This is one of the bulletins from the list mentioned in the Volunteer thread. Much has been made and will be made about Volunteer's rights. I thought this bulletin discussed something that often is not discussed. In the ARES/RACES world "command" is the served agency. For an Auxie, "command" is the Gold Side when you augment. It should even apply to things like patrol activity since the Gold side directly issues orders for that activity.

So far as I can determine these materials are not copyrighted.

Command Bill of Rights

The title, author and intro sections. If you copy any part of this you really should at least source it to the origninators.

quote:

Bulletin EMC061 Command Bill of Rights Release 1-6-97

By Dave Larton, N6JQJ, State ACS Training Officer and Webmaster; 911 Dispatcher with City of Gilroy

Much has been said in these bulletins, and elsewhere, of the "Volunteer's Bill of Rights," or, how volunteers expect to be treated. When volunteering, remember that the people you work for have a similar list of items that they expect from you. The following is condensed from a Basic Hostage Negotiations class aught recently in the Bay Area by Ray Birge, a former SWAT Commander with the Oakland, CA Police Department. They apply very well as basics that every volunteer should keep in mind, especially when working for a higher authority:

The following section might make an interesting filler in a newsletter. It might even come in handy for an "Augmenting Handbook" if the Aux ever gets around to writing one.

quote:

Command Bill of Rights:

1. Give me options. The more options I have as a commander, the more of an informed decision I will be able to make.

2. Don't destroy my career. Give me options that follow the rules, policies or procedures of my department.

3. Promote dynamic tension. Play the devil's advocate when giving me options. What will happen if I follow this idea? What might occur if I don't follow the idea?

4. Look Intelligent. Bring the proper equipment. Be prepared. Act the role you are supposed to be playing. Remember, people are watching all of us at all times.

5. Be prepared to train the boss. Many times, the commander is the least informed of the entire team, yet he has to make some of the most crucial decisions. Give the boss the background as generally as you can. Be neutral.

6. Keep me informed at all times. Don't hold any information back, no matter how trivial; it could prove to be extremely important later on.

7. DON'T BREAK THE RULES! Should you elect to take a course of action that may potentially break the rules, let me know about it BEFORE you do it and get my OK! Remember Rules #2 and #3 above.

Probably good advice for dealing with your boss or maybe your flotilla commander, but I don't see a whole lot of application specifically to Aux augmenting programs of several of these points.

Scene Security, yes, it may means you drive slower, but you drive based on the road conditions, also means you keep aware of what is going on, police first, you do not become a casualty yourself, you can wait until the power is shut off, the gas as well, the gun man has been apprehended or atleast is not near the patient and your protected.

Team work, means communication, all on the same sheet of music/instructions and intent. Why OPORDers are written how they are, to be clear and conciese, yes open for interpretation, but also why you have ROE = rules of engagement.

To keep friendly fire incidents to ZERO. Maximum use of force or means when it is necessary. Opps, I fired my weapon before everyone is in place, now people are dying cause of it. Surpise is a major force multiplier, use it. Snipers as well, keep them very informed and in the loop.

After 4 years driving ambulance with a small town volunteer ambulance squad, there is yes things I expect.

SCENE SECURITY - not only that gun man you did not see, but also the CO2 you did not realize had knocked out the others, victim and follow up responders.
Good directions and location (working on local ordinance to have HOUSE and STREET signs.
As much information about the signs/symptoms
Where everyone who is responding to, so I can make things fast and quick picking people up enroute to the scene.
Stay self aware of surroundings, what you do not see can kill you.
Respect, is a must, yes you maybe a volunteer, but you never know what my back ground it, I may have somethings to add to the mix. Former EMT/ambulance driver, driver/infantry/11B, former HAZWOPPER qualified, and cab driver.

EMT/Ambulance mwans I know the ambulance, and am an EMT.
HAZWOPPER = hazwoppper, means I have some ideas what the accident is, and where to find info on how to deal with it. EPA regulations, OSHA, MSDS, and manifest and I have been around.
Cab Driver and Pizza Driver, been around, know many of the back ways into plaes and where they are at.
Infantry, never know. I know how to talk military and infantry especially.
Also taken classes on how many M35 2.5 ton trucks you can fit into a normal container ship, a C130 or C5. Also driven school bus normal and special needs, and used to fuel the buses evrry day, so I know how to park things, keep things moving and organized and also former clerk who know my way around many things, to include how to talk to bureaucrats.

