U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary Flotilla 72, St. Petersburg, FL

Unlimited opportunities to expand your knowledge
The U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary has virtually unlimited options for those who serve their communities within our organization.
One of the many examples, seen here, is the AUX-12 course. This course introduces aspiring Auxiliary Public Affairs Specialists to the policy and techniques of Auxiliary Public Affairs and lets it be known that many opportunities to serve await them, ashore and afloat.
📸: Brady Aygun, AUXPA3.

As we close out National Safe Boating Week, we leave you with this fact....
4 out of every 5 boaters who drowned were using vessels less than 21 feet in length.
Whenever you go out in the water, no matter the size of your boat, make sure that you and your passengers wear life jackets!
📸: National Safe Boating Week

Flotilla 72, St. Petersburg, held an enhanced Boat America (BA) program on May 17 for local Wounded Warriors. Gordon Hornby, Flotilla Staff Officer-Public Education, Jim Fogle, Instructor, and Staff Sgt. Walter Brown (Ret.), Wounded Warrior Coordinator, organized the program. Instructors included Gordon Hornby, Jim Fogle, David Rockwell, and Tony Hooper. Brian Rewinkel, Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission Boating Outreach Coordinator, furnished books and materials, and Tracy Adkins, Flotilla Staff Officer-Materials, provided administrative support.
Lt. Andrew Grady, USCG Chief of the Enforcement Division, greeted the students and expressed his support for the Wounded Warriors, National Safe Boating Week, and the Auxiliary.
Flotilla 72 members, Jack Lee and Lewis Evans, assisted with setting up and greeting students.
Classes kicked off at 0830 in the St. Petersburg Maritime and Defense Hub. The Bayou Market and Café, St. Petersburg, catered lunch.
This was the second BA Program that Flotilla 72 conducted for groups of the Wounded Warrior Program, and 27 veterans graduated.

A clear head makes for a safe helm!
Boating under the influence puts everyone at risk—alcohol and water don’t mix. Stay sober, stay sharp, and be sure to make it back to the dock safely.
🎨: Safe Boating Campaign.

Continuing National Safe Boating Week: May 17–23
As we continue to highlight safe practices during National Safe Boating Week, today’s message is clear: Don’t Boat Under the Influence.
Alcohol use is the leading known contributing factor in fatal boating accidents. Impaired operation puts everyone at risk.
Designate a Sober Skipper before you leave the dock.
Just like driving a car, the person operating the boat needs to stay alert, focused, and completely sober.
Be smart. Be safe. Be the Sober Skipper.
Don’t let alcohol turn a great day on the water into a tragedy.

As we continue National Safe Boating Week, here is another tip from the Coast Guard Auxiliary Team!
When out on the water, make sure to use a safety lanyard attached to the engine shutoff. By having this on you, it will prevent the risk of propeller strike incidents if you are tossed overboard in an accident, ensuring the safety of you and others aboard and around your boat!
📸: U.S. Coast Guard.

It’s National Safe Boating Week, a time to raise awareness about the importance of safe practices on the water. Whether you’re a seasoned mariner or a weekend boater, taking small steps before you launch can make a big difference.
One of the most important steps? Making a Float Plan.
A Float Plan is a simple document that includes:
• Your vessel description
• Names of everyone aboard
• Departure and return times
• Your intended route
• Emergency contact information
Share your Float Plan with a trusted friend or family member who can alert the U.S. Coast Guard if you don’t return as expected.
No matter how short the trip, always plan ahead.
Boat smart. Boat safe. Make a float plan.

Did you know that the U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary has its own pilots, public affairs pros and...
interpreters?! 🌐✈️🗣️
That’s right! The Auxiliary Interpreter Corps includes over 350 trained linguists who speak more than 57 languages—from Spanish and Mandarin to Farsi and Swahili. These Auxiliarists support missions like international port visits, disaster relief coordination, and even joint operations with foreign navies. So while one crew member might be checking life jackets, another might be translating for a foreign delegation on a cutter tour. 😎🌍

National Safe Boating Week is in full swing! 🚣 🛟
Whether you are big or small, two legs or four, we all must do our part and ! By wearing a life jacket, we are visually and physically committing ourselves to safety and promoting safety to those who have not already. As we enter the boating season, pay close attention to weather conditions and be sure to wear a life jacket to enhance the safety of yourself and your loved ones.
📸: National Safe Boating Campaign.

It’s one of our favorite weeks of the year!
Starting today is National Safe Boating Week, which is dedicated to demonstrating the importance of being smart out on the water!
Tune into our account this week for safe boating tips and fun facts!
🎨 Safe Boating Campaign.

Today is Wear Your Life Jacket to Work Day, an integral part of National Safe Boating Week!
This day enforces the message that everyone should wear a life jacket in, on, or near open water (lakes, rivers, ponds, etc.) in order to safely return home to those they love the most. Take a look at all of our Auxiliarists who wore their life jackets to work today!
We challenge you too to don a PFD (Personal Flotation Device) and wear it to your place of employment to raise awareness about the necessity of PFDs and safety. Be sure to let us know by tagging it with .
📸: U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.

Remember to wear your life jacket it could save your life!