|
||||||||||
|
||||||||||
|
||||||||||||||||||
Military.com Forums Coast Guard Discussions Coast Guard Auxiliary AUXSAR course no more....|
Go
|
New
|
Find
|
Notify
|
Tools
|
Reply
|
|
Member |
Currently participating in the new AUXSCE (Auxiliary SAR Coordination and Execution) "train-the-trainer" course.
This new course contains useful training for the SAR operator (rather than focusing on planning) that a typical Auxiliarist may encounter during SAR ops. Although the official roll-out of the new course has not been announced, it will officially replace AUXSAR. AUXSAR was full of out-dated, and incorrect information. The National SAR school instructors are doing a great job presenting the material in this week's course and I am looking forward to taking the training opportunity to the Auxiliarists in my Division. Keep an eye out for course materials being added to the Supply house for AUXSCE in the future. |
||
|
We have met the enemy and he is us. Pogo |
Congrats. And if anyone wants confirmation on flyandscuba's post, here it is:
Source: National Department of Training OPCOM Report 2007
Further down the report:
There is a table that follows the above in the report. To get it here, I had to re-format it a bit but the info is the same. The dates following an item are the Expected Completion dates. ** start reformat Initiative Update existing AUXOP, seek new AUXOP course opportunities, and manage their implementation and course maintenance. ♦ Implement “Weekend Navigator” to replace AUXACN Dec 2007 ♦ Implement “Search Coordination & Execution” to replace AUXSAR Dec 2007 ♦ Rewrite AUXCOM and distribute to the field Dec 2007 ♦ Rewrite AUXSEA and distribute to field Dec 2007 ♦ Add AUXOP Program Manager Branch Chiefs to be fully accountable for each course 2008 Research additional advanced training opportunities for members who have completed AUXOP ♦ Investigate DOD, FEMA and DOT on-line training 2007 & 2008 ** end reformat Some comments related to the above. Based on past history "T" will miss its deadline to get AuxCom, AuxSea and AuxNav (the correct name per the AuxMan for what they call AuxACN) to the field. "T" has never met a deadline to deliver an updated AuxOp course to the membership - but hope springs eternal. The Program Manager BC isn't a new concept. It is the way "T" used to operate. Unfortunately "T" could not fill the positions or keep them filled - which is why the positions were eliminated. The position is highly frustrating. The process to get a new revision can take years and usually somewhere along the line - before approval is granted - 'something changes' and you have to start all over again. |
|||
|
|
Experienced Member |
"Weekend Navigator"???? Is this going to train me how to navigate from bar to bar on Saturday night? I'm glad they're updating these courses, but whats with the name changes?
|
|||
|
|
We have met the enemy and he is us. Pogo |
The Weekend Navigator is not only the name of the course, it is also the name of the textbook. McGraw Hill, the publisher, is also one of the Aux's 'partners'. Don't like the idea that the Aux courses are being named for the textbooks? Well based on his comments in The Proceedings, I think NACO would tell you 'tough' - "the money has to come from somewhere"!!!
|
|||
|
A bad day on the water beats a good day at the office. |
According to the table of the "latest" versions of manuals that was recently sent out, the AUXCOM & AUXPAT material is 10 years old, AUXSAR is 11 years old, and AUXSEA is 15 years old. Granted, information in some of the Specialty courses may change less rapidly than in others, but how did we end up with four out of the six courses being 10 or more years old? Glad to see the new material coming out soon.
|
|||
|
|
Member |
SO I can take a course of the weekend, and declare myself a "specialist" in Navigation or whatever??
Oh, yeah, I'll wear that ribbon proudly, frame the certificate high on the wall and issue a press release of how I specialized, with much (weakend) effort in X, Y, and Z. I'll do it without giggling, and wear ear plugs to ignore the laughter... |
|||
|
|
Member |
Isn't this what the AUXOP courses have alway been anyways? Take a course over the weekend, study some, take the test, then get a perty little badge to wear on your uniform? |
|||
|
|
Member |
The 30 instructors in the first class completed the training this afternoon (two more instructor courses scheduled in the coming weeks).
We were told that the roll-out of the new AUXSCE course to the membership is planned for January, 2008. If you have completed the AUXSAR course previously, you will not need AUXSCE to complete the AUXOP process. In addition, if you have begun the AUXSAR course, you have until January, 2008 to successfully complete the course and pass the exam. Following January, 2008 -- only the AUXSCE course will apply toward the pursuit of AUXOP. This new course was created and presented to the instructor candidates by active duty instructors from the National SAR School. It closely mirrors the active duty SCE course and contains excellent -- and relevant -- material for the Auxiliarist conducting actual SAR operations. Hopefully, updates to other out-dated Specialty courses will be as relevant and informative... |
|||
|
Member |
Do we have the option of taking the AUXSCE course PRIOR to 01JAN08?
