Charles Chapman Award

Organized in 1914, USPS is a non-profit, educational organization dedicated to making boating safer and more enjoyable by teaching classes in seamanship, navigation and related subjects. USPS members are boating families who contribute to their communities by promoting safe boating through education. USPS enjoys participating with fellow members on the water and in the classroom.

USPS has some 60,000 members organized into 450 squadrons across the country and in some US territories.

USPS is America's largest non-profit boating organization and has been honored by three US presidents for its civic contributions. Local squadrons offer boating safety courses on a regular basis to boaters in local communities. These courses are open to the public and there is no age limit for participants. USPS squadrons have offered these courses for over half a century and have educated more than 3 million boaters to date. Successfully completing a USPS boating safety course meets the educational requirements for boat operation in all states and is a requirement for squadron membership.

In a cooperative program with the US Coast Guard Auxiliary, squadron members conduct courtesy Vessel Safety Checks of boats at the request of their owners. USPS members also help the National Ocean Service keep nautical charts accurate by reporting chart corrections, and local squadrons participate in many other community improvement projects.