Flotilla 16-2, Serving Oklahoma's Green Country
The Coast Guard Auxiliary -- the Civilian Component of the Coast Guard -- was chartered by Congress in 1939. The purpose of the Auxiliary is to assist the Coast Guard inall its assigned duties except direct law enforcement and military action.
Today, the Coast Guard Auxiliary works side-by-side with active duty Coast Guard personnel in many functions. But Recreational Boating Safety (RBS) remains the Coast Guard Auxiliary's primary mission. Flotilla 16-2 serves the boating public in Oklahoma's Green Country -- primarily on Lake Fort Gibson and the Arkansas River Navigation System.
The Auxiliary's main programs can be described in four basic program areas.
Public Education
We conduct baoting safety classes for the general public and specialized groups when requested. Out courses are mainly aimed at beginning power and sail boaters, however, even experienced boaters will gain valuable insights from most of our courses. Our courses are presented free of charge (there is a modest fee for the course materials). Most of our courses have been approved by the National Association of State Boating Law Administrators (NASBLA). Many insurance companies offer insurance discounts to those who have successfully completed one of our courses.
Vessel Safety Checks
We examine recreational boats to ensure compliance with applicable Federal safety laws. If the vessel has the federally-mandated requirements and other safety related items recommended by the Auxiliary, the owner receives a decal fo rthe windshield known as the "Seal of Safety". If the vessel is lacking any requirements, we advise the owner about what they need in order to be safer and better prepared on the water. If the owner obtains the missing items, they may call us and we will recheck the boat and issue a decal. We make no report to any legal authority or issue any tickets for missing items. The Coast Guard Auxiliary has NO legal authority in any area of boating -- on the water or off the water.
Operations
Using our own privately owned boats, Flotilla 16-2 members conduct safety and regatta patrols on Lake Fort Gibson and pollution and Aids to Navigation (AtoN) verification patrols on the Arkansas River Navigation System. On occasion, Flotilla 16-2 has also conducted safety and regatta patrols for special events on Skiatook Lake, Lake Eufaula and other Oklahoma waters. Our purpose in routine safety patrols is to lend assistance and advice to boaters who may have experienced troubles that threaten their enjoyment of their boating outing. The Coast Guard Auxiliary, an instrumentality of the Federal government when on patrol, never accepts any form of payment or gratuity for assistance rendered to a boater in need.
Fellowship
The Coast Guard Auxiliary is not a social organization or a yacht club. Rather, we are a service organization providing service to the Coast Guard and the boating public. But we do have FUN as well. Doing something worthy and important with competent peer professionals is extremely rewarding and leads to a lot of comraderie among members. We enjoy fellow member's company and social gatherings are an important part of our planned activities.
Auxiliary Membership Requirements
As the lead volunteer organization in the Department of Homeland Security, the Auxiliary has members in all 50 states, Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands, American Samoa and Guam. Membership is open to all citizens of the U.S., 17 years or older, civilians or active duty or former members of any of the uniformed services and their Reserve components, including the Coast Guard.
If you are a U.S. Citizen, 17 years or older and want to help make boating more fun and safe for everyone or enjoy saving lives or want to help enhance the security of the Homeland, you can join the Coast Guard Auxiliary.
JOIN US
The Auxiliary's missions include . . .
1. Safety patrols under Coast Guard orders using Auxiliary Operational Facilities (& Aux crews)
2. Standby Search & Rescue -- providing a stand-by Auxiliary facility and Crew for Coast Guard dispatch;
or responding to an urgent call out from local governmental agencies
3. Radio watchstanders -- serving as a qualified radio watchstander at a Coast Guard or Auxiliary facility.
4. Coast Guard crew augmentation -- serving as a qualified crew on Coast Guard (as opposed to Auxiliary)
vessel or base
5. Aids to Navigation -- servicing Federal or Private Aids to Navigation (AtoNs)
6. Public Education classes -- teach any of several approved courses to the general boating public
7. Member training -- teach other members new and enhanced skills including boat crew training,
Basic Qualification classes and specialty courses
8. Marine Environmental protection -- surface support for marine environmental protection missions or
provide support to the Coast Guard in teh area of Marine Environmental protection
9. Vessel examinations -- Vessel Safety Checks (VSCs), PWC checks, uninspected passenger vessels
and commercial fishing vessels
10. Marine Dealer Visitation programs -- providing businesses in the local boating industry and related
businesses with important public safety bulletings, brochures and other information for their customers
11. State and Local Agencies support -- support state and local agencies including State Police, county
Sheriffs, local police departments, natural resource management, emergency agencies and other
associated agencies
Completes 62.5 safety patrols
Completes 6.2 regatta patrols
Performs 10.2 vessel assists
Assists 28 people
Saves 1 life
Saves $341,290 in property
Participates in 100 Operational support missions
Participates in 48.7 administrative support missions
Completes 13.4 recruiting support missions
Educates 369 people on boating safety
Performs 299 vessel safety checks
Attends 70 public affairs functions
What do YOU do on an average day?
Operational vessels 4,971
Aircraft 226
Communications stations 2,641
Members 32,950
Personal Watercraft facilities 2,873
Auxiliary Volunteer Missions Hours
Public Affairs 96,628
Safety Patrol hours 143,871
Air Patrol hours 10,038
Support of CG Missions 269,652
Hours of Public Educations 73,097
Hours of Member Training 51,212
Auxiliary Qualified Team Members
Boat Crew 7,098
Auxiliary Coxswains 5,240
Air Observers 294
Pilots 263
Navigation Aids Verifiers 2,829
Instructors 8,547
Personal Watercraft Operators 30
More than 30,000 Auxiliary members have joined the U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary for one of more reasons:
Be a part of the action and help save lives
Increase our boating skills
Support the Coast Guard
Service to our Community
Enjoy fun and fellowship
For more details!
