ABOUT FLOTILLA 12-5

U.S. COAST GUARD AUXILIARY

SERVING UNDER THE BLUE ENSIGN

This is the ensign proudly flown by the more than 70 women and men who belong to Flotilla 12-5 of the United States Coast Guard Auxiliary, and by their fellow Auxiliarists throughout the country. The Auxiliary, created by an Act of Congress in 1939, is the uniformed, civilian branch of the U. S. Coast Guard. Auxiliary members joining local flotillas are all unpaid  volunteers who provide support and augmentation in all of the Coast Guard's multi-faceted operations — except for military actions, and direct law enforcement. The highly trained and well qualified members of Flotilla 12-5 share in the Auxiliary's tradition of support to the Coast Guard, and assisting it in performing any Coast Guard function, power, duty, role, mission or operation authorized by law.

From a  long list of services provided by the Auxiliary, just a few are highlighted here:

● Conducting patrols on waterways to promote safety, assist boaters in distress, save lives and property;

● Operating fixed-land and land-mobile radio stations in support of Coast Guard Operations;

● Planning, performing and participating in disaster relief operations;

● Performing free Vessel Safety Checks (VSC) for recreational boaters;

● Presenting public classes on seamanship, navigation, boating techniques and safety;

● Providing audits on Federal and private aids to navigation;

● Surveying docking and fleeting areas for safety and environmental concerns; and

● Promoting the mission of Safe Boating Week throughout the year.

Auxiliarists are also used to augment the active duty Coast Guard mission by  being employed on or at regular units, such as stations, vessels and aircraft — thereby freeing up active duty personnel for other vital duties.

Finally, and in reaction to the 9/11/2001 national tragedy, members of the Auxiliary have taken on additional tasks. Without diminishing its key mission of recreational boating safety, and reacting much like it did during World War II, the Auxiliary's mission has been adapted and expanded to meet the requirements of the "new normalcy." The Commandant of the Coast Guard has established "Operation Patriot Readiness" which directs both regular Coast Guard and Auxiliary personnel to cooperate in assigning qualified Auxiliarists to non-traditional roles, such as chart corrections on cutters, unit logistics support, and in-port and underway watch standing, while raising their communication and patrol capabilities and deployment. To an increasing extent, Auxiliarists are applying their civilian skills in support of the various Coast Guard missions, and are becoming even more qualified to perform high level tasks needed by Coast Guard Forces. (For more detailed information see the U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary Directory of Services - 2003.)

LAND SEA AND AIR FLOTILLA 12-5 — SERVING WITH PRIDE

Flotilla 12-5 is part of Coast Guard Auxiliary Division 12 in District 11 (Northern Region). The flotilla has an Area of Responsibility (AOR) which includes much of the Greater San Francisco Bay Area and beyond. Its members provide land, sea and air support to Coast Guard Forces from the South Bay, throughout the East Bay, and to parts of the Sacramento Delta.  

Serving Afloat. . .

Two of the major services of the Coast Guard Auxiliary are performing Vessel Safety Checks (VSC) for recreational boaters, and conducting Safety Patrols by Auxiliarists using their own boats under Coast Guard orders. Members of Flotilla 12-5 routinely provide these services, as well as other operations, both scheduled and non-scheduled, on the area's waterways.

Vessel Safety Checks, a cornerstone of the Auxiliary's safe boating program, have proven their value since first instituted in 1947. A vessel safety check is a courtesy examination of a pleasure boat to verify the presence and condition of certain safety equipment required by state and federal laws and regulations. The vessel examiner is a trained specialist who will make certain recommendations and discuss certain safety issues that will help make the operator a safer and more confident boater.

Vessel examinations by certified Flotilla 12-5 examiners are free of charge, and are made at the request of a recreational boat owner. Members regularly staff Vessel Safety Check Stations at various locations in the area, and special arrangements for the examinations can be made by contacting the flotilla. Most safety patrols also have a qualified Vessel Examiner on board and it may be possible to have a VSC performed on the spot, so long as it does not interfere with their primary mission of assisting other boaters who are either disabled or in distress.

This safety inspection is not a boarding or a law enforcement mission, and no citations are issued as a result of the safety check. A copy of the Auxiliarist's evaluation will be provided so the owner of the vessel may implement any of the suggestions made. Vessels passing the inspection will be permitted to display the distinctive Vessel Safety Check decal. Display of the decal, while not exempting the boat from law enforcement boarding, will help make any such boarding a more positive encounter. In a nationwide sampling of 100,650 vessel safety checks, about 75% passed and 25% failed the VSC.

Safety Patrols. Flotilla 12-5 members conducting patrol missions under Coast Guard orders fly this ensign and also display a Coast Guard Auxiliary Patrol Sign visible from both the port and starboard sides of their vessel. Generally the vessel and its crew are on a scheduled safety patrol, ready to assist recreational boaters who are either lost, disabled or in distress

They may also have been called out on a Search and Rescue (SAR) mission. Or they may be updating navigational charts, providing logistical support to regular Coast Guard units in the area, or providing support —  such as transportation — for a specific Coast Guard law enforcement operation.

