Anchored in Service
Celebrating 100 years supporting the men and women of the United States Coast Guard and their families.
As we celebrate a century of accomplishments, we also hoist the anchor to set sail into the next century and beyond. Over the past 100 years, CGMA has disbursed over $240 million in assistance to the Coast Guard Community. Your involvement ensures that we continue to address and surpass every essential need that arises.
Join us in celebrating 100 years!
100 Years Anchored In Service
Since its inception in 1924, CGMA has provided over $240 million in assistance. During that time CGMA’s programs and services have adapted to the changing needs of Coast Guard members and their families, offering interest-free loans, grants, and educational assistance to support them during times of financial stress, family emergencies, or educational pursuits. These programs have made a significant impact on the lives of countless individuals who serve in the Coast Guard.
The Coast Guard community needs our help today, as much as they did 100 years ago. As they protect America’s shores, resources, and maritime interests, we will continue our work to help make them financially resilient well into the future.
The centennial is an opportunity to celebrate CGMA’s enduring dedication to service, honor the memories of those it has assisted, and look forward to its ongoing mission of support and assistance in the years to come. Please join us this year as we mark this momentous anniversary in CGMA’s history of service to the men and women who serve the United States Coast Guard.
Helping our own since 1924
A History of Service to the United States Coast Guard
Coast Guard Mutual Assistance (CGMA) has a rich history of providing direct financial aid to members of the United States Coast Guard and their families. As it approaches its 100th anniversary, it’s important to reflect on its significant contributions to the well-being of those who patrol America’s coast and international waters.
The history of CGMA can be traced back to the early 1920s when the United States Coast Guard was still a relatively young service. In 1924, Mrs. Clara Billard, wife of Rear Admiral Frederick C. Billard, the 6th Coast Guard Commandant, recognized the need for a formal support system to assist Coast Guard personnel facing financial hardships. She helped establish the League of Coast Guard Women, the precursor to CGMA, with a mission to provide emergency financial assistance to Coast Guard members and their families.
Our mission remains unchanged. Over the decades, the organization evolved and expanded its services to better meet the needs of the Coast Guard community. In 1979, it officially became Coast Guard Mutual Assistance, reflecting its commitment to providing mutual support among Coast Guard personnel.
CGMA’s programs and services have adapted to the changing needs of Coast Guard members and their families, offering interest-free loans, grants, and educational assistance to support them during times of financial stress, family emergencies, or educational pursuits. These programs have made a significant impact on the lives of countless individuals who serve in the Coast Guard.
As CGMA approaches its centennial, it continues to play a crucial role in ensuring the financial stability and well-being of Coast Guard personnel. Mutual Assistance remains a vital source of support, particularly during times of national crisis, such as natural disasters or pandemics, when the demands on the Coast Guard are especially high.
The 100th anniversary of Coast Guard Mutual Assistance represents a significant milestone in its history, symbolizing a century of unwavering commitment to the Coast Guard community. The centennial is an opportunity to celebrate the organization’s enduring dedication to service, honor the memories of those it has assisted, and look forward to its ongoing mission of support and assistance in the years to come. CGMA’s legacy of providing help to those who protect our shores continues to be a source of pride and gratitude.