U.S. COAST GUARD AUXILIARY OVERVIEW

Uniformed Volunteers

With Proud Traditions

and Worthy Missions

Established June 23, 1939"Commanders, Commanding Officers, Officers-in-Charge and

program managers shall continually strive to enhance Silver and Gold partnerships to further the work of the Coast Guard.“

R. J. PappAdmiral, U.S. Coast Guard

U.S. COAST GUARD AUXLIARY POLICY STATEMENT

The Auxiliary Service priorities include:

• Promoting and Improving Recreational Boating Safety;

• Providing trained crews and facilities to augment the Coast Guard and enhance safety and security of our ports, waterways and coastal regions;

• Supporting Coast Guard operational, administrative and logistical requirements.

Uniformed Volunteers AND Unpaid Coast Guard Employees

• Auxiliarists who are ASSIGNED TO DUTY are considered Federal service employees for purposes of tort claim liability protections.

• Auxiliarists have limited privileges, including authorization to drive Government vehicles and are indemnified when doing so.

16 Districts / Regions

170 Divisions

950 Flotillas

31,000 Auxiliarists

2,800 Boats

195 Aircraft

2,120 Radio FacilitiesEach Region managed by an

active duty O-4/O-5 Director

(DIRAUX) and 3-5 Staff

AUXILIARY UNITS AND REGIONS

Origin of the Auxiliary

1939 Congress established a CG Reserve which was composed of unpaid volunteers who owned boats and yachts to help with some on the water operations and recreational boating safety.

1941 Congress established military reserves and renamed the former CG reserve the CG Auxiliary.

1996 The CG authorization act expanded the Auxiliary role to augmentation of any CG mission other than direct law enforcement and Military Missions.

Auxiliary Programs have two components

• Aux Specific Programs: – Recreational Boat Safety/

Public Education

– Free Vessel Safety Check (VSC)

– Marine Dealer Visitation

– Operations (i.e.: SAR)

– Every day missions not as visible to the CG

• CG Augmentation:– Everything except Direct

Law Enforcement and Military Missions

Augmentation: There are Auxiliarists who want to devote themselves to meeting your unit’s needs

Honors and Ceremonies

Interpreters Role Players

Food Service Hoist training

Special event support

The Auxiliary does not play a role in direct law enforcement or military missions. The Auxiliary is never put in harms way by the CG.

The Auxiliary does not do this though!

MEMBERSHIP REQUIREMENTS

• 17 years or older

• U.S. Citizen

• Pass Initial Entry• Qualification test

• Background Check

• Consent to CG Auxiliary Association, Incorporatedmembership

• Desired but not required:

– Special skills (Nurse, etc)

– Boat, plane, radio owner

WHAT MOTIVATES AUXILIARSITS?

Serve country & community Pride in Auxiliary uniform

Extensive training Recognition and awards

Diverse programs Friends and fellowship

Leadership opportunities Personal satisfaction

Continue to use skills Chance to try outbuilt over a lifetime something totally new

Where do you connect to the Auxiliary?

Director of Auxiliary (DIRAUX): Active Duty O5/O4

• The District Commander’s representative on all Auxiliary matters;

• Assists the elected Auxiliary District Commodore in leading the Auxiliary to meet Team Coast Guard goals;

• Facilitates the training, readiness, and safe operations of the Auxiliary;

• Keeps Auxiliary within the program guidelines. Works with Aux elected leadership in discipline cases;

• With the Auxiliary leadership organizes District and unit level Auxiliary training events, board meetings, elections and membership recognition.

Interacting with your DIRAUX

• Let the DIRAUX know when your Aux are doing well, need help or a course correction;

• Communicate your resource needs for the Auxiliary to the DIRAUX. Nothing helps the DIRAUX more in the budget process than an operational need from the field. If you no longer get value out of a program the DIRAUX needs to know;

• If you have a disciplinary case, document and copy the DIRAUX. Too often there is no record of the poor behavior when trying to address inappropriate actions.

Interacting with your DIRAUX

• The DIRAUX has ADCON over the Auxiliary. The DIRAUX does not have Order Issuing Authority (OIA) for Aux aircraft or vessels;

• The SECTOR or SECTOR delegates have operational control over the Auxiliary and are the OIAs for Auxiliary facilities. The DIRAUX lets you know who is qualified and what facilities are accepted for use. The OIA decides when to deploy them. The DIRAUX can provide program guidance on go/no go decisions over operations, but the SECTOR is the operational commander.

Note: In the event of a funding hiatus liability concerns essentially bring the Auxiliary to all stop, even if they volunteer to serve without orders.

Where do you connect to the Auxiliary?

Operational Training Officer (OTO): CWO BOSN

• OTOs can be collocated with the DIRAUX or work out of a Sector;

• The OTO leverages training available through the Coast Guard, Auxiliary, and other agencies to improve Auxiliary readiness and capabilities;

• The OTO is vital to assisting unit commanders and local Auxiliarist leaders understand each other’s world of work.

Where do you connect to the Auxiliary?

