OK.

I had asked FL51D7 in an earlier thead why many of his posts seemed to be of a "negative" nature towards the Aux. He stated that he wanted to showcase and uncover incompetence and cover ups within our organization.

Given that this seems to be a common thread with many posters on this board, I think we should provide these indivisuals with a forum to express their views.

Please indicate what aspects of the Aux are incompetent, corrupt etc. Please also let us know if you were disenrolled or volountarily dropped out of the Aux. Please let us alos know if you failed the PSI or just did not want to go through the process.

This forum will allow other members to critically gauge exactly where you are coming from and why.

So go ahead - enlighten us!

Please excuse the spelling errors in the previous post. Thanks

I once was told there would be cookies at the flotilla meeting.

but....there wasn't!

Well said Jack!

Because of it I think you should find video postings from 20 years ago and attack the Auxiliary - that is what most people on this board seem to be doing.

I'm enjoying my Auxiliary "experience"...

My only complaint is similar negative attitudes of some of my Flotilla members -- who always draw time away from constructive things that could be happening during the monthly Flotilla membership meetings.

Just 3 months into my term as FC, I'm convinced that position is the hardest "job" in the Auxiliary...

As F and S said, I am also currently enjoying my Aux experience. Feel good at what I am doing and what I am learning.

Gone through all the PSI stuff with no problems. Don't have anything to hide and I think the PSI is a good thing.

I try not to get caught up into the "stuff". If it gets negative, I find a way to turn it to positive. If I can't then I let it deal with itself. In my opinion, there are no "bad experiences", just "learning experiences".

As I tell my boys (as I have said many times), don't be part of the problem, be part of the solution.

quote:

Originally posted by MikeAux:
As F and S said, I am also currently enjoying my Aux experience. Feel good at what I am doing and what I am learning.

Gone through all the PSI stuff with no problems. Don't have anything to hide and I think the PSI is a good thing.

I try not to get caught up into the "stuff". If it gets negative, I find a way to turn it to positive. If I can't then I let it deal with itself. In my opinion, there are no "bad experiences", just "learning experiences".

As I tell my boys (as I have said many times), don't be part of the problem, be part of the solution.

Please cut the "I don't have anything to hide" jargon. Neither do I.. but that has nothing to do with why I refused to go through the PSI crap. Shall we go through this again? I'm game.

And yeah, I'm part of the solution.. I refused to give away any more of my liberties by being a sheep and submitting to an expensive, invasive, and unnecessary PSI. In my opinion, you're part of the problem.. you are one of the many who hands away their liberties in this country without a second thought.

I would totslly understand your stance in reference to the PSI. I too had concerns regarding it.

I guess my question is how were you able to circumvent it and still remain in the Auxiliary?

That's the thing, she wasn't able to. She stood her ground and relinquished her membership, a painful experience.

I have always enjoyed my activity in the Auxiliary (both times around), but I do reserve the right to 8itch, moan and criticize (here and elsewhere) when I see, hear or otherwise encounter anything wrong.

I have never agreed with FW's stand on the PSI stuff, even though I have always understood where she was coming from. Now, considering the recent State Department security breaches of the passport records of three candidates for POTUS by employees of an outside contractor, I begin to wonder.

It should also be noted that the company those employees worked for is or has been a contractor for DHS and the Coast Guard. I may not have anything to hide, per se, from my government, but I do have a problem with outsourcing some of the security functions to contractors, the employees of which do not have to pass any security check except for a cursory "records check."

I think that's something to be angry about, and so I am!

...gjd

If someone decided that they did not want to submit to the PSI becuase of strictly ethical considerations then I would applaud that person in taking that stance if it did cost them their membership.

I am sorry that it was the case in reference to Forwatch or anyone else.

I've been through more intensive investigations than the PSI in the course of federal employment, so I could care less... My only wish is that the PSI could just take one of the many SF-85's I've completed and be done with it, rather than having to wait.

GJ, it gets worse. I just found out this morning that we don't even make our own electronic passports! We outsource 'em to other countries, including Thailand (which had an episode of Chinese espionage), and the GPO is making a nice profit. Sheesh. I keep thinking of Lenin's famous prediction: "The Capitalists will sell us the rope with which we will hang them."

And if course there was this.. for anyone who missed it:

http://www.uscg.mil/datasecurity/faqs.asp

Other than Forewatch and a few others, I have not seen the "regular" posters air their grievances in this forum.

I will be honest that I think there is a lot in the Aux that can be improved. I for one would like to see missions open up that involve scuba as many of my friends would join if this is a possibility. I have been told that because of the recent deaths during an ice dive that this would not be able to happen. I have also been trying to get a surplus boat for patrols at a local lake here in Califronia. Nothing fancy, just something that the USCG would not want anymore and something we could use. Not gone very far with that as well.

I have no problems airing these complaints as it allows others to see where I am coming from. I still see that there is a lot of good in the organization and am for one trying to make it better.

What I do have a problem with is that I percieve some, they won't come out and say it though, hide in the weeds waiting to jump in and bash the USCG Aux whenever they get a chance. When given a forum to openly express their views, their problems, their troubles with the Aux, no one seems to respond. Some people it seems do not have the courage of their convictions and rather would like to tear the Aux apart piece by piece on this board.

