Welcome!

The Fifth District, Northern Region of the United States Coast Guard Auxiliary welcomes you! We are the Northern portion of two Auxiliary Districts that make up the Fifth Coast Guard District. With 1713 members, Fifth Northern serves the Coast Guard and boating public in along the central eastern seaboard and encompasses the entire state of Delaware, the southern half of New Jersey, and approximately three-fourths of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. Together with the Fifth District Southern Region we comprise seven states with approximately 3,800 members and 156,000 miles of coastline. We are but one district of sixteen Auxiliary districts in the country.

Comprised of nearly 23,000 men and women, the Auxiliary is the uniformed volunteer component of the Coast Guard. It works within the Coast Guard in carrying out its noncombatant and non-law enforcement missions. Heavily involved in our main mission, Recreational Boating Safety, the Auxiliary works hard to keep the boating public educated, informed and safe. Along with this we also perform duties such as Auxiliary Food Service at Coast Guard stations and cutters, Search and Rescue, both surface and air, vessel inspections, pollution response, container and lifeboat inspections and more. Fellowship, a cornerstone of the Auxiliary brings new friends and new opportunities. While we are volunteers and the time we devote to the Coast Guard is our own, the urge to serve is very much a part of who we are. Serving our country and communities, loving what we do and knowing that it makes a difference goes a long way.

Since 9/11 the U. S. Coast Guard’s missions have evolved and changed to meet the demands of our country and to approach, identify and neutralize threats, and keep our coast and others safe. As that evolution has moved forward over the years, the Auxiliary has changed and evolved along with the Coast Guard. In order to provide the assistance needed, we have had to adapt faster, more intelligently and technologically sound. As those missions expand and evolve, the challenges to the Auxiliary become greater and more critical. The need for new members to join has become a determined focus. Targeted recruiting has become paramount. The need to find the right people to fit the specific skill sets is more important today than ever before. If you want to be a part of something growing, that’s special, that has or is being copied in other countries, give us a look. The Auxiliary needs you! Your country and Coast Guard need you!

“Our Members – Our Strength!” is Fifth Northern’s motto. Our members have been, our members are now, and our members will continue to be innovative, constructive, proactive, and adaptable.

If you believe that you can and will make a difference, the Coast Guard Auxiliary has a place for you. When you join the Coast Guard Auxiliary, you could find yourself saving lives, protecting the environment from polluters, guarding our shores, and much more. That’s our job – 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. That’s life in the Coast Guard Auxiliary. We don’t just train. We train and perform.

Joseph Giannattasio, Immediate Past District Commodore – 5NR