June 23, 2021 is the official Coast Guard Auxiliary birthday. Most are familiar with the Coast Guard, and while the Coast Guard Reserve is not quite as well known, it is the Coast Guard Auxiliary which remains one of the more obscure (but important) groups that has traditionally been associated with the United States Military.

The United States Coast Guard Auxiliary is the uniformed auxiliary service of the United States Coast Guard.  It is comprised of 26,000 members who volunteer their time to support the operation of the Coast Guard, promote and improve recreational boating safety, and provide trained crews and facilities to enhance the safety and security of US ports, waterways, and coastal regions.

The Coast Guard Auxiliary is an unpaid force of volunteers who perform duties like or in support of the regular Coast Guard. Legislation passed in the mid-1990s authorized the Auxiliary to support any Coast Guard missions not involving law enforcement or real-world military operations.  Today the Coast Guard, Reserve, and Auxiliary under the Department of Homeland Security.