[Coast Guard Auxiliary] - [Vessel
Safety Checks] - [Training]
- [USCG
Cutter OAK] - [Touring]
[Semper Paratus] - [Photo Gallery] -
[The New Member Pledge]
I am a member of the U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary, the volunteer branch of the United States Coast Guard. I am not an active duty or reserve member of the Coast Guard. I cannot be called up for military service through my membership. I do not get paid for participating. Instead I work as a volunteer with other members of my Flotilla to support safe boating and assist in cases on Lake Michigan.
So far, I have been involved with a variety of training exercises, as well as assisting on crew for towing disabled boats to harbor and observing on patrol at the 2002 Chicago Air and Water Show. I have enjoyed my time so far, and I am looking forward to learning all about the Coast Guard Auxiliary and its missions.
My flotilla is based at the U.S. Coast Guard Station Wilmette Harbor, in Wilmette, IL north of Evanston on Lake Michigan. We are responsible for assisting the active duty Coast Guard crew in patrolling Lake Michigan from Great Lakes Naval Training Center to Monroe Harbor.
I was sworn in on Saturday, October 19, 2002, at the 9th District Western Region Conference in Schaumburg, Illinois. Admiral Silva, Commander of the 9th Coast Guard District (covering the Great Lakes) conducted the swearing in ceremony in front of the conference attendees and guests. Kelly took some photos and I've included them below.
I am qualified as a Coast Guard Auxiliary Vessel Examiner - I am authorized to conduct courtesy safety checks of recreational boats, including power and sailboats, personal watercraft, canoes, kayaks, etc. Click here for the requirements for the Vessel Safety Check. If you would like me to conduct a safety check of your vessel in the Glenview or Rosemont area, please email me at weidson@kkpsi.org. If you are in another area, please visit the national Vessel Safety Check website and enter your zip code to find a qualified vessel examiner nearby. Remember, boat safely.
The Coast Guard Auxiliary has a very structured member training program. Among a variety of training opportunities, members can train as Boat Crew, Vessel Examiner, Auxiliary Instructor, Aviation, Radio Watchstander, and Private Aid to Navigation Verifier. In addition, there are a variety of Auxiliary advanced skill courses and administrative courses, along with non-classified U.S. Coast Guard training and coursework through the Coast Guard Institute. The Auxiliary also sponsors and hosts various safe boating courses for the public. Information on all these courses can be found on http://www.cgaux.org/.
Initially, I started in the Boat Crew program. One Sunday in June 2003, I went on patrol on Lake Michigan with an Auxiliary crew from Wilmette Harbor. During that patrol I piloted the patrol boat for about 45 minutes - my first time at the helm. The boat was also authorized for close observation of the Coast Guard patrol boat conducting training with the Coast Guard HH-65 Dolphin helicopter, based at Waukegan, IL (summers only). That was an incredible experience, just to watch from a short distance - afterwards the helo flew over our patrol boat at a very low altitude - what a great way to spend a few hours. Finally, after practicing towing procedures with the Coast Guard boat, we got a SAR case - a disabled vessel near the entrance to Wilmette Harbor. We responded and towed the vessel to the entrance of Wilmette Harbor - no damage, no injuries, no problem - case closed. This "job" is great.
The USCG Cutter OAK (WLB 211) was docked at Navy Pier in Chicago in early
November, 2002. Kelly and I got to tour the brand new ship, which is
homeported at Charleston, SC. The OAK is a 225-foot
Juniper Class Seagoing Buoy Tender. The Coast Guard Auxiliary was
giving public tours and some of the active duty crew was on hand to talk about
the vessel. It was added to the Coast Guard fleet in Wisconsin on October 17, 2002 (two days
before I was sworn in) and will be traveling through the Great Lakes until early
December. I have a whole web page dedicated to the USCGC
OAK.
