PROGRAMS
The Auxiliary
provides vital support to the U.S. Coast Guard and other
agencies in many programs and missions:
Academy Introduction Mission
Auxiliarists assist
the Coast Guard Academy with recruitment of cadet
candidates. This includes the orientation and counseling
of high school students, attendance at college fairs,
and participation in academy introduction mission (AIM)
week at the U.S. Coast Guard Academy in Connecticut.
Administrative Support to Units
Auxiliarists can
assist and augment administrative functions of any Coast
Guard unit.
Aids to Navigation
Auxiliarists support and augment the
Coast Guard aids to navigation (ATON) program. This
includes verifying position and characteristics of
private aids to navigation (PATON). Auxiliarists also
assist and support ATON units in servicing Federal aids,
and assisting the National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration (NOAA) and U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
in updating nautical and aeronautical charts and
publications.
Bridge Administration
Auxiliarists support
and augment bridge surveys, investigate and provide
information regarding waterways safety and navigation
situations pertaining to the bridge program, and provide
direct assistance and support to bridge program
personnel.
Civil Air Patrol Support
Auxiliarists assist
the Civil Air Patrol (CAP) in conducting joint USCGAUX-CAP
missions.
Contingency Preparedness
Auxiliarists provide
facilities (vessels, aircraft, communications) for
defense and non-defense exercises. Auxiliarists may
also provide support as unarmed opposition forces and
may gather information and data for the development of
Coast Guard, State and local government contingency
plans.
Licensing of Merchant Mariners
Auxiliarists may
administer merchant mariner license and document
examinations, conduct oversight of approved maritime
traing courses, and provide administrative support for
the marine licensing program at the local level.
Marine, Safety, Security, and
Environmental Protection
Auxiliarists
assist the marine safety, security and environmental
protection programs (MSSEP). They provide facilities and
personnel for public education, support of pollution
prevention activities, environmental disaster relief
operations and other assistance as needed at Coast Guard
Marine Safety offices and detachments.
Operational Support
Auxiliarists can
provide support at all Coast Guard operational units and
stations.
Port Safety and Security
Auxiliarists provide
support with the port safety security (PSS) program as
follows:
-
Provide facilities and
perform unarmed observations and reporting
-
Perform harbor and
anchorage patrols
-
Provide assistance to
Coast Guard Forces in safety and security zone
enforcement, mostly in the form of Boater
Education/advisement areas.
-
Provide support for low
risk armed/unarmed vessel boardings
-
Perform port facility
and vessel verification visits
-
Perform aircraft
overflights
-
Augment Coast Guard
crews
-
Perform additional
administrative support.
Public Affairs Support
Auxiliarists
support Coast Guard and Auxiliary public affair (PA)
programs.
Recreational Boating Safety
Auxiliarists and
their facilities support the Recreational Boat Safety (RBS)
Program as follows:
-
Conduct public education
(PE)
-
Perform recreational
vessel safety checks (VSC)
-
Participate in State
liaison programs, boat shows and National Boat
Safety Week activities.
Recreational Boating Safety
Visitation Program
The RBSVP provides
boating safety information and material. Auxiliarists
visit marine dealers regularly to supply them with
boating safety information and material. Dealers also
help promote boating safety through publicizing local
Auxiliary public education courses and vessel safety
checks.
Recruiting
Auxiliarists can be
assigned duty as military recruiters to support the
Coast Guard's recruiting program. This assignment
includes qualification as a recruiter for the military,
proctoring recruiting exams, and providing
administrative support to recruiting offices.
Search and Rescue
Auxiliarists and
their facilities can assist with and conduct search and
rescue operations in support of the Coast Guard. These
duties include search planning, communications support,
and search and rescue operations in navigable and sole
State waters.
Vessel Examinations
Auxiliarists assist
the Coast Guard in the marine inspection mission to
include:
-
Supporting and assisting
Coast Guard accident investigations.
-
Providing platforms for
inspectors.
-
Conducting vessel
inspections.
-
Providing remote area
surveillance and response.
-
Conducting voluntary
examinations on uninspected passenger vessels and
caommercial fishing vessels.
-
Providing administrative
support and participation.
Waterways Management
Auxiliarists assist
the Coast Guard waterways management mission areas by
providing facilities and unarmed personnel for Coast
Guard and other Federal and State agencies, by providing
information and input into the analysis process, and by
providing other administrative and operational program
support.
QUALIFICATIONS
The Auxiliary offers
many areas where the member can increase knowledge and
skills and attain qualifications for participation in
various U.S. Coast Guard and Auxiliary programs:
Initially Qualified (IQ)
This is the first
qualification for initial membership into the Auxiliary.
