STUART, FL—Do you know what the Coast Guard Auxiliary is? Most people don't.
"The Coast Guard Auxiliary got started in 1939 as a reserve to the Coast Guard when it looked like war was imminent," said David Elliott, The Assistant National Commodore for Response and Prevention.
A group of people asked to help their country stay safe.
"In 1945 the Coast Guard formed the reserve, and the auxiliary became a separate unit," explained Elliott.
Now numbering in the tens of thousands, the Coast Guard Auxiliary has flotillas all over the country, including Stuart where over 60 people from different walks of life, watch over the waters from Ft. Pierce to Jupiter.
"There are physicians both retired and still working. There are professional pilots, there are business executives," said Wilson Riggan, Coast Guard Auxiliary Division Commander.
In fact there are over four hundred volunteers that cover the Treasure Coast to Boca Raton and inland to Lake Okeechobee. All using their own boats, their own planes, and on their own time. However, the Coast Guard does chip in a little.
"The Coast Guard pays for the fuel that we use, but that's the majority of the reimbursement that we get," said Riggan.
Still, all say it's worth it for what they get back; the satisfaction of helping their country and their neighbors.
"I teach boating safety. I love it. I've got a lot of experience that I can relate to the students with," said Bill Gelpke, Treasurer for Flotilla 59 in Stuart.
Even if you don't like the water, the Coast Guard Auxiliary could use your help with computers, radio operation, or marine inspections on land.
And ladies, it's not just for the men. "It's very appealing. They have an opportunity to learn a lot about boats. They also have an opportunity to step into leadership roles," said Diane Riggan, Flotilla 59 Commander.
Your volunteer time will fit your schedule, whether you’re the minimum age of seventeen or, "There actually is no upper age range. We have auxiliars who have celebrated their hundredth birthday," said Diane Riggan.
Camaraderie, education, and the open water... not a bad way to spend your spare time.
