If there were children under 12 years old wearing life jackets on Canyon Ferry Lake, it’s likely Tommy Cockerhan flagged them down to reward them with coupons for free ice cream at Dairy Queen.

Cockerhan, 44, of Lincoln, is a member of the Helena Flotilla of the Coast Guard Auxiliary, which spends hundreds of hours each year on local lakes ensuring safety for all those on the water. And he’s not alone. His wife, Kathy, 40, is also among the 24 volunteer members of the Helena Flotilla crew.

The pair, along with crew member Carl Hutchinson and coxswain Jim Armstrong, spent Sunday on the waters of Canyon Ferry Lake conducting a general safety patrol.

They toured the relatively calm water under a perfect Montana sky, checking for permanent and validation stickers on every vessel. They spoke with boat owners about weather and the green murk that has overtaken the water from a recent algae bloom. They spoke with fisherman about the morning’s catch. And, they assisted folks with water questions and boat trouble.

“We don’t want to do anything but help people,” said Armstrong, 50, a small-business owner from Bozeman.

Created by Congress in 1939, the Coast Guard Auxiliary is the uniformed volunteer component of the United State Coast Guard under the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. Unlike official military personnel, the civilian volunteers of the auxiliary are not subject to involuntary assignment or the uniform code of military justice.

Auxiliarists, like active-duty and reserve personnel, must be at least 17 years old and pass a criminal background check. There are no specific physical requirements other than to be able to perform the duties which they volunteered to do and are trained to do. There is no maximum age limit and no minimum service hours required.

Auxiliarists are not paid, but they are reimbursed for operating expenses (for those who own a boat) and travel expenses.

“We get everything but a paycheck,” Armstrong said.

Which, he goes on to say, works out just fine for him, because his boat gets the maintenance it needs to stay in pristine condition and he is reimbursed for the gas he burns while patrolling in his 29-foot Bayliner Express Cruiser.

Hutchinson, 66, of Helena, has been around boats his entire life. So when he was lookin for something to occupy his time after retiring from the Federal Aviation Administration, the auxiliary seemed fitting.

“It gives me the opportunity to be around boats and give back to the community,” he said.

Armstrong has been with the auxiliary for nearly five years and says he uses the same philosophy for his volunteer work as he does in everyday life.

“Look ahead,” he said with a grin.

Armstrong, the division captain, is proactive as he scans the water looking for potential hazards like an erratic boat driver or a skier not wearing a life jacket. Being visible is a key component of every mission for Armstrong and his crew.

“Recreational boating safety requires us to be out among the public — be visible and communicate with them,” Armstrong said.

The crew constantly communicates about what they see in the water, where they are in the boat and what the next move is. They respectfully approach boats inquiring about proper requirements for boat operation.

“We educate the public and point out deficiencies in safety or legally,” Cockeran said. “The rest of it is when we get a call (like for a boating accident). That’s when you go into game mode.”

This year he has assisted with numerous boating accidents, and his 16 years experience as a fire fighter came in handy the day he assisted with a boat that was on fire.

A good day on the water is one where auxiliary members assist the public without incident, Cockeran said. A bad day occurs when they assist with an injury caused by a boating accident.

The Coast Guard supplies certain equipment to the auxiliary but does not supply boats. Auxiliarists use their own boats, which must meet Coast Guard standards. However, having a boat is not a requirement to join.

It seems folks who volunteer with the auxiliary have two traits in common — they love the water and have a calling to help others.

“We have those who have a sense of duty while some do it to enhance their boating skills,” Cockeran said. “It’s a way to serve our country without ending up somewhere we don’t want to be.”

Reporter Alana Listoe: 447-4081 or alana.listoe@helenair.com