R 221410Z JUN 12

ALCOAST 299/12
COMDTNOTE 16790
SUBJ: SEVENTY-THIRD ANNIVERSARY OF THE UNITED STATES COAST GUARD
AUXILIARY
1. Congratulations to the Coast Guard Auxiliary on its 73rd birthday.
Auxiliarists are Semper Paratus - Always Ready and have answered
every call that the Coast Guard has issued.  Our Auxiliary shipmates
form an invaluable force multiplier that provides critical resources,
skills, and experience, to senior levels of Coast Guard down to the
deck plates.
2. This year, once again, the Auxiliary distinguished itself through
selfless devotion to duty. Its 30,000 members devoted over 4.1
million hours to conduct Coast Guard activities and operations.  They
were the vanguard of recreational boating safety, teaching over
17,000 boating safety classes, performing more than 145,600 safety
checks on boats and fishing vessels, and visiting over 108,400 marine
supply stores to distribute boating safety information.  They helped
avoid the loss of hundreds of lives and millions of dollars in
property.  The innovative Auxiliary University Program forged unique
ties with college students, providing them with the rewards of
Auxiliary service while garnering their talents in helping meet Coast
Guard research and internship needs.  The Auxiliary also launched a
comprehensive overhaul of its special skills inventory.  The new
Auxiliary Skills Bank, targeted for field testing in Districts Five,
Nine, and Thirteen, will enable the Coast Guard to instantly identify
Auxiliarists with needed skills on a local or national basis.
3. I ask all Coast Guardsmen to join me in honoring the Auxiliary,
our patriotic volunteers who dedicate themselves to performing Coast
Guard missions in service to our Nation.
4. Semper Paratus.
5. Admiral Bob Papp, Commandant, sends.
6. Internet release authorized.