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The
Operations Program is fundamental to the Auxiliary's support to the U.S.
Coast Guard. Members who become qualified as either coxswain or
crew serve on boats owned by Auxiliary members. These specially equipped
boats perform safety patrols under U.S. Coast Guard orders to support
"search and rescue" (SAR), escorts, safety zones, regatta
patrols, pollution cleanup, aids to navigation (ATON) discrepancy
reporting, and other missions as directed by the U.S. Coast Guard.
Auxiliarist
taking part in the Operations Program must become qualified, as per
Commandant Instruction, as Coxswain or Crew. The training and
qualification process involves classroom and underway training. The U.S.
Coast Guard Boat Crew and Seamanship Manual and the Boat Crew &
Coxswain Qualification Guides are the manuals used in training.
Coast
Guard Auxiliary Crew & Coxswain Training is an important part
of Operations and takes place most Tuesday evenings at 1830 at U.S.
Coast Guard Sector Northern New England in South Portland, Maine.
Operational
Facility Patrols and underway training begins in late April and runs
until the end of October.
Coast
Guard Auxiliary Coxswain Device and Operations Ribbon
Coast
Guard Boat Force Operations Insignia
U.S.
Coast Guard Cutter
SHACKLE
Coast
Guard Auxiliarist augment active duty Coast Guard aboard the Coast Guard
Cutter Shackle
as crew (Quartermaster, officer of the deck etc) after a rigorous
training program and qualification process.
Rigid
Hull Inflatable Boat (RHI)
41-foot
Utility Boat (UTB)
47'
Motor Life Boat (MLB)
Members
may also become qualified as Crew, and serve aboard, U.S. Coast Guard
small boats (above) at Station South Portland. This training and qualification
requires special knowledge and skills as well as the ability to meet
certain physical standards.
Operations
is part of
Response
Department Programs along with the
Auxiliary
Aviation Branch and
Marine
Safety.
For
further information please contact
FSO/OP L. Bradford Thompson.
Auxiliary
Aviation Branch
AUXAIR
is an Auxiliary operational program, but organized on a district level
rather than on a flotilla and division basis. AUXAIR aviators have
varied aviation backgrounds and many have prior military experience.
AUXAIR aviators volunteer their aircraft for use as facilities, just as
surface operators volunteer their boats.
All Auxiliary aircraft meet strict U.S. Coast Guard and Federal Aviation
Administration requirements. These aircraft are inspected annually per
the Commandants instruction.
Missions
AUXAIR
participates in many Coast Guard missions including Search and Rescue, Ports, Waterways and Coastal Security, Marine Safety,
Pollution Response, Aids to Navigation and Ice Reconnaissance. It also
conducts Logistic Transport Missions. AUXAIR is an integral part of the
Coast Guard search and rescue team and its homeland security forces.
As with surface operators, air facility operators are issued patrol
orders.
Orders
are issued based on schedules created by crew and facility availability
and the needs of the Coast Guard. Coast Guard Air Stations are the Order
Issuing Authority for AUXAIR. This alignment of Auxiliary aviation
assets in a district with an Air Station is known as the “squadron
concept”, because aviation orders and direction flow directly between
the Air Station and the district aviation staff.
Auxiliarist
involved in AUXAIR take Auxiliary aviation training, completing the
syllabus for their level of qualification. After having their knowledge
and skills approved by an Auxiliary Flight Examiner, they may be
certified by the DIRAUX as Pilots, Observers or Air Crew in the AUXAIR
Program.
Auxiliary
Pilot
Device
Auxiliary Air Crew Device
Marine
Safety
The
Coast Guard Auxiliary augments along-side the active-duty Coast
Guard’s Sector Northern New England’s Response and Prevention
Departments in a multitude of missions under Marine Safety.
Auxiliarist train and qualify for uniformed duty as Assistant. Harbor
Safety Specialists conducting land-side and underway Harbor Patrols with
Coast Guard Petty Officers, Assistant Pollution Response Specialists,
Assistant
Pollution Investigators, Assistant Marine Transfer Facility Inspectors, and
Commercial Fishing Vessel Examiners. For more information on the
“Trident” Marine Safety program visit the U.S. Coast Guard
Auxiliary’s national “M” department at
http://pdept.cgaux.org.
.
Coast
Guard Auxiliary Trident Device
For
more information on the
Marine
Safety Trident program contact
FSO/MS -
Robert N. Gelles
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