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Since its creation by Congress in 1939, the U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary (the Auxiliary) has served as the civilian, non-military component of the Coast Guard. Today, the 30,000 volunteer men and women of the Auxiliary are active on the waterways and classrooms in over 2,000 cities and towns across the nation.
Each year, Auxiliarists save almost 500 lives, assist some 15,000 boaters in distress, conduct more than 150,000 courtesy safety examinations of recreational vessels, and teach over 500,000 students in boating and water safety courses. The results of these efforts saves taxpayers hundreds of millions of dollars every year.
WHY JOIN THE AUXILIARY?
- Be Part of the Action & Help Save Lives
Since the recreational boating population in the United States is growing rapidly, the Coast Guard Auxiliary needs a few good men and women like you. As an Auxiliarist, you will have the opportunity to select and participate in one or more of the Auxiliary's major programs. If you feel strongly about the rewards you can get from serving your community, the Coast Guard Auxiliary is the right place for you! Either through the Auxiliary's on-the-water Operations, Member Training, Public Education , Public Affairs, Vessel Examination, Radio Watchstanding, Coast Guard Recruiting, Marine Environmental Protection or Coast Guard Administration. No matter what your interests, there is an Auxiliary job for you.
- Increase Your Skills
The Auxiliary and the Coast Guard provide specialized training on all aspects of boating, as well as leadership, training and administration. Auxiliarists receive valuable training in seamanship and related skills, and enjoy the sense of confidence of knowing that they are better and safer boaters.
- Support the Coast Guard
Auxiliarists provide direct operational and administrative support to many local Coast Guard units. You can wear the Coast Guard Auxiliary uniform and become part of Team Coast Guard. When you qualify through training, you can take part in Search and Rescue operations, stand radio watch at the Coast Guard Station, work with the Marine Safety Office on pollution matters, teach public and member education classes, represent the coast guard auxiliary at public events or work in the Recruiting Office.
- Service to Your Community
Auxiliarists aren't paid with money, but with satisfaction. We furnish and maintain our own equipment and can choose to participate at a level tailored to our individual capabilities. We provide boating safety classes for youth and adults and examine recreational vessel for safety equipment to ensure that our neighbors will be safe on the waterways.
- Enjoy Fun & Fellowship
In all activities, enjoy fellowship - the good company of other Auxiliarists at meetings and training sessions, on patrols and other missions, and at ceremonies and social events. One of he Auxiliary's trademarks is good old-fashioned hospitality. Friends, neighbors and interested members of the public are always welcome to attend one of our flotilla meetings. In addition, dedication to boating safety provides the atmosphere for getting together to swap boating experiences and participate in cruises and rendezvous. You'll find a special camaraderie among Auxiliarists that's hard to beat. There's time to relax and have fun at Auxiliary outings, training sessions, patrols, VSC's, classes, and conferences. Auxiliarists make lasting, meaningful friendships. Knowing that you belong to a special group of people and directly participate in helping save lives gives your Auxiliary membership a special meaning.
FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT JOINING THE AUXILIARY CONTACT
Tom Mattingly
Flotilla Commander
tmattingly.obx@gmail.com
(252) 573-0599
Join The United States Coast Guard Auxiliary Outer Banks Flotilla
THE U.S. COAST GUARD COUNTS ON THE OBX AUXILIARY TO…
- Promote boating safety to the OBX community
- Provide qualified crew for boat, fixed wing, and helicopter training missions
- Train the boating public through comprehensive safety classes
- Conduct vessel safety checks
- Develop U.S. Coast Guard level boating skills as auxiliary crew members and coxswains
We are proud to serve alongside the active-duty heroes of the United States Coast Guard in Northeast North Carolina.
The OBX Flotilla Builds on the rich history of Coast Guard going back to the formation of the U.S. Lifesaving Service in the 1870’s
CGAUX OBX Shipmates volunteer over 15,000 hours every year supporting a variety of missions focused on training.
You do not need a military or nautical background.
We will help you develop considerable boating knowledge and talents.
You must be at least 17 years old to be a member. We proudly welcome people of all backgrounds and skill sets.
4th Wednesday of every month.
Our History
Flotilla 1607 Staff attending the 2021 Division 16 Training Day at the Dare County Emergency Operations Center, May, 2021
Our History...
The volunteer arm of the United States Coast Guard came to the Outer Banks of North Carolina as a result of the chartering of Flotilla 1607 on 27 April 1975. The flotilla quickly became and remains an important part of Team Coast Guard serving the people of the “Banks”.
By April 1975 when the Flotilla charter was granted by the Coast Guard, the membership had already grown to 21. Today we number almost 50 shipmates.
At the time of the establishment of 1607, there were four Coast Guard units serving the Outer Banks: Station Oregon Inlet (SOI), the nearest to Colington Harbour, Station Hatteras Inlet (SHI), 65 miles to the south, Station Ocracoke on Ocracoke Island 80 miles to the south including a ferry ride across Hatteras Inlet and Group Cape Hatteras located in Buxton on Hatteras Island. The personnel at SOI provided strong support for the fledgling Flotilla by providing on-the-water training for operations, use of the Station facilities for training meetings and support for the Flotilla’s vessel examining and public education activities.
As the flotilla evolved a partnership with the Coast Guard leadership developed and soon some very different missions were being tried and then fully implemented augmenting the primary mission of enhancing boating safety. To support these missions the Coast Guard equipped and assigned a 27-foot Boston Whaler Utility Life Boat to Flotilla 1607 in 2006.
The Flotilla maintains a balance of on the water activities and community outreach to promote boating safety through the safety check program, public education in schools and at events on the Outer Banks.
The flotilla reached a major milestone in 2019 when we were named the U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary Flotilla of the Year.