5 Vol. 83, No. 1 | Proceedings per 100,000 registered vessels has declined from 20.6 in 1971 to 4.8 today—more than a fourfold reduction. These outcomes reflect sustained investment in educa- tion, standards, enforcement, and partnership across the RBS community. America’s recreational boating industry plays a vital role in this success. In the United States, 95% of the boats sold are manufactured domestically, and more than 85% meet voluntary safety standards that exceed regulatory requirements, reinforcing safety before boats ever reach the water. This issue of Proceedings highlights these successes and the critical role of state and territorial programs, national nonprofit organizations, trade associations, vol- unteers, and other partners. The National RBS Program was designed to rely on strong state leadership while fos- tering cooperation with the Coast Guard and the broader RBS community—a model that has proven effective and enduring. As I begin my tour as Assistant Commandant for Prevention Policy, I extend my sincere appreciation to all who contribute to recreational boating safety. Your dedi- cation has delivered real results, and together we will continue advancing safety on our nation’s waterways. divisions work together seamlessly to improve boating safety. Organized into three branches, the Boating Safety division includes 40 people whose primary functions are to assist the 56 state and territory Recreational Boating Safety Programs, administer grant funding, and ensure recreational boats and associated equipment are safe The six Auxiliary division staff members support the outstanding work of more than 18,500 Auxiliarists. Annually, Auxiliarists volunteer more than 2 million operational and administrative support hours across missions like boating safety, culinary support, chaplain services, interpreter assistance, health services, and pub- lic affairs. In 2025 alone, they saved more than 180 lives and $6.9M in property. Since 2016, 5,085 boating deaths, 20,049 injuries, and 34,079 accidents have been recorded. The Coast Guard Auxiliary and the many nonprofit partnerships are aiming to bring those incidents to zero. This issue highlights RBS Program initiatives that will help achieve those lofty goals. This includes the outstanding partnerships and educational outreach that have already achieved an annual nation-wide boating death average of 585 over the past three years, a historic low. The advancement of the RBS Program is part of an extraordinary investment America has made in the Coast Guard. Moving forward, revolutionized systems to handle technology, information, and financial management will support significantly improved delivery and application of our RBS Program services nationwide. I want to thank the many members of the RBS com- munity for their outstanding efforts to make all forms of boating safer. I hope you enjoy learning about the RBS Program and making boating safer by committing to boating sober, wearing a life jacket, taking a boating education class, wearing an engine cut-off lanyard, and being vigilant whenever boating.
