Coast Guard Auxiliary Solomons Flotilla and our AOR covers the waterways in and around southern Calvert County and all of St Mary’s county. The Coast Guard Auxiliary is the volunteer uniformed component of the US Coast Guard. We can perform all Coast Guard functions except for law enforcement and military operations. We take on their safe boating responsibility, thereby freeing up a significant pa
rt of the active-duty Coast Guard for other missions such as law enforcement. To join the USCG Auxiliary you must be at least 17 years old, complete an application and be a US citizen. Some operational mission areas require that you be physically able to perform the operational tasks. As volunteers, we don’t get paid, but, as a force multiplier for the Coast Guard, we provide a valuable service to them and the community. Our members provide as much or as little volunteer time as they can make available, however, we do expect them to participate in our events and contribute where they can. We are not looking for members who just pay their dues and attend monthly meetings. We want members who will get out in the community and at Station St Inigoes, and work to support the Coast Guard's mission. There is no requirement to put in a certain number of hours. Operationally, we support Coast Guard Station St Inigoes by conducting marine observation patrols on the water under Coast Guard mission orders. We train on the water with our own operational facilities as well as with Coast Guard vessels. We provide safety and crowd control on the water at regattas and other boat gatherings. We can support the USCG ANT-Potomac team by verifying the condition and location of local Aids to Navigation, and we perform on-the-water training together. Two very rewarding volunteer activities are standing watch at Station St. Inigoes and providing chef services in their galley. We set up and operate safe boating booths at public events in the area; we work with local government to promote safe boating; we teach safe boating classes, including the Maryland DNR certificate course, at local sites. We visit marine businesses and talk to them about boating safety. Our vessel examiners conduct free vessel safety checks for many boat owners in our area. These are just a few of the many volunteer functions you can perform after completing training. Our members also contribute to our flotilla management by providing administrative support functions, financial management, information management, and human resources services to keep our flotilla fully functional. Free training and mentoring are provided to members interested in performing these services. We have superb training resources available to us and all training is free. If you want to be a certified Boat Crew Member or Coxswain we will train you. We also have courses in many other operational disciplines from seamanship to patrolling to search and rescue. Some other training includes marine navigation, public affairs, information management, finance, instructors, vessel examiners, container inspections, and many, may others. Some volunteer activities require that certain training must be accomplished to be certified to do the activity. Most training can be accomplished by taking online Coast Guard Auxiliary courses. Some training is accomplished in-person at other locations. In that event the Coast Guard will issue orders and pay for travel expenses such as meals, airfare, and lodging. Our Member Training Staff Officer works with you to plan and make your desired training happen. REMEMBER: ALL TRAINING IS FREE! We also make sure that we have some fun. We hold periodic social gatherings as well as monthly meetings. Often, some of our members get together for lunch at one of the local marinas. You might want to check out our flotilla website at https://wow.uscgaux.info/content.php?unit=054-23-02. If you find that this is something you want to do, I would be pleased to meet with you. Send me an email at [email protected].
