U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary
Government AdministrationDistrict of Columbia, United States501-1000 Employees
The US Coast Guard Auxiliary is a government administration organization chartered in 1939 as the Coast Guard Reserve. It functions as the volunteer arm of the Coast Guard, supporting its missions except for direct military and law enforcement actions. Based in Washington, District of Columbia, it relies on a large volunteer corps to deliver a range of services to boaters and other members of the public. The organization blends volunteer activity with an underlying federal service framework to fulfill its role. Its activities include supporting search and rescue operations, teaching boating safety, conducting vessel safety checks for recreational boaters, standing watch at Coast Guard stations, and augmenting Coast Guard crews as needed. In 2026, the Auxiliary expanded external partnerships, notably with West Marine and with the Charleston County Park and Recreation Commission, to broaden access to boating safety resources and paddler-safety training through the AUXPAD program in collaboration with the American Canoe Association.