U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary National Web Site

Flotilla 16-12, Marblehead OH, Division 16, 9th CG District Central Region

Authorized Programs

For other aspects of the Auxiliary, see the "Members Deck->More Info" menu above.

Current programs in which Auxiliary members are authorized to participate:

1. Administrative Support to the Coast Guard.

Auxiliarists are authorized assignment to duty to assist and to augment administrative functions of any Coast Guard unit.

2. Navigation Systems (ATONs).

Qualified Auxiliarists and their facilities (Auxiliary vessels, aircraft, and radios) are authorized assignment to duty to support and to augment the Coast Guard's Navigation Systems program in prescribed phases. This includes verifying position and characteristics of private aids to navigation (PATON) after qualifying as an aid verifier. Members assist and support ATON units in servicing federal aids after receiving proper Coast Guard training. ATON units also help the National Ocean Service (NOS) and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers in updating nautical and aeronautical charts as well as other specific publications.
For more information click here

3. Bridge Administration.

Qualified Auxiliarists and their facilities are authorized assignment to duty to support and to augment bridge surveys, to investigate and to provide information regarding waterways safety and navigation situations pertaining to the bridge program, and to provide direct assistance and support to bridge program staff and other Coast Guard personnel in the Bridge Administration program.

4. Civil Air Patrol (CAP) Support.

Qualified Auxiliarists and their facilities may be authorized assignment to assist the Civil Air Patrol in conducting authorized joint CG-CAP missions.

5. Contingency Preparedness.

Qualified Auxiliarists and their facilities are authorized to provide platforms and personnel for contingency preparedness exercises. Auxiliarists and their operational facilities may also provide support as unarmed opposition forces (OPFOR) and gather information and data for contingency plans. Qualified Auxiliarists are authorized to develop plans and to support contingency response operations for disasters and lesser incidents.

6. Licensing of Merchant Mariners.

Qualified Auxiliarists are authorized to be assigned to duty to administer merchant mariner license and document examinations, to conduct oversight of approved maritime training courses, and to provide administrative support for the marine licensing program at the local level.

7. Marine Safety and Environmental Protection (MSEP).

Qualified Auxiliarists and their facilities are authorized assignment to duty to assist in marine safety environmental protection. Auxiliarists may provide facilities and personnel for public education, for support of pollution prevention activities, for environmental disaster relief operations, and other assistance, as needed to Coast Guard Sectors.

8. Operational Support to the Coast Guard (OPS).

Qualified Auxiliarists and their facilities are authorized assignment to duty to support all Coast Guard operational units. Auxiliarists must be qualified per current Coast Guar directive and serve under the active duty unit commander's direction.
For more information on training to becoming a CG watchstander, click here.

9. Port Safety and Security (PS&S).

Qualified Auxiliarists and their facilities are authorized assignment to duty to support the Port Safety and Security Program. Auxiliarists may provide facilities and unarmed personnel for surveillance and reporting, for harbor and anchorage patrols, for assistance to Coast Guard forces in safety and security zone enforcement, for support in vessel boardings, for performing port facility and vessel verification visits, for aircraft over flights, for augmenting Coast Guard crews, and for providing additional administrative support.

10. Public Affairs Support (PA).

Auxiliarists are authorized for assignment to duty to support the Coast Guard public affairs program.

11. Recreational Boating Safety (RBS).

Qualified Auxiliarists and their facilities may be assigned to duty to support the recreational boating safety program, to do recreational vessel safety checks (VSCs), to participate in State Liaison Programs (AUXSLO), in boat shows, and National North American Safe Boating Week (NASBW) activities. RBS Visitation Program provides boating safety information to marine dealers and customers. The public education (PE) program yields safe, well-trained boaters.
For more info on the training for Public Education Instructor qualification, click here
For more info on the training for Vessel Examination program, click here

12. Recruiting.

Auxiliarists may qualify and be assigned to duty as military recruiters to support the Coast Guard's recruiting program. This assignment includes qualification as a military recruiter, proctoring recruiting examinations, and administrative assistance to recruiting offices.

13. Search and Rescue.

Qualified Auxiliarists and their facilities are authorized assignment to duty to assist the Coast Guard and states in support of search-and-rescue operations. These duties include search planning, search operations, and the conduct of rescues in navigable and sole state waters.

14. Vessel Inspections.

Qualified Auxiliarists may be assigned to duty to assist the Coast Guard in marine inspection missions to include: supporting and assisting Coast Guard accident investigations, providing platforms for inspectors, conducting vessel inspections, providing remote area surveillance and response, conducting voluntary examinations of uninspected passenger vessels and commercial fishing vessels, and administrative support.

15. Waterways Management.

Qualified Auxiliarists are authorized to assist in Coast Guard waterways management mission areas by providing platforms and unarmed personnel for Coast Guard and other federal and state agencies, by providing information and input into the analysis process, and by providing other administrative and operational program support.

16. Additional Programs.

The Commandant may authorize additional Auxiliary programs. When specifically authorized by the Commandant, Auxiliary programs and activities may become international, extending beyond the U.S., its territories and possessions. The Commandant must approve new non-traditional Auxiliary programs in advance of execution.