So I guess what I would have to say is that if you do not have the courage to openly post your grievances and then take special glee anytime anything happens that is bad in the Aux, I pity you. I respect the person that takes a stand like Forewatch, she made a sacrifice and she stood by her convictions. I know know where she is coming from.

Some of the rest of you that have problems with the Aux should follow her example and put in writing what you consider the Aux's problesm are. Instead, we seem to have a bunch of kids that like to throw dirt clods at people and then go hide in a ditch somewhere. Show us the strength of your convisitions or do us a favor and keep the negatitivity to yourself. I can understand negativity with justification, what I cannot stand is unfocused whininess.

A buddy and I were encouraged by the possibility of an opportunity for scuba assistance (the local ATON Chief was very supportive and felt we could be of great assistance with his mission) in the Auxiliary when we joined.

We heard that a Flotilla in Puerto Rico was invloved with scuba activities at one point -- maybe some type of experiment? But were unable to obtain detailed information.

Once the tragedies of the CG Cutter Healey occurred, we knew the game was over. It was already a struggle to break through the "one foot in the grave" self-perpetuating view of the condition of most Auxiliarists in terms of age and health by many leaders in the organization -- once active duty deaths associated with "diving" happened, all local leadership interest ended.

Attempting to show the differences in what amounts to recreational diving activity in tropical water by Auxiliarists as compared to a deep artic dive by active duty personnel -- was simply an exercise in futility due the percieved liability, volunteer nature of our members, and the previously mentioned view regarding majority member age and health condition.

"this member" 16889342-

I been on this forum for 7 years now,and my entrance into this forum predates my time with the AUX. I originally joined this "freds place" forum due to being former USCG, had nothing ta do with the AUX.

I've already aired my grievances with the AUX on here ad nauseum, and for the simple reason that I have no desire to retype/rehash them I didn't respond.

Like FORE, I also refused the PSI. UNLIKE Fore, my reasons were nowhere near as noble or ethical. Rest assured it wasn't because of the venerable "you must have something to hide".

My reason was simple, it wasn't worth doing the PSI to me.

The original PSI/PSQ/announcement letter was published for all hands in DEC of 03, I had already pretty much stopped participating in the AUX 4 months prior to that and I could in no way, shape, or form justify the nonsense of the PSI.

The reason for my deciding the AUX wasn't for me?? Pretty varied, but IT DID involve some "back stabbing" from that 4th cornerstone of my fellow members. "LOL" (lack of leadership) and that venerable other 4th cornerstone of the AUX; "GOB's" (Good Old Boy network), without going into detail and rehashing it were the primary reasons.

I do notice you said your flotilla was attempting to get a USCG suplus vessel. Welp, that was one of the I things tried ta do as well. I still have "the scar" where my fellow more senior AUX members stuck the knife from that incident in me. Imagine my shock when one day sitting @ home I get a call from My DIRAUX(1NR) ragging me out for all this stuff I was trying to do "behind everyones back" to get this surplus vessel when in actuality the people in my flot & div whose backs I suuposedly was going behind were the VERY PEOPLE that I was going for to get guidance and assistance to attempt to acquire said USCG surplus 41' UTB.

Or imagine my surprise when; after "off season"(I live in New England, our boating season is roughly May to Sept) bilateral knee surgery, I get an email from my div ops guy telling me I was forbidden from "going on the boats" till after I got a letter from my ortho doc saying I was cleared ta do same. Something NO ONE in the AUX has the authority to require.

I filed an "official complaint" thru my FC and VFC to my DIV requesting it be investigated and if proven that this person(also a GOB from my flot) had WAY overstepped the boundaries of their job title, they be disciplined.

Nothing was done by my FC, VFC, or DIV capt, it was swept under the rug and I was "scolded" by my FC and told " can't ya just forget about it for the good of the Auxiliary??"

That FC is now the div capt and the then div capt is next in line to be DIST COMO. The person I was "whining" about is still the Div ops guy.

And then lets talk about my disenrollment "over the PSI". According to the ONE PIECE of paper I got from the AUX after I "just said no", I was being disenrolled for "failure to meet financial obligations". ie- I didn't pay my dues.

Reason, I wasn't allowed to. I even sent my FC an email as to why I hadn't recieved my dues notification. Said he couldn't send me one because div had published a list of those "eligible" to pay dues and my name wasn't on it.

I don't pay dues cause I'm not allowed to, I get thrown out for it. NOT for refusing the PSI.

Whaddaya call all that?? Incompetence or just plain old BS??? I think its both, and lots of 'em-JRC

What bad stuff do you want first??

Making false entries in AUXDATA as the FSO-IS...
or 'approving the entries' as the SO-IS??

Passing a guy with a broken leg as a PWO?? That was a consipracy of the QE, QE coordinator and member that became the PWO. Reported thru the chain to DIRAUX. The 'compaining' DCP was never given the final outcome or action to be taken but they all are still doing their thing!!

How about disagreeing with NACO..privately and getting threatened with disenrollment. My DCP covered my a$$ on that one and told NAVCO to leave me alone.


Corruption? Of course...it's not rampant but it's sure as hell in place at most levels and worse as you go higher!

Well,

Both reasons listed would make me feel less wanted and happy about being in the Aux. Points taken -

I guess my nest question would be, is there anything that can be done as far as a greivance procedure or are all paths blocked as far as that goes?

Good feedback. Thanks for responding, it at least give me a better picture why some people are upset.