ST. IGNACE, Mich. – The Coast Guard Auxiliary marks 75 years of service.
What began as fishermen and private boaters reporting sightings of U-boats in American Coastal waters has evolved into the Coast Guard Auxiliary. The Auxiliary was established in 1939 to facilitate the operations of the Coast Guard. Starting out as the Coast Guard Reserve, it was split into a military reserve branch and auxiliary operation in February 1941. During WWII the volunteers provided search and rescue support, patrol and picket duties, port security, and limited aviation patrols.
The 30,521 members of the modern day Auxiliary use 3,415 operational vessels, 236 aircraft, and 2,459 communication stations to patrol U.S. waters and assist the Coast Guard with search-and-rescue, boater education, and administrative support. In the 1990s the Auxiliarists were integrated with the everyday Coast Guard operations. The Auxiliary is a part of the Department of Homeland Security and participates in America’s Waterway Watch Security Program.
Some of the services provided by the Auxiliary include:
- The Auxiliary Interpreter Corps, whose 452 interpreters, fluent in 48 languages, facilitate over 50,000 conversations per year. Interpreters provide oral and written translation services for the Coast Guard, Navy, Army, Air Force, and Marine Crops and have been deployed to every continent except Australia and Antarctica.
- Auxiliary University programs are home to the best and brightest college students serving their communities and country in marine safety and security.
- Safety vessel inspections for private motor craft.
- Safe boating classes provide instruction to paddlers and motor boat operators on correct usage of personal flotation devices, life saving equipment, and safe navigation practices.
“The Coast Guard Auxiliary is a vital part of the team we employ in St. Ignace to help us keep boaters safe on the water through education and emergency response," said Senior Chief Petty Officer Michael S. Beatty, officer in charge of Coast Guard Station St Ignace. "The boating safety courses and courtesy vessel safety checks they offer have likely saved countless lives and made the Great Lakes safer for all users."
In the St. Ignace area Auxiliary meetings are held at 7pm the first Tuesday of each month at the Coast Guard Station. Persons over 17 years of age are eligible to join the Coast Guard Auxiliary. If you are interested in volunteering or would like more information about the St. Ignace CG Auxiliary, call 906-643-6402 and ask to speak with Auxiliarist Sheila Powell.