Could Auxiliarists always help support the Coast Guard in so many ways?
Previous to 1996, Auxiliary membership was limited to boat owners or those with special qualifications, usually meaning teachers and others with technical skills that could help support a flotilla’s operation. However, there could be no more than 3 nonboat-owning members per boat-owner in a flotilla. During the 1990’s, an active effort to integrate Auxiliarists into more of the Coast Guard’s day-to-day operations was begun by the Chief DIRAUX office at headquarters. Auxiliarists began assisting in public affairs offices, qualifying as Coast Guard boat and air crew members, qualifying as officers of the day at local stations, becoming Coast Guard recruiters, etc. This coincided with increased demands being put on the Coast Guard due to a considerable number of disasters that occurred during the 1990s: Hurricane Andrew, the ’93 Mississippi Floods, the Cuban-Haitian boatlift, etc. Due to their outstanding records and the need, in 1996, the law was changed to allow Auxiliarists to support
