Government
The United States Coast Guard Auxiliary is the uniformed, civilian volunteer component of the United States Coast Guard. The USCG Auxiliary's purpose is to bolster all USCG undertakings both at sea and in the sky, with the exception of tasks necessitating "direct" law enforcement or military actions. The Auxiliary collectively dedicates over 4.5 million service hours annually and has accomplished close to 500,000 missions in aid of the Coast Guard. Annually, members of the Auxiliary are instrumental in saving around 500 lives, aiding 15,000 mariners in distress, performing over 150,000 recreational vessel safety checks, and imparting boating safety knowledge to over half a million learners. Collectively, the Coast Guard Auxiliary's efforts save taxpayers several hundred million dollars every year.