Smithfield Flotilla 59 of the U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary will offer a free boater safety course from 6 to 10 p.m. Thursday and Friday at Suffolk Fire Station 6, 300 Kings Fork Road.

As of July 1, 2016, Virginia state law will require all personal watercraft and motorboat operators, ages 14 and older, to complete the state-approved basic boater safety course and carry a proof-of-completion card when on the water.

Flotilla 59’s George Langdon, an experienced boater with more than 20 years of service in the USCG Auxiliary, will teach the course. Online registration is still available at www.aux59.org, the Flotilla’s homepage.

Though based in Smithfield, Flotilla 59’s area of responsibility includes all of Suffolk’s local waterways, and auxiliarists from Flotilla 59 are tasked with promoting recreational boater safety throughout the Suffolk area.

“We routinely patrol Chuckatuck Creek, Bennett’s Creek, and the Nansemond River,” Flotilla Commander Peter Faleski said. “We’ve also been working to expand our efforts in Suffolk by partnering with local businesses, setting up literature displays, and this will be the first time we’re offering the state boater safety course in Suffolk.”

Faleski added that the Flotilla is also looking for new members who live in the Suffolk area.

“We’re all civilian volunteers, and boating experience is not required,” Faleski said. “Anyone age 17 and up can join, and there’s no upward age limit. Whatever your skill set is, we can use it. We have people who do public affairs, we have some food service people, so there’s a lot more to the Auxiliary than just boats.”