Mike
Alaska

I don't see a whole lot of application specifically to Aux augmenting programs of several of these points.

Having once augmented several days a week for several years at the local CGSTA, I cannot think of a single one of them that does not apply to an Auxie Auggie.

And it was the Rogue Coxswain's violation (multiple violations as a matter of fact) of "7" that brought on The Incidenet.

In general a violation of '7' by an Auxie may not lead to a full blown '2' but CG COs and OIAs and Petty Officers don't like getting paged "7" or bad OERs because of the actions of Auxies.

"5" is repeatedly mentioned on this board. It extends beyond the command. One claim that the Aux tries to make to justify its existence is that as local residents Auxies have greater knowledge of the AOR then the transient Coasties. And Auxies are supposed to share that knowledge with the Gold Side. Which covers both 5 and 6.

1-3 in particular were what I was referring to. Unless Auxies are doing more stuff than I've heard, they're not going to be giving anybody much advice on how to do their jobs, at least not on anything all that critical.

I thought this BS had stopped, but I guess I was wrong. The "Rogue Coxswain" didn't violate the rules, the writer of this thread falsified training documents which started the issue. See you all in another couple months.

Rogue,

You must be unaware that the MembersB have a copy of The Advocate's report on the illegal covert patrols that was issued in Dec 06. The report concludes that there was at least two illegal covert patrols - although it tries to gloss over the word illegal. It tries to white-wash the fact that then FC and then DCP conpired to hide one of the patrols. And the then DirAux withheld evidence from the Advocate that proved another charge that the Rogue Coxswain submitted a fraudulent 7030 to try and hide at least one of those patrols.

And while you are back - I never commented on something from your last foray. Contrary to your assertion then - the MemberB1 was entitled by law to his FOIA Request. The CG did not give him the data on a 'gimme'. And according to the ex-FC at least one Coastie at the station got "page 7ed" for the many months delay and mishandling of the FOIA. So much for your veracity.

The MembersB also have the transcripts of the testimony from the June hearings they were barreed from. Also included in that package is a lot of correspondence from the Rogue Coxswain to various Aux and CG officers. One item in particular is of interest to this discussion. The Rogue Coxswain having found out about the FOIA wrote to the DCO and advocated blocking the request thru various methods that any court in the land would have held to be illegal.

As it was it took a Congressional Inquiry to get the FOIA Request honored. And as noted above some Coasties paid the price for the Rogue Coxswain's request to the DCO.

Thanks for giving me an excellent case study on why "7" and "2" above do apply to the Aux.

quote:

See you all in another couple months.

Stop by anytime. It could be an interesting conversation. Or you could just follow your old course, viz . . .



...gjd

quote:

Originally posted by RogueCoxswain:
I thought this BS had stopped, but I guess I was wrong. The "Rogue Coxswain" didn't violate the rules, the writer of this thread falsified training documents which started the issue. See you all in another couple months.

And the above post doesn't help to let it die, it stirs it back up. You seem to defend yourself well when you bother to do so. Why not make a decision to either join the debate and get it over with or ignore the debate and let it die? Heck, we'd be glad to see another side to the story that we've only gotten one side of over, and over, and over, again....

This guy insists that he is right and everyone else is wrong. Funny that he got thrown out and everyone else stayed. Oh....That's right...Everyone is corrupt except him.

Funny that he got thrown out and everyone else stayed.

Not quite true. Two members were thrown out. The FC was held to have committed two violations by a CG Captain who then agreed with whatever unspecified disciplinary action had already been taken against him. Funny, but shortly after that letter came out, he resigned as FC (two months after his reelection) and transferred to another flotilla - supposedly because it was closer. Believe that excuse and I know a bridge in Brooklyn that is for sale.

The member that the FC had unlawfully evicted from the meeting (as stated by the CG Captain in her letter) had already transferred out of the flotilla with her husband. The delay in getting a redress of their greivance against the FC led to their resignation from the Aux. They mailed it and two days later the CG Captain's letter arrived holding the FC at fault on both counts related to the eviction (which is related to the MembersB case). The letter arrived too late - they remained resigned.

