quote:

Main Entry: wan•na•be

Variant(s): also wan•na•bee

Function: noun

Etymology: from the phrase want to be

1: A person who wants or aspires to be someone or something else or who tries to look or act like someone else
2: something (as a company, city, or product) intended to rival another of its kind that has been successful.
3: an ambitious and aspiring young person.

Every time I browse through here I run into the “wannabe” haters and it’s getting stale, so may I suggest we get a list of synonyms going to break up the routine, and then we can pick our favorite from among them.

How about these for starters:

1: Aspirant
2: Aspirer
3: Hopeful
4: Applicant
5: Applier
6: Cupcake

C'mon you guys, have a sense of humor!

This message has been edited. Last edited by: Jack_Smith,

Let's just go with "part of the team".

Don

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How about these for starters:

1: Aspirant
2: Aspirer
3: Hopeful
4: Applicant
5: Applier
6: Cupcake

I prefer:

7. Ersatz

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er·satz /ˈɛrzɑts, -sɑts, ɛrˈzɑts, -ˈsɑts/ Pronunciation Key - Show Spelled Pronunciation[er-zahts, -sahts, er-zahts, -sahts] Pronunciation Key - Show IPA Pronunciation

–adjective 1. serving as a substitute; synthetic; artificial: an ersatz coffee made from grain.

–noun 2. an artificial substance or article used to replace something natural or genuine; a substitute.

Also

adj. Being an imitation or a substitute, usually an inferior one

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Let's just go with "part of the team".

Don

Sorry Don, these folks are hardly "part of the team." They are people just pretending they are something they are not.



...gjd

The term "wannabee" seems to be used negatively by some members of this forum to describe anybody that's not them. We have the "old salts" badmouthing newer posters since they haven't been mil.com members for a bunch of years. We have the "my daddy's yacht clubbies" ragging on people who step up to actual CG augmentation instead of staying in the traditional auxie roles. We have members who don't have much of a clue how other districts or even divisions and flotillas in their own area do stuff, but still tell everybody that their imagination trumps everybody else's reality.
Now we have to come up with a politically correct term to describe somebody who doesn't agree with us.
What a crock.

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a crock.

That's #8.

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Jack_Smith
Posted Thu 31 January 2008 11:43 AM
Pretending to be Auxies?

Not I!

No, and I guess you misunderstood. It's pretending one is (looks like, sounds like, acts like) the same as the Regulars -- instead of part of the "civilian component" of the Coast Guard. And I believe they do it mainly for self-glorification. . .

FWIW, this is only the opinion of someone who doesn't fit into any of the categories listed -- or perhaps all of them (including AD time). I was an Auxie in 1957, and it was different then than it is now -- at least we knew what we were, and were proud of it!

...gjd

GJD,
took a chill pill, wasn't meaning to rave and rage. Jack's point is well taken as is yours.
I doubt the "ersatz regulars" will ever go away anymore than the "Uniform Nazis", etc. that plague us while we're trying to do the job. I know a lot of well meaning folks that get carried away bending the rules and a lot of others that spend way too much time preaching them to others instead of doing anything constructive. I have enjoyed working with AD and Auxies and will until I can't climb a gunwale.
Anybody who seeks self-glorification is in the wrong place. We work for a "living".
I know several younger members who are pursuing BC quals on Station boats, If I weren't doddering into senility I would too. Not because I want to be a CG regular, because it's fun.
Are you retired? We have a few real "salts" here that started their careers in 1956, they've slowed down a bunch but still are a valuable asset to the Auxiliary.
BZ

Hi All,

I am new to the board and I would hate to have my first post to be in a "heated debate". I am an Aux member. The reason why I joined was I want to serve my country somehow. I tried to join the regular CG and the Navy when I got out of high school. I qualified for just about everything but the one thing I couldn't do was pass my physical. And because of that, I could not serve my country the way I wanted. Then life kicks in. Get a job, start a family, the normal stuff that takes someones time. Well, I heard of the Auxiliary and was thrilled. Now, I have never said that we Auxies are near the same caliber as regular Coast Guard (except those that come from regular service). I didn't go through basic training, I didn't get a chance to go "through the ranks". I thank each and every man and woman who has served in the regular military. Most people don't understand that it is a VOLUNTEER to go into the service. They choose to place their lives on the line so I can sleep safer at night. The least I can do is try to help with what ever I can. That is why I joined. I don't do it for self gratification (though I do have a sense of gratification after a hard day doing a VSC or on patrol. You know, hard work does pay for itself). I do it to serve somehow. I have fun doing what I do. You can call me a wannabe to a cupcake or a hopeful. To me, the United States of America calls me a member of the team. I carry that membership with humbled pride. Well, anyway, Hi all, (here's another label) noobie on board

Welcome aboard. Don't mind any squabbling, we all have cabin fever.
You ain't a wannabe or ersatz member, just another Auxie. I'm not sure about "cupcake", in Marine land somebody called somebody that they might get in trubble. I've only been a member for a little while and still haven't figured out all this "jolly tar" lingo.
BZ
alex

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Are you retired? We have a few real "salts" here that started their careers in 1956, they've slowed down a bunch but still are a valuable asset to the Auxiliary.

