U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary 8WR Division 11

How We Fit In
Introduction The U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary has a place in the U.S. Coast Guard on its team of resources that perform its assigned mission. There may also be numerous other organizations and agencies that do work in the area of water-related safety, like boating safety. See Our Partners for a partial list and consult locally for specific local resources. How we fit in... ...with Team Coast Guard ...with our partners

How We Fit In

Introduction

The U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary has a place in the U.S. Coast Guard on its team of resources that perform its assigned mission. There may also be numerous other organizations and agencies that do work in the area of water-related safety, like boating safety. See Our Partners for a partial list and consult locally for specific local resources.

How we fit in...

...with Team Coast Guard

...with our partners

... with Team Coast Guard
Introduction The United States Coast Guard is a military service - one of the five armed forces of the United States - under the direction of the Department of Homeland Security. The Coast Guard is also charged with many responsibilities that are civil in nature, in addition to their military duties. The Auxiliary is an element of the U.S. Coast Guard, which also included the active-duty Coast Guard, the Coast Guard Reserve, civilian employees, and Coast Guard retirees. In contrast to the active duty and reserves, the Auxiliary is specifically declared by statute to be nonmilitary - it functions entirely within the area of civil functions of the Coast Guard. The 1996 Coast Guard Authorization Act states, "The purpose of the Auxiliary is to assist the Coast Guard as authorized by the Commandant, in performing any coast Guard function, power, duty, role, mission, or operation authorized by law." In essence all Coast Guard missions are available except direct law enforcement and military operations, thus the term TEAM COAST GUARD is used to describe the entire Coast Guard family. Auxiliarists are authorized to wear uniforms similar to those of Coast Guard officers, but with distinctive insignia and devices. Auxiliarists hold "office" instead of "rank." Organization Organization of the Auxiliary, listed in order of most general focus to the most specific focus area, is as follows: Commandant (G-OCX) The Chief Director, Auxiliary, is a Coast Guard officer at headquarters who is assigned to the Auxiliary. The Auxiliary functions wihtin the operations capabilities of the Coast Guard. National The headquarters Auxiliary administrative level is headed by the National Commodore. It contains the National Executive Committee which functions as coordinator for all Auxiliary programs. District Headed by a District Commodore, the District provides administrative and supervisory support to divisions, accomplishes policy of the district commander and promotes national Auxiliary policy. Division Headed by a Division Commander, the Division provides administrative, training, and supervisory support to area flotillas. Flotialla Each flotilla is headed by a Flotilla Commander. This is the basic organizational unit of the Auxiliary and the working level that translates programs into actions. Detachment A sub-unit of a flotilla, not an independent unit. Formation of a detachment enables a small group of three or more Auxiliarists to carry out Auxiliary activities. It allows them to recruit and keep members in a remote area not having enough members to charter or maintain a full strength flotilla.

... with Team Coast Guard

Introduction

The United States Coast Guard is a military service - one of the five armed forces of the United States - under the direction of the Department of Homeland Security. The Coast Guard is also charged with many responsibilities that are civil in nature, in addition to their military duties. The Auxiliary is an element of the U.S. Coast Guard, which also included the active-duty Coast Guard, the Coast Guard Reserve, civilian employees, and Coast Guard retirees.

In contrast to the active duty and reserves, the Auxiliary is specifically declared by statute to be nonmilitary - it functions entirely within the area of civil functions of the Coast Guard.

The 1996 Coast Guard Authorization Act states, "The purpose of the Auxiliary is to assist the Coast Guard as authorized by the Commandant, in performing any coast Guard function, power, duty, role, mission, or operation authorized by law." In essence all Coast Guard missions are available except direct law enforcement and military operations, thus the term TEAM COAST GUARD is used to describe the entire Coast Guard family.

Auxiliarists are authorized to wear uniforms similar to those of Coast Guard officers, but with distinctive insignia and devices. Auxiliarists hold "office" instead of "rank."

Organization

Organization of the Auxiliary, listed in order of most general focus to the most specific focus area, is as follows: Commandant (G-OCX)

The Chief Director, Auxiliary, is a Coast Guard officer at headquarters who is assigned to the Auxiliary. The Auxiliary functions wihtin the operations capabilities of the Coast Guard.

National

The headquarters Auxiliary administrative level is headed by the National Commodore. It contains the National Executive Committee which functions as coordinator for all Auxiliary programs.

District

Headed by a District Commodore, the District provides administrative and supervisory support to divisions, accomplishes policy of the district commander and promotes national Auxiliary policy.

Division

Headed by a Division Commander, the Division provides administrative, training, and supervisory support to area flotillas.

Flotialla

Each flotilla is headed by a Flotilla Commander. This is the basic organizational unit of the Auxiliary and the working level that translates programs into actions.

Detachment

A sub-unit of a flotilla, not an independent unit. Formation of a detachment enables a small group of three or more Auxiliarists to carry out Auxiliary activities. It allows them to recruit and keep members in a remote area not having enough members to charter or maintain a full strength flotilla.

... with our partners
Introduction The Auxiliary works with other organizations that are involved with boating safety, search and rescue and other related missions. Boating Administrators This program is intended to help the Coast Guard provide support to state/local boating administrators in their recreational boating programs. The Auxiliary can supplement state/local efforts in search and rescue, safety and regatta patrols, public education, safety equipment check, maintaining aids to navigation, and other areas of recreational boating safety. Visit the national association here. Civil Air Patrol The Auxiliary strives to coordinate focused joint operations with the Civil Air Patrol. Disaster Relief Organizations During disasters such as floods, the Auxiliary is ready to assist the relief organizations in their efforts to save lives. Marine Environmental Protection The Auxiliary provides operational/administrative support to the Coast Guard as needed to combat environmental mishaps. For more information, contact the Marine Environmental Protection Program arm of the U.S. Coast Guard. U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Many inland bodies of water that recreational boaters enjoy are maintained by the Corps of Engineers. To contact them, click on U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. Minnesota Department of Natural Resources Working to manage our state's diverse natural resource. Visit their website at the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources. National Park Service There are some boating areas within the national parks, and the Auxiliary assists with boating safety wherever possible. For more information, click on National Park Service.

... with our partners

Introduction

The Auxiliary works with other organizations that are involved with boating safety, search and rescue and other related missions.

Boating Administrators

This program is intended to help the Coast Guard provide support to state/local boating administrators in their recreational boating programs. The Auxiliary can supplement state/local efforts in search and rescue, safety and regatta patrols, public education, safety equipment check, maintaining aids to navigation, and other areas of recreational boating safety. Visit the national association here.

Civil Air Patrol

The Auxiliary strives to coordinate focused joint operations with the Civil Air Patrol.

Disaster Relief Organizations

During disasters such as floods, the Auxiliary is ready to assist the relief organizations in their efforts to save lives.

Marine Environmental Protection

The Auxiliary provides operational/administrative support to the Coast Guard as needed to combat environmental mishaps. For more information, contact the Marine Environmental Protection Program arm of the U.S. Coast Guard.

U.S. Army Corps of Engineers

Many inland bodies of water that recreational boaters enjoy are maintained by the Corps of Engineers. To contact them, click on U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.

Minnesota Department of Natural Resources

Working to manage our state's diverse natural resource. Visit their website at the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources.

National Park Service

There are some boating areas within the national parks, and the Auxiliary assists with boating safety wherever possible. For more information, click on National Park Service.