National Commodore Lauds Auxiliarists for Auxiliary Growth in 2006-2007

National Commodore Steve Budar, addressing the National Board and all Auxiliary members, praised Auxiliary members for a year in which the Auxiliary has seen strong increases in key program areas.

Compared to the last year, he said, the Auxiliary has seen new enrollments up 31%, marine safety hours up over 20%, safety patrols up over 3% and members conducting over 6,000 Vessel Checks and volunteering over 1.2 million hours of service.

"Fellowship and fun in your flotillas has resulted in members recommitting to serve in the Coast Guard Auxiliary," Budar remarked, "and if we make our members' day they will be there for us."

Citing changes that have been made to the activities new members may participate in while their personal security investigations are completed, Budar said, "I can't wait to see what else we can accomplish in the next year."

Admiral Atkin, Commander of Deployable Operations Group Calls For Auxiliarists As Force Multipliers

The commander of the Coast Guard’s elite Deployable Operations Group (DOG), RADM Thomas Atkin, addressing NACON 2007 attendees, called for Auxiliarists to increasingly be force multipliers in the missions of Team Coast Guard.

RADM Atkin, whose forces include the Maritime Security Response Team, the Marine Safety Security Teams (MSST), the Tactical Law Enforcement Teams, the Port Security Units and the National Strike Force, stated that his team has an Auxiliary Liaison, Jay Wenzel, and that Auxiliarists can play an important part in the missions of his team.

"As we build out these adaptive force packages, we need to make it a team effort, we need the Auxiliary to be part of those teams. What we're going to look at is how the Auxiliary can be a part of the Deployable Operations Group," he said.

RADM Atkin said the Auxiliary can particularly play important roles in the areas of "Prevention" (training and education), "Readiness" (security patrols, overflights, medical assists, legal service by Auxiliary attorneys, and event planning), and "Response" (Search and Rescue response, communications watch-standing and SAR coordination).