Re: US Coast Guard Auxilary
I have been a member of the Auxiliary for 24+ years and am sorry that some of you have had bad experiences. For the most part Auxiliarists are dedicated boaters that wish to help those in trouble, provide no cost no legal recourse safety exams of boats, and provide boating safety classes. They are volunteers and receive remuneration only for food and fuel while under orders for the Coast Guard. They are not reimbursed for their boat, equipment, uniforms, or time. There are many mandatory training requirements that must be met prior to participating in any activities. These weed out many of the people that may be joining for the wrong reasons. They do not receive credit for their time toward military retirement and membership in the Auxiliary does not count as military service.
The Coast Guard and the Auxiliary ARE allowed to tow in emergency situations. In non-emergency situations (such as running out of fuel on a clear, calm day), the Coast Guard and the Auxilary MUST defer to commercial towing companies. This was legislated by congress. In the event of an emergency, the Coast Guard and/or the Auxiliary will tow you to the nearest safe harbor, not necessarily back to your home port. There are some other non-emergency situations where we are allowed to tow, but I think you get the idea. For the most part non-emergency towing must be performed by a commercial towing company. This has nothing to do with liability. In an emergency the Coast Guard and/or Auxiliary will tow you and all parties are "insured" by the US Government. Be forewarned (as with anything else government related) in the event you are towed by the Coast Guard or Auxiliary, there will be paperwork to complete.
In order to be an Auxiliarist, you will need to be dedicated. It is an expensive and time consuming "hobby", but many find it to be a very rewarding experience. In order to participate this summer, I have had to attend mandatory workshops on Operations, an Instructor Conference, a workshop on "Team Coordination", an Annual Currency Maintenance workshop where we practiced proper towing procedures, and an 8-hour mandatory "Team Coordination" training class. We constantly have it pounded into us that we are not policeman. We do not issue citations. We do not have boarding authority. We are only there to assist the boating public and the Coast Guard. If we see a violation, we may politely point it out to the boat-owner; we may not issue any type of citation. The most common thing that I see is people "bow-riding" on a boat that is not designed for it, with their legs hanging over the bow, often while traveling at high speeds. I will inform them that this is a violation and that if they are stopped by the state marine police they could be fined $500. If they are stopped by the Coast Guard, it is considered "negligent operation" and the fine is $5000. That is the extent of my authority, once they are informed, my job is done. Most people appreciate it because they did not know that they were doing anything wrong.
Auxiliarists are not exempt from any speed or wake laws. If you see them breaking the law, they should be reported just like any other boater. They are not allowed to show any blue law-enforcement lights. They may show a flashing red and amber safety light in very specific circumstances when authorized by the Coast Guard. This will usually be while maintaining a safety zone around a marine event such as a race.
Most Auxiliarists are older as they have the time and resources to devote, however membership is open to anyone 17 years and older. I have been a member since I was in my twenties.
Check out a flotilla near you, you may find it to be a rewarding way to use your boat and skills and to give something to the community.
The above are the personal opinions of a long-time member of the Auxiliary and should not be interpreted as an official policy statement.