Auxiliary Liaison Officer (AUXLO) Typically a Junior Officer

• Units should designate a high-performing member of the command to be the AUXLO. AUXLOs need to have operational knowledge and excellent people skills, as they are the direct link between the Auxiliary flotillas and the DIRAUX/OTO;

• AUXLOs provide great visibility and can help you leverage the Auxiliary to be a true force multiplier for your unit. Some Sectors designate an Order Issuing Authority (OIA) as a separate collateral duty from the AUXLO position so that the Auxiliary workload can be better spread out at the unit.

Where do you connect to the Auxiliary?

Auxiliary Sector Coordinator (ASC)• An ASC shall be assigned to every Sector by the District Commodore

in consultation with the Sector Commander and DIRAUX;

• The ASC monitors and improves Auxiliary performance and readiness in support of the Sector. The ASC is your broker to find Aux resources to meet your needs.

Officers in Charge (OICs) are integral to the professional operations, training and qualification process for any function that the Auxiliary performs on their behalf.

The Auxiliary organizes and conducts most of their own training. Guidance from the operational commander will ensure proper alignment and emphasis on safety.

Where do you connect to the Auxiliary?

Breakdown of the two Auxiliary Budget Program Elements: ENERGY/NON-ENERGY

• Aux Boat/Air Fuel – originates from each District’s ENERGY acct and managed similarly to AD platform resource/target hours. Ex: Program Element XX;

• Sectors are given money from District to reimburse AUX for fuel. DIRAUX helps determine and coordinate region-wide allocations of

AUX facility maintenance and PPE funds;

• Standard Auxiliary Maintenance Allowance (SAMA) and PPE funds are delivered from HQ/CH-DIRAUX. Misc amounts generally based on previous FY expenditures along with the total number of Aux certified boat crewmembers that Aux Data reports;

• SAMA & PPE funds are included in DIRAUX funds that provide purchases for each item in addition to travel tonos & mission support. Ex: Program Element XX (again, everything NON-ENERGY).

Auxiliary LeadersDistrict Commodore (DCO)

• The elected DCO works with the DIRAUX to represent the Auxiliary to the District Commander;

• The DCO provides direction to all Auxiliary members through the Auxiliary Chain of Leadership;

• District Commodores appoint District Staff Officers who will often work directly with members of active duty/Civilian district staff.

Auxiliary LeadersDistrict Captain (DCAPT):

DCAPTs are assigned geographical areas of responsibility, program areas of responsibility, or some combination of the two.

Division Commanders (DCDR)

DCDRS are responsible for specific geographic regions. There are often several Divisions working for one Sector. Much of the Sector command cadre’s interaction with the Auxiliary will be at the Division level. Divisions are comprised of at least one or more Flotillas.

Flotilla Commanders (FC)

FCs lead Flotillas, the core unit of the Auxiliary. Successful Flotillas often have a strong relationship with a CG small unit. Flotillas are where Station Chiefs and unit AUXLOs will have a lead role helping the Auxiliary be the best force multipliers possible.

Interacting with the Auxiliary

• You will be invited to District, Division and Flotilla meetings, events, operations, picnics and formal Changes of Watch;

• The command cadre cannot attend them all, but the Auxiliary highly values the connectivity and validation that comes from any “Gold Side” attendance at their events;

• Station Chiefs, Junior Officers, and Junior Enlisted will all be welcomed and treated royally. The Team Building is irreplaceable.

Interacting with the Auxiliary

• Your DIRAUX, AUXLO, and ASC can prep you for success at Auxiliary Events;

• Offer deserved awards, give thanks and praise their accomplishments/contribution to YOUR missions;

• Let the Auxiliarists know where you would like them to concentrate and how you plan to use them;

• Auxiliary events tend to be long, so keep your speech short.

WHAT DE-MOTIVATES AUXILIARISTS?

Auxiliary Politics

•There are many possible sources of friction, with members that stay in one area for decades, the Auxiliary's policy of electing their leaders, and stiff competition for desirable assignments;

•Minimize your exposure to the politics by never endorsing an Aux candidate for election. Use the existing Aux Chain of Leadership and CG manuals in making decisions to avoid the appearance of favoritism;

•Proximity does not equal seniority. Do not let a local Flotilla Commander undermine a more distant, but senior, Division Commander.

WHAT DE-MOTIVATES AUXILIARISTS?

Increasing Requirements, Decreasing Funded OpportunitiesSafety and qualification requirements are going up while the Coast Guard has less money to support Aux training, C-Schools, and travel;

Efforts at the unit level to include the Aux in training and activities will help keep the Auxiliary engaged.

Lack of Connectivity to the Active DutyThe Aux wants to know their work has meaning and is appreciated. Often they get no feedback at all;

The best way to show that the Coast Guard cares is to include the Aux in appropriate assignments and “Gold Side” social events. Make sure active duty members participate directly in Aux operations and social events several times a year.

TOTAL FY13 COAST GUARD WORKFORCE (≈ 89,000)

FY13 COAST GUARDOPERATING EXPENSES = $6.8B

Questions?

Find out more…

Coast Guard Auxiliary web site www.cgaux.org

Coast Guard Chief Director’s web site http://www.uscg.mil/auxiliary/

Your DIRAUX and OTO