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ABOUT OUR FLOTILLA
 When
We Meet
Who We Are
Benefits of Membership
Opportunities
Fun & Fellowship
Contact
Us
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When We Meet
Our flotilla normally meets at 7:00PM (1900Hrs) p.m. on the
Third Wednesday of every month, at Signature
Aviation at Ohare Airport. Visitors are welcome.
Who We Are
Our flotilla currently
consists of 39 members who actively patrol the Lake Michigan
shoreline from Michigan City, Indiana to Sturgeon Bay, Wisconsin.
We regularly meet with the boating public at marinas and in classrooms.
As the civilian,
volunteer arm of the U.S. Coast Guard, auxiliary members enjoy
all the rights and obligations of Team Coast Guard and serve
in all missions authorized, except law enforcement. Reporting
directly to Air Station Traverse City, Flotilla 3-8's missions
include search and rescue on the volunteer patrol vessels. Whether
you own a boat or not, the auxiliary's extensive training programs
bring a greater sense of readiness, awareness and pride to its
members. Located in Chicago area, for over 30 years we
have served the over 5,000 local area boaters and transients,
from Great Lakes to Racine, with courtesy vessel examinations,
public education classes, life-saving search and rescue, communications
and camaraderie.
The United States Coast
Guard has long been involved with aviation. Beginning in 1915,
the Coast Guard used a Curtiss flying boat as the test of whether
aviation was practical for search and rescue. Today, air is one
of the major components of the Search and Rescue missions of
the Coast Guard. Members who are private pilots volunteer their
services and planes just as other members volunteer their boats
and boating skills.
Air Operations involves many aviation related
missions. Here is a list of the missions that our pilots might
normally fly:
* SAR Mission - Search and Rescue call out or the air equivalent
to a vessel safety patrol. During a SAR mission, aircraft fly
predetermined search patterns based on complex algorithms. These
algorithms are based on last known or assumed position, wind,
current, and type of vessel that is missing.
* Enforcement of Laws and Treaties - Air support of a Coast
Guard mission to monitor major fishing areas.
* MEP Mission - Air support in the area of Marine Environmental
Protection. Missions include support of locating and estimating
sizes of oil slicks, and other environmental accidents.
* Logistics Mission - Transportation of personnel and equipment.
Auxiliarists transport individuals for all types of Coast Guard
support and humanitarian support.
* Training Mission - Training missions involving air operations
and coordination with land and surface vessels to hone skills
needed to support the aims and missions of the United States
Coast Guard.
* VIP transportation and Area Familiarization for Coast Guard
personnel.
There is a new concentration on Maritime Domain Awareness
(MDA). The objective is to spot and report unusual activities,
commercial vessel movements and environmental problems. Missions
are conducted with one or two pilots and an observer. The pilot
concentrates on flying the aircraft and the observer reports
and coordinates mission activities with the Coast Guard Station.
During an emergency call-out, Auxiliary pilots and crews are
available to lift off from their airfields on short notice on
weekdays. On weekends during boating season they are normally
either in the air or at the airfield ready to fly. These men
and women, like their boating counterparts, volunteer their time
and energy, and aircraft to assist the Coast Guard.
Benefits of Membership
We are constantly looking for qualified members. United States
citizens 17 years of age and older without a felony conviction
are welcome to join us.
Members are eligible
to receive the world's finest on-the-water training. Courses
are offered in Navigation, Seamanship, Communications, Weather,
Patrols, and Search & Rescue.
Other optional benefits include the Coast Guard Credit Union,
access to Coast Guard Exchanges, and insurance coverage.
The pride of wearing the Auxiliary uniform is amplified by
the Auxiliary awards system. Your efforts will be recognized
and rewarded.
Opportunities
We have numerous opportunities for members to become involved
in all aspects of boating:
- Public Education - Teach courses on boating
safety, navigation, and seamanship to recreational boaters of
all ages.
- Vessel Safety Checks - Give free safety
checks to recreational and commercial fishing vessels.
- Operations - Provide boaters and the Coast
Guard helpful information and emergency assistance.
- Marine Environmental Protection - Help promote
clean waterways through marine pollution awareness programs that
help to recognize, protect and assess the environment.
- Recruiting - Build a stronger Coast Guard
team through promoting awareness of career opportunities for
service.
- Administrative Support - Assist the Coast
Guard in areas such as computer operations, radio watchstanding,
publications and public affairs.
Fun & Fellowship
Our dedication to boating safety provides a congenial atmosphere
for getting together to exchange boating experiences. You'll
find a special camaraderie among Auxiliarists. We're sure you
will make long lasting, meaningful relationships.
Knowing that you belong to a special group of people and directly
participate in helping to save lives gives your membership a
special meaning.
Contact Us
If you would like more information about becoming
a member of our flotilla (or any other Flotilla), please feel
free to:
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