This may appear intimidating at first--but is a fairly
straightforward process. Prospective members must:
-
Complete an interview
with a designated Flotilla member in conjunction
with completion of the Prospective Member Interview
Record (ANSC 7036)
-
Complete the Auxiliary
Enrollment Application (ANSC 7001)
-
Successfully complete
the New Member Initial Orientation and Entry
Training Program and then successfully pass the
current open book exam with a score of 80% or
better.
Basically Qualified (BQ)
Auxiliarists must
complete all the requirements of IQ in addition to
completion or successfully challenging one
of the following courses:
-
Boating Skills and
Seamanship (BS&S)
-
Sailing Fundamentals
(SF)
-
Boating Safely Course
-
America's Boating Course
(ABC)
-
United States Power
Squadron (USPS) Public Boating
-
Boats Smart Courses
Operational Auxiliarist (AUXOP)
This is the renown
specialty course in the Auxiliary that provides the
fundamental knowledge for the foundation to Boat Crew
qualification. See 'Education' for more information.
Boat Crew Qualifications
There are three
qualifications in the boat crew program:
Each qualification
requires intense classroom and practical training. The
ability to demonstrate a high degree of competency in
all areas outlined are required before a member is
qualified to go "out on the water".
Air Operations Qualification
Aircraft facility
owners and Auxiliarists wishing to participate in
Auxiliary air operations must be BQ and complete an air
operations training course.
Other
Qualifications
described in other sections
-
Instructor (IT)
-
Aids to Navigation
Verifier (AV)
-
Marine Dealer Visitor
(PV)
-
Vessel Examiner (VE)
-
Public Affairs (PA)
-
Administrative
Procedures (APC)
-
Marine Safety
-
Cutterman
BENEFITS
The ultimate benefit
is the satisfaction members receive from their volunteer
efforts and providing a needed service. In addition,
Auxiliarists are privileged to receive many other
benefits not available to other volunteer organizations.
Both the Coast Guard and the National Board, Inc.
provide these benefits as an enhancement to our
volunteer service. The following is a listing of some of
the benefits available to members:
Coast Guard Federal Credit Union
The Coast Guard Credit Union provides
all the services of a bank, but returns profits to the
members instead of the stockholders. From savings and
checking accounts to home equity lines of credit, the
Credit Unit has a lot to offer.
Coast
Guard Mutual Assistance
Mutual Assistance provides an emergency
fund that can provide fast financial relief when a
member faces an unexpected or "impossible" financial
burden that would cause personal hardship if no
assistance were provided. Auxiliarists may apply for
such a loan and are considered as "Sponsor Members"
under the program. If approved, the emergency loan is
interest free.
Insurance
A variety of insurance programs benefit
the Auxiliarist operating under Coast Guard orders. This
includes medical, hospitalization, disability and death
benefits should an accident occur in the performance of
your duty.
If your boat, aircraft or other
authorized Auxiliary facility is damaged or destroyed
while legitimately engaged in Auxiliary operations,
coverage for repairs or replacement would be provided.
Government liability coverage protects the Auxiliarist
from third party claims made as a result of actions that
occur when the Auxiliarist is performing authorized
missions and has been properly assigned to duty.
Exchange Privileges
Auxiliarists in uniform, with proper
identification, can purchase anything sold in the Coast
Guard Exchange Stores except liquor and cigarettes.
Dependents may accompany Auxiliarists to the Exchange,
but may not make individual purchases. Members of the
Auxiliary are also welcome at Department of Defense
Exchanges, but only uniform items or accessories may be
purchased.
Publications
Members receive the Auxiliary National
publication, The Navigator, their own District
publication, and other bulletins to keep abreast of
Coast Guard, Auxiliary and general boating information.
Uniforms and Awards
The pride of wearing the Auxiliary
uniform is amplified by awards and advancement, with
ample opportunities to receive recognition by completing
Auxiliary training courses and participating in programs
authorized by your Flotilla leadership.
Tax Deductions
Uniforms, their cleaning and
maintenance, and reasonable out of pocket expenses
incurred in the performance of your duties are
"considered" contributions for tax purposes. The
foregoing is not intended to be advice on deductibility.
Your should consult your professional tax advisor.
Fellowship
One of the Auxiliary's trademarks is
good old-fashioned hospitality. Friends, neighbors and
interested members of the public are always welcome to
attend one of our flotilla meetings. In addition, you
will find a special camaraderie among Auxiliarists that
is hard to beat. Along with our missions we find time to
relax and have fun at Auxiliary outings, training
sessions, patrols, VSCs, classes, and conferences.
Auxiliarists make lasting, meaningful friendships
