Celebrating our Coast Guard Reserves

The United States Coast Guard Reserve was originally established on 23 June 1939 as a civilian reserve.1

This civilian reserve was renamed the United States Coast Guard Auxiliary on the passage of the Coast Guard Reserve and Auxiliary Act of 19 February 1941 and the military reserve commenced operations at that time.

Passage of this act designated the Reserve as a military branch of the active service, while the civilian volunteers, formerly referred to as the Coast Guard Reserve, became the Auxiliary.

It is this day, February 19, that the official birthday of the United States Coast Guard...