Home Search Feedback Index   Who We Are How We Fit In Serving You Our Partners Joining Us For Members

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 Transportation. 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 Captain, the Division provides administrative, training, and supervisory support to area flotillas.

Flotilla

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.

Home Search Feedback Index   Who We Are How We Fit In Serving You Our Partners Joining Us For Members