Mission and Core Values
Historically, the primary missions of the Auxiliary have been providing free Vessel Safety Checks, boater education and USCG operations supplement. These three missions, together with Fellowship (the "glue" which held these missions and its members together), are known as the "four cornerstones" of the Auxiliary. In the current era, the Auxiliary's four cornerstones have become Member Services, Operations and Marine Safety, Recreational Boating Safety and Fellowship.
Auxiliarists 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. This is the public face of the Auxiliary. The Auxiliary also performs a lot of missions behind the scenes. Annual, members donate millions of hours in support of Coast Guard missions.
Current programs in which Auxiliary members are authorized to participate include, but are not limited to:
- Administrative support to the Coast Guard
- Aids to Navigation verification (ATON)
- Assistance to local government (e.g., Small Boat Course for Local Law Enforcement)
- Augmentation of Coast Guard billets
- Bridge administration
- Auxiliary Air ("AuxAir") - USCG aircraft support
- Contingency preparedness
- Licensing of merchant mariners
- Marine Safety and Environmental Protection (MSEP)
- Operational support to the Coast Guard (OPS): This includes radio watchstanding (RWS).
- Port Safety and Security (PS&S)
- Public Affairs support (PA)
- Recreational Boating Safety (RBS)
- Recruiting
- Search and rescue (SAR)
- Vessel inspections in partnership with the United States Power Squadrons
- Waterway management
The Auxiliary shares the Coast Guard's core values and motto, which are Honor, Respect, and Devotion to Duty.[2] The motto is "Semper Paratus"[3] (Always Ready).
The Coast Guard supports and encourages Auxiliary activities. Both the Commandant (ADM Thad Allen) and former Vice Commandant (VADM Vivien Crea) have stated their support of the Auxiliary,[4] and in fact, the Coast Guard relied heavily on Auxiliary direct and indirect support during hurricanes Katrina and Rita[5]. Vice Commandant VADM David P. Pekoske is also a strong supporter of the Auxiliary. ADM Pekoske assumed the office of Vice Commandant on 4 August 2009.
