Coast Guard Auxiliary Celebrates 66 Years of Service

Sixty-six years ago, on June 23, 1939, Congress established the Coast Guard Reserve. This volunteer force of men and women was created to assist the Coast Guard and the recreational boating public.

(PRWEB) June 25, 2005 -- Sixty-six years ago, on June 23, 1939, Congress established the Coast Guard Reserve. This volunteer force of men and women was created to assist the Coast Guard and the recreational boating public.

Sixty-six years later, the United States Coast Guard Auxiliary (renamed in 1941) some of the same men and women are still supporting the Coast Guard, along with thirty (30) thousand others.

Recreational Boating Safety which includes performing Vessel Safety Checks to ensure boaters are complying with Federal, State and Local equipment laws; Boating Education classes to ensure new and old boaters alike know about the navigation rules, trailering, weather and all things related to boating, to make the sport of boating safer; and the RBS-Visitation Program, geared at making those who service the recreational boater a partner in making recreational boating safer.

The Coast Guard Auxiliary also performs many on-the-water safety activities such as regatta patrols, safety patrols, aids to navigation check (checking on the condition and position of buoys). In addition, the Auxiliary is a major assest to the Coast Guard in its Search and Rescue missions, providing both boats and aircraft.

In this post 9/11 age, the Auxiliary has provided more and more resources to Maritime Domain Awareness. This over-arching concept is geared toward the security of our maritime environment, our ship yards and our marinas.

Sixty-six years, and the Americas Volunteer Lifesavers are still performing. Since December 2001, over 13 million hours have been donated, 164,000 of them in the air, over 2 million hours on the water, another 163,000 on land-patrol, and the remainder providing support, education and service to the Coast Guard and the public.

The United States Coast Guard Auxiliary is composed of uniformed, non-military volunteer's who assist the Coast Guard in all of its varied missions, except for military and direct law enforcement. These men and women can be found on the nation's waterways, in the air, in classrooms and on the dock, performing Maritime Domain Awareness patrols, safety patrols, vessel safety checks and public education.

The United States Coast Guard Auxiliary was founded in 1939 by an Act of Congress as the U.S. Coast Guard Reserve and re-designated as the Auxiliary in 1941. Its 30,000 members donate millions of hours annually in support of Coast Guard missions.

The release is available at: http://www.auxpa.org/releases/community/062305.html

Contact: Aux. Wayne Spivak

Division Chief - External Communications

Public Affairs Department

United States Coast Guard Auxiliary

http://www.auxpa.org

516-353-9155

Media@auxpa.org

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