Newly elected officers for U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary, Flotilla 10-1, were given the oath of office earlier this month by Bill Ballard, Division Commander, 7th Dist, Div. 10 of the USCGAUX, at a Change of Watch dinner at Hampton Hall in Bluffton.

The new officers are Flotilla Commander Patricia McGowan and Vice Flotilla Commander David Bernaki.

The USCGAUX is an all-volunteer component of the U.S. Coast Guard. Duties are to conduct safety patrols, assist search and rescue, teach boating safety and conduct free vessel examinations at your location.

USCGAUX instructor-trained officers will conduct a USCG and S.C. DNR boating course from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Feb. 1. This course will be taught at the Port Royal Sound Foundation Maritime Center Classroom, 310 Okatie Hwy, Okatie. It will include S.C. DNR material and may earn youS.C. DNR Boater Education Card.

Successful completion of this course can also lower boat insurance premiums.

The cost of the course is $25 per person and $30 per couple if sharing a book. Most important, this course requires pre-registration. You can register online at www.register-ed.com/program/43?. For more information, email uscgaux152@gmail.com or mrarliff@hargray.com