Back in Uniform
 Chances
are, you've never heard of the Coast Guard
Auxiliary. Or if you have, you probably think it's
a reserve unit of the Coast Guard, something akin
to the National Guard. I always thought it was some
kind of youth cadet association similar to the Boy
Scouts. Recently, my friend Eric set me straight
and suggested I look into it further as something I
might be interested in. As it turns out, the
Auxiliary is an all-volunteer organization of
civilian sailors who assist the Coast Guard in its
many operations, including search & rescue,
vessel inspection and public education. Those
members who actually own boats can operate their
vessels under the Auxiliary's ensign as an
authorized Coast Guard vessel while conducting
patrols. (The Coast Guard Auxiliary is the maritime
equivalent of the Civil Air Patrol, which is the
Air Force's Auxiliary—and of which Eric is a
member.)
As anyone who knows me knows well, I love doing
anything involving the ocean. Scuba diving,
sailing, swimming, even just sitting on the beach
and staring at the waves... if I can smell the salt
in the air, I feel like I'm home. That's one reason
why I chose the Navy when I decided to join the
armed forces back in the '80s. A good choice it
was, for that reason at least: I probably spent
more of those four years at sea than on dry
land.
Though one enlistment was enough for me, I
occasionally have nostalgic thoughts about the more
exciting times I had in the Navy. So when I found
out I could reclaim that excitement by going out on
patrols and assisting the Coast Guard
without having to sign away my rights for
four years, I volunteered on the spot.
I attended my first meeting last night, and was
impressed by the pride and professionalism of this
all-volunteer "flotilla." Though we are all
civilians, and receive no pay, we wear the
standard
Coast Guard uniform (with a few minor
variations) and observe the same protocol as active
duty members. I've only just joined, but so far it
seems like the best of both worlds: the excitement
and traditions of the military without the
bureaucracy and four-year contract.
It also appears that there will be plenty of
opportunities to get as much out of it (and put as
much in) as I want. The Coast Guard is perennially
short on funds—as most government institutions
claim to be—so they rely heavily on the
Auxiliary to assist with their operations. The
heightened security issues of recent years,
combined with the transfer of the Coast Guard into
the newly-formed Department of Homeland Security,
suggest a probable increase of the Coast Guard's
dependency on the Auxiliary.
My goal is to get as much boat crew training as
possible and participate in patrols and search
& rescue operations, perhaps eventually onboard
a Coast Guard cutter. Whatever else happens, it'll
be great to once again have the opportunity to be
out on the water on a regular basis and enjoy the
fellowship of like-minded individuals. As they say,
"Any day on the ocean beats a day on dry land."
©2003 Michael
Strickland ALL RIGHTS
RESERVED
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