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For over 60 years volunteers of USCG Auxiliary 081CR-04-09, also known as Flotilla504 has served the community of NOLA
Welcome to the USCGAUX Flotilla O81-CR-04-0 nola
Our Mission
Established in service for the New Orleans and the waters of Lake Pontchartrain and surrounding coastal regions, Flotilla 081CR-04-09 proudly supports the mission of the United States Coast Guard Auxiliary. Our members are dedicated to promoting recreational boating safety, supporting Coast Guard operations, and serving our local maritime community.
Our flotilla provides public boating safety classes, conducts free vessel safety checks, supports regattas and marine events, participates in search and rescue support missions, and contributes to environmental protection and maritime stewardship efforts. Through ongoing training and active patrols, our members remain mission-ready and committed to saving lives and protecting property on the water.
We meet monthly on a consistent schedule to train, plan operations, and welcome new members interested in serving. Visitors and prospective members are always encouraged to attend and learn more about how they can get involved in one of the most active and rewarding volunteer organizations in the nation.
Boating safety
The United States Coast Guard Auxiliary is dedicated to promoting recreational boating safety, supporting Coast Guard missions, and educating the public on safe boating practices. Auxiliary members provide boating safety classes that teach essential topics such as navigation rules, required safety equipment, emergency procedures, weather awareness, and responsible vessel operation. These courses help boaters gain confidence on the water while reducing accidents and improving overall maritime safety.
The Auxiliary also offers free Vessel Safety Checks conducted by certified Vessel Examiners. These voluntary inspections help ensure recreational boats meet current federal and state safety requirements, including life jackets, fire extinguishers, navigation lights, and other required equipment. Vessel Safety Checks are educational and non-punitive, helping boaters identify safety concerns before getting underway while promoting safer waterways for everyone.
Vessel Exams
A U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary Vessel Safety Examination (VSE), often called a Vessel Safety Check (VSC), is a free public service conducted by trained members of the United States Coast Guard Auxiliary to help recreational boaters improve safety and comply with federal and state boating regulations.
During the examination, a certified Vessel Examiner checks important safety equipment and operating requirements such as life jackets, fire extinguishers, navigation lights, ventilation, sound-producing devices, registration or documentation, pollution placards, emergency signaling devices, and overall vessel condition. The exam is educational rather than punitive—no citations or fines are issued—and the goal is to help boaters identify potential safety issues before getting underway.
Boats that successfully meet all current safety requirements receive a yearly Vessel Safety Check decal, showing the vessel has passed inspection. These examinations promote safer waterways, reduce boating accidents, and help educate the public on responsible boating practices throughout communities such as New Orleans and the Lake Pontchartrain region.
Culinary Program
The U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary Culinary Assistance Program (AUX-CA) supports Coast Guard missions through food service, sanitation, morale, and operational support during training events, patrols, emergencies, and community outreach activities. AUX-CA members assist with meal planning, food preparation, safety and sanitation practices, logistics, and galley support while promoting professionalism, teamwork, and mission readiness throughout the Coast Guard Auxiliary.
The program also serves as a platform for culinary education, leadership development, and volunteer service, combining maritime tradition with hospitality and operational support. AUX-CA helps strengthen member morale, supports disaster and event operations, and provides opportunities for members with culinary, hospitality, and food safety experience to contribute directly to the mission of the U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary.
Our Shipmates and the Flotilla
For sixty years, the dedicated volunteers of United States Coast Guard Auxiliary Flotilla 081CR-04-09 — proudly known throughout the local community as “Flotilla 504” — have served the waters of New Orleans and Lake Pontchartrain with pride, professionalism, and an unwavering commitment to maritime safety. In 2025, that tradition of excellence earned national recognition with the Coast Guard Auxiliary National Commodore’s Achievement Award, honoring decades of service while fueling an even stronger vision for the future.
Driven by the motto “Learn More; Be More; Do More,” flotilla members embraced a renewed focus on training, leadership, and operational readiness. Members achieved advanced qualifications including AUXOP and AUXCA-1 certifications, while others earned designations as instructors, Vessel Examiners, and Recreational Boating Safety Program Visitors (RBSVP). Experienced auxiliarists stepped forward as mentors, helping develop the next generation of members prepared to lead and serve.
From the waters of Lake Pontchartrain to boating safety events and operational missions across Southeast Louisiana, Flotilla 504 demonstrated that its greatest strength is its people. More than a volunteer organization, the flotilla continues to stand as a symbol of teamwork, leadership, and dedication — carrying forward a proud sixty-year legacy while preparing for the challenges of tomorrow.
The U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary is where adventure, service, and purpose come together. One weekend you could be underway on patrol protecting lives on the water, the next teaching boating safety to families, standing radio watch during emergencies, supporting marine environmental protection, or assisting the Coast Guard during real-world operations. Auxiliary members do not simply attend meetings — they train, respond, lead, and serve. Since 1939, men and women from every walk of life have stepped forward to become part of the uniformed volunteer force supporting the United States Coast Guard and safeguarding America’s waterways.
Today’s Auxiliary is a dynamic force of nearly 21,000 volunteers united by one mission: protecting the boating public and strengthening maritime safety across the nation. Members gain hands-on experience in boating safety, communications, vessel examinations, public education, emergency response, leadership, and Coast Guard support missions. Whether you are an experienced mariner or someone looking for a new challenge, the Auxiliary gives you the opportunity to build skills, serve your community, and become part of a highly respected team driven by the Coast Guard motto, Semper Paratus — “Always Ready.”
This is more than volunteering — it is an opportunity to become part of something meaningful and unforgettable. The friendships are real, the training is exciting, and the mission matters. You will discover confidence, leadership, adventure, and the pride that comes from helping save lives and protecting America’s maritime heritage. If you are looking for purpose, teamwork, and the chance to make a difference, the U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary is ready for you to answer the call.