Finally, they may be on a Marine Safety and Security, or Environmental Protection patrol. Auxiliarists conduct these missions to support Coast Guard Marine Safety units and the various programs for which they are responsible. Some examples are environmental education, outreach activities, pollution response, marine environmental missions, harbor and anchorage patrols, and safety/security zone patrols.

Serving Ashore. . .

While the primary focus of the Coast Guard has always been on the protection of life and property at sea and on the navigable waterways of the United States, much of the service's operations actually occur "on the beach." Shore based activity includes port security, marine inspection of domestic and foreign flag fishing and commercial shipping vessels, the licensing of merchant mariners, and operating communications facilities in support of its sea based missions. The Coast Guard Auxiliary, including members of Flotilla 12-5, provide needed support to the Coast Guard in successfully meeting many of these mandates to ensure safety and security along the country's coastline.

Communications and More. Fixed-land,  radio-direction-finding (RDF), and land-mobile radio stations, owned and operated by Auxiliarists, supplement the Coast Guard's vast communications network. Several members of Flotilla 12-5 count themselves among the more than 250 Auxiliarists operating land-mobile and fixed-land radio stations in Coast Guard District 11NR. Member operated fixed-land and RDF radio stations serve both as a back up to Coast Guard shore radio stations and as part of the system of locating lost or disabled boaters on the waterways. Land-mobile radio stations, most often installed in the motor vehicles of Auxiliarists assigned to marina and seaport patrols, assist in reporting safety and security hazards at these facilities, and also provide radio communications during SAR and disaster relief operations. An Auxiliarist on land-mobile patrol may be the first unit on the scene when an incident such as a boat fire occurs close to shore, as was the case in Stockton not that long ago.

Before and during disasters, either natural or otherwise, and while conducting disaster relief operations, Auxiliarists provide vital services to the coast side community. Auxiliary members, backed up by Auxiliary fixed-land and land-mobile radio facilities, are often issued orders  to warn people on waterfronts and in isolated areas; to transport supplies, equipment or personnel; to evacuate people or property; to secure small craft and waterfront facilities; and to establish and operate emergency radio networks in support of these operations. Coast Guard Auxiliary radio stations are also assigned to communication duties at various public events, such as at regattas, "Tall Ships" parades, "Fleet Week" activities, and other maritime related programs.

Additional land based operations to which Auxiliarists may be assigned include courtesy examinations of commercial fishing vessels, marine environmental education and outreach programs, providing support and assistance to marine licensing and inspection functions. Auxiliary members also augment regular Coast Guard personnel at shore stations, such as operating as radio watchstanders at Coast Guard Station communication centers and Sector Command Centers.

Members of Coast Guard Auxiliary Flotilla 12-5 also conduct public education classes covering safe boating, state and federal boating laws and regulations, and good practices in the areas of practical seamanship and small craft navigation. These classes are offered at the local community level, and are either free-of-charge or require only a small fee for necessary course material.

Serving Aloft. . .

Flotilla 12-5's "Air Wing," comprised of both licensed pilots who are owner/operators of their private aircraft, plus trained and Coast Guard certified air crew members, are active in all areas of the Auxiliary's air operation coordinated by Coast Guard District 11NR. The Auxiliary air facilities belonging to Flotilla 12-5 members include five fixed wing aircraft and two Bell 47 helicopters (similar to the helicopters used in the "M*A*S*H" television series). These are believed to be the only rotary wing aircraft certified as Coast Guard Auxiliary facilities in District 11.

Auxiliary operated air missions provide the Coast Guard with the services of trained and competent FAA-certified pilots, trained air crews, and airworthy aircraft. The activities typically assigned to Auxiliary pilots and crew members augment and enhance Coast Guard services by providing necessary operational and logistical support by:

● Conducting air operations in support of our nation's Homeland Security;

● Participating in Search and Rescue on call out;

● Conducting scheduled safety patrols over water;

● Providing air support for the Coast Guard's law enforcement mission;

● Providing air support in the area of Marine Environmental Protection;

● Providing air support to survey Aids to Navigation;

● Transporting personnel and equipment;

● Conducting training missions involving air operations;

● Standing watches at Coast Guard air stations to free up regular personnel.

SERVE WITH US

In addition to the operational activities expected of all Auxiliarists, since it's inception a cornerstone of Coast Guard Auxiliary membership has been simple fellowship — the good company of other Auxiliarists at meetings and training sessions, on patrols and other missions, and at ceremonies and social events. There's always time to relax and have fun at Auxiliary outings, training sessions, patrols, vessel examinations, classes, and conferences. Auxiliarists make lasting, meaningful friendships. Belonging to a special group of people and directly participating in helping save lives gives membership a special meaning.