About our Coast Guard Auxiliary Volunteers in “The Last Frontier”

     Questions often asked of the Auxiliarists in the 49th state are- Where did WE come from? Why do WE live in a state that presents so many challenges?  Who are WE?  Some of us were born and raised here, when Alaska was a territory, many of us were stationed here in the Military, others visited Alaska, liked this beautiful vast wild frontier enough to settle and raise our families here.  Many of our Auxiliary members are, and continue to be real Alaskan “Pioneers”.  

   To be out and about enjoying the Alaska outdoors, on land or sea, takes being a bit adventurous.  You need to learn different outdoor skills and safety prevention – especially skills for problems that can ruin your whole day.  Little things like bears, avalanches, earthquakes,volcanoes, poisonous plants, horrific weather, sprained or broken bones, sinking boats, surviving in icy cold water and hypothermia just to name a few are important to avoid.

    Our Alaskan Natives have learned from their elders, but most of our newcomers learn from firsthand experience or they take classes to learn the essential wilderness survival skills.  Most of Alaska is far from the basic services taken for granted in the Lower 48.  Our entire state population could fit into a few city blocks in some U.S. metropolitan areas – yet our state covers the width of the distance between Atlantic to Pacific Coasts.

     The feisty Alaska frontier spirit is alive and flourishing in District 17.  We do our best to work with our Coast Guard in mobilization, organization and tasking of our resources.  We respond to boats in distress and to persons at risk of personal injury.  The Coast Guard needs boaters with familiarity of the areas they serve in.  We are proud to be partners and honored to work closely with the Coast Guard in Alaska.

      Alaska can guarantee eyefuls of scenic mountains, beautiful water byways, mountain size glaciers, critters aplenty, limited road access, very extreme weather, less communications than anywhere in the Unites States, wild and remote tundra, lots of water both fresh and salt and frozen, tasty seafood and some of the most friendliest, willing-to-lend-a-hand people you'll find anywhere on our planet.  

Commodore Roy Stoddard

US Coast Guard Auxiliary
District Seventeen