Yep. I too have "slowed down a bunch" since 1957 when I joined the Auxiliary at age 17. When I first rejoined I did some augmentation at MSO and radio watchstanding at the Sea Marshals office. Since apending a four month stint in the hospital about a year ago, I'm pretty much restricted to activties I can perform out of my home. I'm in the AUXMON program, and also am webmaster for several CG and Auxie websites. I'm still having fun.

...gjd

This was said in another thread with tongue in cheek: "Not a bad thought, at least the patrol part. But how can I go full throttle and use my blue light around environmental stuff <G>"

Wannabes use the blue light and anything else they want, regardless of rules and regulations. The AUXMAN is not 'their book' they have written their own. When I see an Auxie threaten to write up an attendant at a marina for having something that can be used as a dispersant, I think/know he's a wannabe. They do aspire...to be something they will never be!!

That is an apt description of a wannabee. In our AOR, we have two factions: wannabees and ploppers. Wannabees go on patrol with lights flashing and sirens wailing, intimidating boaters and making a pest of themselves. Ploppers on the other hand, move along at clutch speed, enjoying a nice quiet day on the water with interesting conversation and frequent noshing. Wannabees are wannabees and ploppers are ploppers and never the twain shall meet.

Just like any job out there, CG Aux members must decide on how they want to be seen as professionals.

I remember a number of times, our duty section was "in the bag" exhausted after running previous cases that day. An overdue case or flare sighting would come up and it was the Auxilary who saved us from having to go out again.

As always, you take the good with the bad. I was training a group of CG Aux on the pencil flares. Some started shooting them at boats passing our station. I let our OinC, a BMCM, handle that one.

Later, with CBP, I worked a security detail where one Auxilarist had his boat painted up in a law enforcement appearance complete with blue lights. We got word that he was also armed. This upset us a great deal so we passed on our concerns to the local CG Station OinC and let him decide on what should be done.

All in all, I think most are out there trying to make a difference. It's hard to find criticism in that.

Don, prior BM3/Coxn

I might assume that any twit running amok with a blue light on their boat could be cited for impersonating a police officer or federal LE. Packing will get you dismembered in a heartbeat.
God help the auxie that shoots anyone while under orders, self-defense or not.

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All in all, I think most are out there trying to make a difference. It's hard to find criticism in that.

Don,

The operative word is "most." And in this case the one's who act like those in your two anecdotal examples are the one's who hurt us "most."

...gjd

Our OPFAC is also our second home as it has all the amenities required. Ergo, in our state, it is legal to have a firearm on board. Now what?

Anytime I ever had dealings with auxilarists, I thoght they were great. Never saw them as "wannabes". These are folks that VOLUNTEER to do what we do as a job.

That being said, its 0835 02/02/2008 (holy cow) and I bet my beer tastes better than yours!!

Cheers to Team CG,

W~

Thanks for the nice comments! It seems that 90% of the negative comments only apply to actions made by 10% or less of our membership. Most everyone involved only want to help

Ergo, in our state, it is legal to have a firearm on board. Now what?

YM&DMV (Your mileage and district may vary).

Under orders your vessel is a public vessel of the US. The Commandant or his designee, the District Commander can tell you what equipment you can have on board and what equipment you may not have on board during a mission under orders.

Some districts have an express prohibitions against firearms being on board during a mission. Violate that and you are acting outside the orders. Other districts do not prohibit having weapons on board. Having a weapon on board would not be considered 'packing' by most gun owners. 'Packing' usually means carrying a weapon - usually concealed.

What is prohibited across the board is picking up a weapon while in uniform and under orders. Auxies cannot carry weapons by hand or holster. Violate that and all bets are off. You would definitely be outside the liability umbrella.

And in the worst case scenario, where an Auxie displayed his 'packed piece' and it turned out the Bad Guy wasn't a Bad Guy after all - then all hell breaks loose. Just some of the charges civil and criminal that could be brought against the Auxie by the victim and/or the state:

1. Violating a citizens civil rights under 'color of law' (the Auxie uni);
2. Felony threatening;
3. Kidnapping and/or unlawful detainment;
4. Brandishing a firearm;
5. Assault with a dangerous weapon/firearm;
6. Interference with a police officer (if the Auxie thought he was assisting a LEO - this really happend a few years ago);

etc, etc, etc

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Originally posted by Bonnie4:
Thanks for the nice comments! It seems that 90% of the negative comments only apply to actions made by 10% or less of our membership. Most everyone involved only want to help

Same could be said for the AD ranks. And the ranks of civilian law enforcement too, for that matter. Or for any public service/organization.

The regular CG has its own wannabees, just like everyone/everywhere else. And the "bad apples" (for lack of a better term) are only a small number of the whole.

quote:

And the "bad apples" (for lack of a better term) are only a small number of the whole.

I seem to recall an old adage about that. . . something to do with "spoiling" and "bunch."

...gjd