Hawaii-based Commodore Burkhard L. Berger sworn in flotilla commander Dennis Chapla and Fernando Camacho as vice commander.
The Saipan flotilla has 16 members and both Chapla and Camacho said more civilians are welcome to join them.
All members of the U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary are volunteers from the civilian community.
Berger said although they are not supposed to engage in any combat activities, the auxiliary members are important allies of the military in case of a national disaster, threat of a terrorist attack and in terms of monitoring safety at sea and other waterways.
“The flotilla here on Saipan is very important strategically. We are on island, surrounded by waters and many people use the ocean for recreation and fishing primarily and safety is our concern,” Berger told the Variety.
“In case of a natural disaster, we would support the active duty Coast Guard and they would be in command. But our main mission is recreational boating safety. Educating those folks that own boats who go out with their families, to go fishing and so on to make sure that they are safe,” he added.
The visiting commodore said part of their duties is to conduct safety checks on privately owned marine vessels without charging them for fines in case they don’t meet the requirements.
“We are the good guys. We help the boaters save money by not getting fines,” he said.
Lt. John Peterson, in-charge of the Coast Guard office on Saipan, said the auxiliary concept dates back to 1939 and continues to be an important part of their daily operations.
“The overarching mission of the U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary is to contribute to the safety and security of our citizens, ports, waterways and coastal regions. We will balance our missions of Recreational Boating Safety and Coast Guard Support with Maritime Homeland Security and other challenges that emerge as a result of our growing understanding of changes required in the post-9/11 era,” he said in a statement.
“Since 1939 the U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary has safeguarded our Nation’s maritime interests in the heartland, in the ports, at sea, and around the globe. We protect the maritime economy and the environment, we defend our maritime borders, and we save those in peril,” he added.
Close to 32,000 men and women across the nation serve the U.S. Coast Guard which will observe Boating Safety Week from March 21 to 28.
In the CNMI, the occasion will be marked from March 15 through the 21st.
