The United States Coast Guard Auxiliary is a volunteer civilian service that helps the United States Coast Guard. It was established in 1939 to help the military carry out its noncombatant and non-law enforcement missions. There are approximately 39,000 Auxiliarists across the country. The Oyster Bay Coast Guard Auxiliary is one of thousands of local flotillas. It patrols Oyster Bay Harbor and other neighboring waterways and acts as the eyes and ears for the military.

The role of local flotillas like Oyster Bay's has expanded with the passage of the Patriot Act and with the heightened scope of the Coast Guard's greater role with missions to root out terrorism. Auxiliarists may use their own vessels, including boats and aircraft, in carrying out Coast Guard missions, or apply specialized skills such as website design or radio operating to assist the Coast Guard. All Auxiliarists wear the same uniform as Coast Guardsmen with modified insignia that to the average person is hard to distinguish from the military. Although the volunteer flotillas are civilians and never carry or use weapons, they may have to act under official Coast Guard orders while on duty. They may also be ordered to fill in certain official roles during emergency situations or in times of war. Around September 11th and other heightened security periods since then the Oyster Bay flotilla along with many other volunteer flotillas throughout New York, Connecticut, and other states have been periodically called in to help on official missions on Long Island Sound and Manhattan.

The Eatons Neck Coast Guard Station is the Coast Guard military base that patrols from Oyster Bay Harbor to Port Jefferson on Long Island and from these points north to Connecticut. Sitting on a peninsula that juts out into the Long Island Sound, Eatons Neck is pretty far to get to or from Oyster Bay by land or water. This is also a large area for the Eaton's Neck Station to manage at all times. And this is where the Oyster Bay Auxiliary volunteers help supplement the capabilities of the Coast Guard. The Coast Guard operations are coordinated from a main office with nine other field subunits of which the Oyster Bay Auxiliary is connected to. This network includes approximately 500 active duty personnel, 200 reservists, and 1,200 volunteer Auxiliary members.

Originally, the main missions of the Auxiliary have been courtesy boat examinations, public education, and patrol operations. These three missions, together with fellowship (socializing) were known as the "Four Cornerstones." Through the years, these four cornerstones served the Auxiliary and the Coast Guard well. Currently the Auxiliary offers more programs in which Auxiliary members are authorized to participate. The programs now offered are diverse and appeal to a wider range of people, including women, veterans, physically challenged, and all age groups. Some volunteers prefer to do primarily administrative work, such as public education, radio watch, coordinating fellowship activities, or maintaining newsletters and other media, etc. While other Auxiliarists are more interested in hands-on work such as patrolling waterways or airways, search and rescue, periodically checking on the position of buoys and other Aids to Navigation, giving vessel inspections, etc.

Public education is the key aspect of local flotillas that the public is most familiar with. Some of Oyster Bay's ongoing classes are Basic Coastal Navigation, New York State Safe Boating, and basic GPS for Mariners. On Thursday, Oct. 27 from 7:30-9:30 p.m. they are offering Boating Skills and Seamanship, which consists of six evenings learning about basic boating terminology and the rules of the waterway. Another basic class is the ABC's of Boating, which is a one-day class on Saturday, Oct. 29 from 8:15 a.m- 4 p.m. Both Boating Skills and Seamanship and the ABC's of Boating meet New York State personal watercraft or jet ski requirements.

If you would like to speak directly with someone about taking boating safety classes or joining the Auxiliary then please contact Richard Werner, Vice Flotilla Commander of the Oyster Bay Coast Guard Auxiliary via e-mail at rwerner@cgauxoysterbay.org or visit their website at www.cgauxoysterbay.org. Membership in the Coast Guard Auxiliary is open to men and women who are citizens of the United States and are at least 17 years of age. No boat is required! If you have an interest in learning more about seamanship, helping others, and working with the Coast Guard, you will find the Coast Guard Auxiliary a great place to meet people with similar interests. The Oyster Bay Flotilla holds its business meetings on the second Monday of every month at the Waterfront Center in Oyster Bay. The meetings begin at 8 p.m. and coffee is served at 7:30 p.m.