--M (I am a fan of aligning AUX courses with AD courses...) |
|||
|
|
Member |
The course materials will most likely not be available or in stock until January. We were told that the lead time to have the approved material produced would be three months.
|
|||
|
|
We have met the enemy and he is us. Pogo |
There is an interesting question related to the replacement of AuxNav/AuxACN by Weekend Navigator. The question is Who pays for the book? Every course and text for AuxOps is free to the member, with the exception of Chapman's for AuxSea. And you could usually borrow a Chapman's for the course if you didn't want to buy one. Prior to the current AuxNav/AuxACN, the Aux produced the book and distributed it for free. The update to that failed and the Aux switched to using the public BCN/ACN material for AuxNav/AuxACN but the member got the books for free. So will the Aux be paying for the Weekend Navigator and giving it to the members for free or will the members have to start paying for their training material?
|
|||
|
|
Member |
And will our course still be the equivalent of the USPS nav course? I'm not a member of the USPS, but thought the coordiantion between us was just too commonsense and cool to last for long...
|
|||
|
|
Basic Training |
The Auxiliary does not have any equivalent to the USPS Navigation course! The USPS Navigation course mostly covers advanced celestial navigation – a subject that the CGAux does not get into. The AuxNav course would be equivalent to a combination of the USPS Piloting and Advanced Piloting courses. The CGAux also has no equivalent to the USPS Junior Navigation course - that deals with the basic theory and practice of celestial navigation. |
|||
|
|
Member |
I'm already aware of the celestial navigation course, probably interesting in it's own right, but not taught by the AUX as we don't have a use for it. AUXNAV or AUXACN had written procedures that they would accept the USPS nav course as equivalent, get yer ribbon, or count toward auxop as long as you had both part A and B. Don't know if USPS was using a different name for the course or not. If we change to a "weekend navigator" course, then we can give equivalence to completing the first three chapters in just about any organizations nav courses... |
|||
|
|
Member |
Thought you might be interested in the latest information regarding the AUXSCE course -- and associated roll-out:
This message has been edited. Last edited by: flyandscuba, |
|||
|
|
Member |
AUXSCE FAQs:
I highly recommend this course when it becomes available. ALthough I've been flying an average of one SAR-actual mission per month in my AOR, the SAR-actual mission I flew last week provided a different perspective after having completed this course. |
|||
|
|
We have met the enemy and he is us. Pogo |
Will attendance at this class be listed in AUXDATA? Yes. However, we can not easily add a new class title to the AUXDATA list. Your attendance will be shown as attending “AUXSAR”.
This is the 21st Century. Adding a new course to a database should be a 'walk in the park'. Now the Aux has no way of knowing who completed the new course vs the old course. Wonderful. Describe the final exams required by the students attending AUXSCE once released. The AUXSCE exam will be in two parts: knowledge based open book exam, consisting of about 30 questions and a practical closed book exam using 2 to 4 exercises. And the dumbing down commences. AuxOps exams never had an open book component to them. At least they raised the passing score by 5 points. Fly: Out of curiosity, are they using the 1210TR chart or something else? This message has been edited. Last edited by: FL51D7, |
|||
|
|
Member |
FL, When we took the course, the 50 question (in our case) exam was open book. The reason being that a major portion of the exam comes from the U.S. Coast Guard Addendum to the United States National Search & Rescue Supplement to the International Aeronautical and Maritime Search & Rescue Manual (whew, that a long title!) -- as well as the IMSAR Manual Volume III and the United States National Search & Rescue Supplement. The point being that no one can reasonably be expected to memorize all of the material contained within those three rather extensive publications. The focus -- even in real life -- is knowing where to look for the information and how to use the manuals effectively. Thus, I believe the reason to carry forward the National Search & Rescue School's method of an open book exam. Also, when we took the practical exam that included the charting portion, we worked in pairs -- each working/plotting two scenarios for a total of four. It appears the Training Department has decided this activity should be done solo. I might add a personal preference here. The Training Department wants to offer the exams on-line as an option, as is being done or developed for all the other specialty exams. I feel that it will be quite difficult to perform any type of meaningful charting activity on-line. Therefore, when I teach the course -- I will request that hard copy paper exams follow the end of the course. If someone is bent on doing it on-line, they'll have that option -- but I really feel the most effective means of testing will be through a hard copy written exam. As far as the chart goes -- the National SAR School developed their course around the 13218 Chart -- and it appears the AUXSCE course will utilize that chart. That particular chart can be obtained now through normal commercial sources -- but the plan is to have them available through the Materials Center for order. I'll also suggest to potential students that they obtain (buy or borrow) their own set of plotting tools -- as the instructors are not going to be supplied any stock of plotting tools to use for the course...to my knowledge. |
|||
|
|
We have met the enemy and he is us. Pogo |
The point being that no one can reasonably be expected to memorize all of the material contained within those three rather extensive publications.