Two other members transferred out of the flotilla in protest against the actions taken against the MembersB and the evicted member.

And of interest - when the FC resigned and transferred - he took several other members with him.

There are reports of other resignations and retirements related to the MembersB case. Other long term staff members resigned their positions but remained in the Aux. And there has been quite a fall-off in acitivity in the flotilla among the formally active members.

So there has been and continues to be greater fall out then just the disenrollment of the MembersB.

You are the only one that was disenrolled for disciplinary reasons. Stop BS'ing yourself.

There were 2 members tossed - and I never said otherwise. And in violation of everything in the manuals the so-called specific charge in the disenrollment letter does not specify a specific. If you go back and read the discipline thread, particularly the last few comments made by SkyRay and CurA you will know why no specific was cited. There were none that were held up by any evidence. CurA and SkyRay have seen the charges leveled against the MembersB as written by the OfficersA. They have also seen the photographic evidence that the Rogue Coxswain was at a member training session he claimed he was not at. That photo was in the flotilla newsletter. That same photo also shows several other members in attendance at the training they claimed not to be at.

They have also seen the evidence that when the Rogue Coxswain claimed I did not inspect his ComFac - he and the FC published articles in the flotilla newsletter that the ComFac was properly inspected. There are other documented instances of the 3 OfficersA lies in the case file. Any attorney worth his salt would tell you the veracity of the 3 OfficersA was and is called into serious doubt and no prosector would have proceeded with their 'evidence'.

What is also in the record is statmeents related to the then DCO now ARCO throwing fits because the MembersB filed a formal complaint against him when he violated their rights per the AuxMan and the Hearing Manual. What is in the record (several times) is the then DirAux blowing a head gasket because the MembersB filed complaints against him - the most serious and proveable charge being he withheld and suppressed evidecne relate to the illegal patrol activity and allowed a fraudulent 7030 report to enter the record without comment.

It is also in the record that the then station CO also blew a head gasket when the MemberB1 filed his FOIA on the station. BTW - the station CO never challenged the legality of the FOIA. He just flipped out that MemberB1 filed it. And why did MemberB1 file it? Well the station gave accees (possibly improperly) to the OfficersA to look at the Comm Log. That is in the record. The MembersB were denied the same priviledge so they filed several FOIAs to get the info. That really ticked people off and that is in the record.

The final irony - in one of his last writings on the subject the then DirAux recuses himself from the case. He goes into a disucssion of why and then presents his side of the case. A lot of which is contradicted by his own emails which are also part of the record. Then after recusing himself and presenting his own side of the case - he then recommended the MembersB disenrollment. I guess he didn't understand what is meant by recusal.

Denial is not a river in Egypt.

quote:

Originally posted by dittysmitty:
Denial is not a river in Egypt.

Been memorizing bumper stickers again, eh?

I always liked ---->

...gjd

Originally posted by FL51D7:

>Funny, but shortly after that letter came out, he resigned as FC (two months after his reelection) and transferred to another flotilla - supposedly because it was closer. Believe that excuse and I know a bridge in Brooklyn that is for sale.

>The member that the FC had unlawfully evicted from the meeting (as stated by the CG Captain in her letter) had already transferred out of the flotilla with her husband.

So when it's someone who has your sympathy, it's they already transferred, but when it's an @$$, in your opinion, it's "supposedly because it was closer. Believe that excuse.."


Could be that all of them are fed up, even eith each other, but the so called "organization" at least, and decided to go somewhere else to get away from the stuff. Can't say I blame them, all of them.

quote:

Could be that all of them are fed up, even eith each other, but the so called "organization" at least, and decided to go somewhere else to get away from the stuff. Can't say I blame them, all of them.

I don't know about the members referred to above. But I do know that this "stuff", overt bickering and from hard-ball politics at the flotilla and Division level, to higher up deviations and disregard for our policies and rules, is abo****elu devastating to retention of members. In severeal surveys we conducted, it was the number one reason for members leaving the Auxiliary within the first two years. When asked why they were leaving, exiting members usually answered with a careful "it's not what I had thought it would be." But we found that to be code for "I just don't want to deal with the crap anymore."