When I go traveling, especially during the week I make an effort to stop by Coast Guard Exchange locations and U.S. Coast Guard Stations to see what facilities are out there. So far I have been to Station and Air Station San Diego (Harbor Island), Station Fort Myers Beach (Florida) in 2002 and Coast Guard Training Center Yorktown (Virginia), Command Center Portsmouth in 2003. I also stumbled upon the USCGC Blackthorn Memorial while crossing the entrance to Tampa Bay around Christmas of 2002. I hope to continue to visit different locations and expand my horizons in the USCG Auxiliary.
The tour continues in 2004 - while cruising Alaska in May and June of 2004, I had the opportunity to stop by Station Ketchikan (unfortunately, there wasn't much to see, as I visited on Memorial Day - nice time to pay respects, though). One of the RHI vessels from Station Ketchikan passed our cruise ship as we were departing. We also visited Station Juneau and received a nice escort from the station including a cutter as we departed. During 2005, I have visited Air Station Clearwater, Station St. Petersburgh, and Group Milwaukee.
Semper Paratus (latin for "Always Ready") is the U.S. Coast Guard motto, as well as the name of the Coast Guard Anthem. According the Coast Guard Historian's Office, no one is quite sure how the phrase was selected as the motto for the service. However, they know for certain that the music and lyrics were written by Capt. Francis Saltus Van Boskerck. The words were written in 1922 in Georgia and the music in 1927 in Alaska. Although the lyrics have been revised several times since Capt. Van Boskerck wrote them, I think the modern lyrics clearly reflect the spirit of the Coast Guard (although with a noticeable WWII flavor in the verse). The music is typical of catchy, military, and brassy U.S. service anthems and can be best heard performed by the U.S. Coast Guard Band, stationed at the U.S. Coast Guard Academy in New London, CT.
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Here we are, all waiting for our turn to be
introduced. This sort of thing always makes me a little anxious -
it's a real honor to be sworn in by the Admiral. That's me in the
center of the photo. |
The Admiral administers the pledge to each of us. I am
directly below the center flag. |
As we finish the pledge, the crowd bursts into applause!
We are now official members of the U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary. |
Here is the text of the pledge that I took, and every other auxiliarist takes, when I joined the US Coast Guard Auxiliary.
Prologue and Pledge for New Members
The pledge you are about the take is your commitment to support the United States Coast Guard Auxiliary, an organization dedicated to the promotion of boating safety and providing assistance to the United States Coast Guard in the fulfillment of its civil functions. You accept this membership as a volunteer, and as a member you are charged with certain responsibilities and obligations. These include your willingness to support the Coast Guard Auxiliary and its purposes, to faithfully execute your duties, and to participate in its authorized programs to the best of your ability and to the extent that time and circumstances permit.
As an Auxiliarist, you enjoy certain honors and privileges, among them, wearing the Auxiliary uniform and flying the Auxiliary Ensign. Wear the uniform neatly and correctly and fly the Blue Ensign proudly. Remember that your conduct reflects directly upon the image of both the Coast Guard and the Auxiliary. The satisfaction you derive from your Auxiliary membership will be in proportion to your level of participation in the organization’s activities. The success of the Coast Guard Auxiliary will depend upon the extent of your participation and upon the quality of the Auxiliary leaders that you, the member, select.
(ASK THE AUDIENCE TO RISE)
If you feel that you can be an active and productive member of the United States Coast Guard Auxiliary, please raise your right hand and repeat after me:
“I, (your name), solemnly and sincerely pledge myself to support the United States Coast Guard Auxiliary and its purposes, to faithfully execute my duties, and to abide by the governing policies established by the Commandant of the United States Coast Guard.”
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This site is not sponsored or in any other way directly
endorsed by the U.S. Coast Guard, the U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary, the U.S.
Department of Transportation, or any other affiliated organization. The
information I provide here is intended to be informational in nature only.
Some of the pictures and graphics are provided by the U.S.
Coast Guard Auxiliary Association, Inc. Those images are not intended for
commercial use. This website Copyright © 2002-2003 by William C. Eidson.
