coast Guard Auxiliary". Legal Information Institute. Cornell Law School. Retrieved 9 October 2023.
  5. ^ About the AUX Contributions
  6. ^ About the Auxiliary