We did expect that at one time. The publications you mentioned were references to the old AuxSAR. Portions of the policy are expected knowledge of a boat crew member. A coxswain is supposed to know even more. As a matter of fact, the new test that new coxswain candidates must take is largely on the policies in those books. The focus -- even in real life -- is knowing where to look for the information and how to use the manuals effectively. That might be true of a CG SAR controller sitting in his nice air conditioned cubicle but unless you are the Auxie owner of a refurbed Point Class cutter you will not have those books on board your usual surface OpFac nor the room even if you wanted to. You certainly will not have them on board a plane. So on a real mission the info had better be in your head. Thus, I believe the reason to carry forward the National Search & Rescue School's method of an open book exam. I'm beginning to wonder if the Aux has made another one of its usual mistakes - adopting a CG course that is not suited for Aux use as the Aux performs its missions. Based on your brief description this course seems to have a heavy component of SAR set-up as opposed to execution. The Aux executes SAR it does not for the most part coordinate or set-up SAR. I have been on several SAR cases both surface and air. The CG SAR controller gives you the coordinates and the pattern and your job is to execute it. You don't need a lot of knowledge from the 3 books you mentioned in order to do that. Also, when we took the practical exam that included the charting portion, we worked in pairs -- each working/plotting two scenarios for a total of four. It appears the Training Department has decided this activity should be done solo. See the note above about Auxies and their boats. If a boat has a crew of 2 and they are both working the SAR problem then who is driving the boat. Ditto for planes unless you put on the autopilot (and someone still has to look out the window - flight following isn't fool proof). At least the Aux is making sure the member can do the practical side without help. 13218 Chart I asked about the 1210TR since there is any interesting historical artifact shown on it. The wreck of the last U-boat sunk during WWII is shown on the chart. As is the depth charges dropped on her. In some nautical/military books you can find out enough about the US counter-attack to plot the U-Boat's attempted evasion. I'll also suggest to potential students that they obtain (buy or borrow) their own set of plotting tools -- as the instructors are not going to be supplied any stock of plotting tools to use for the course...to my knowledge. Good idea. That was also a suggestion/requirement of the old course. I think you could get by with a compass, dividers and a parallel ruler. Some preferred triangles over the parallel ruler. The fact is the Aux, with one exception, is dumbing down its member training program. The T or I report to OpCom mentiones that the APC exam had all questions not related to an FCs job removed. Those questions or variants of them had been in the exam for years. The Aux only gets one shot at making sure an officer at least knows the AuxMan and what is in it and that is the APC exam. Further, an FC is supposed to be able to explain to members how the Aux works so a knowledge of more then just his position should be necessary. The Aux disagreed and dumbed down the APC exam. The current AuxNav/ACN is a dumbed down version of the prior course which had its own metro phone book sized text. A text which you were required to know since both the exam and the practical were closed book. AuxNav/ACN is still a tough row to hoe but it should be. AuxOps is supposed to be the "PhD program" of the Aux - or at least it used to be billed that way. But AuxNav/ACN will probably be considered tough compared to its replacement "The Weekend Navigator". Gawd only knows what they are going to do with the other AuxOps programs they have on the table but the trend doesn't look good for maintaining the standards of the old program. Bearing in mind the entire program is one course shy, AuxMin, of the old standard. And the exception I mentioned - the boat crew program. While they are dumbing down AuxOps and just about everything else - they toughened up the boat crew program. And the justification for that was that although they expect to loss people do to the tougher standards - they "hope" more members pursue it because it is harder. I fail to see how that logic holds up when they are dumbing down everything else. Unless the real purpose of the toughening of the boat crew program is to drive members out of it. Many suspect that is the case since it was the real effect when the BCQP was instituted in the first place back in 1984. It is also the effect various district or sub-district 'toughening up' efforts have had recently. |
|||
|
