1. Whether anything new has happened in the program at the District level that has not already been reported by other means

Incorrect procedure. The web sites are supposed to be a listing of current info and if the info is posted somewhere else then a note and a link are supposed to be provided to the info. The idea of the district department web sites is a one stop shopping service for the member. They aren't supposed to have to go dig thru emails, newsletters etc to put all the info together.

Further, if no new info was forthcoming in the 2 to 4 years that info is absent on the D7 site, then why are the DSO, ADSOs and others funded for National and District conferences? If nothing new is happening or info passed then what are they doing (other then drinking Moose Milk until they throw up)?

2. Whether or not the webmaster has posted material sent to them.

Given the varying dates it is obvious the webmaster posted whatever was sent to him.

I decided to look at another big district to see if D7 was an oddball. It isn't. Here is the info for 1SR. I present this one in reverse posting date order.

Officers with a post in 2008: None

Officers with a post in 9/07 (probably for a DCon): VCO, all 4 RCOs, DC-P, DDO-CG, DSOs of: CM, LP, MS, OP, PS, IS, MA, MT, PA, PE, PV, VE.

Officers with a post in 6/07 (almost a year ago): DCO (shame on him), DC-R, SN (some 1SR officer)

Officers with a post 3/07: Aviation, CS, PB

Officers with a post 1/07: AN

Officers with a post 9/06: FN

Officers with a post 6/06: DC-L

Officers never posted: IPDCO

I've been in just short of five years, and have seen a modicum of incompetence, but no corruption. It has proven easier to ask forgiveness than obtain permission, so when practical I've just forged ahead. I'm lucky to be in an area with lots of AD and Reserve opportunities, and while regular Coasties have sometimes appeared slightly bemused, all have been encouraging. As an Auxie, my job is to help the CG. The way we help has probably changed a lot in the eyes of many with more years in than I have. Plenty of opportunities to help exist, and one of the things I like about the Aux is the cafeteria-style ability to pick and choose my areas of interest I do get tired of hearing old stagers moan about the way it was 20 years ago. Not happy? - Try and find something you like and do it.

quote:

Originally posted by espantoon:
I've been in just short of five years, and have seen a modicum of incompetence, but no corruption. It has proven easier to ask forgiveness than obtain permission, so when practical I've just forged ahead. I'm lucky to be in an area with lots of AD and Reserve opportunities, and while regular Coasties have sometimes appeared slightly bemused, all have been encouraging. As an Auxie, my job is to help the CG. The way we help has probably changed a lot in the eyes of many with more years in than I have. Plenty of opportunities to help exist, and one of the things I like about the Aux is the cafeteria-style ability to pick and choose my areas of interest I do get tired of hearing old stagers moan about the way it was 20 years ago. Not happy? - Try and find something you like and do it.

Great post and good advice. I did the same thing.. I wanted to crew on a ship, so I found a way, and I loved every minute of it.

And yeah, good point about asking forgiveness instead of permission. Sometimes if you try to do it by the book, you're tied up forever in red tape as your request gets "lost" going up the chain.

Lert me stick my nose in here with a personal occurence.
I am a member of the Chef's team at Eatons Neck Station. Last year we along with the Gold side folks prepared a wonderous brunch for 100 dignitaries attending a ceremony commemorating the death of PO3 Nate Bruckenthal. The only CG killed in Iraq. (in 2004). The local sector capt came and we were personally applauded at the event.
Three weeks ago I hapened to Google Nate and spelled his last name with 2 L's. Up came the NACOs 2Q report to the Commondant. There in was a paragraph telling the Commandant what a great job we did. Perhaps it would have been nice to make sure the Galley Team saw this? But no apparently no one gave the people who delivered a second thought. Real leadership makes sure their folks know when their achievements are appreciated. Bruce

quote:

As an Auxie, my job is to help the CG.

That is incorrect. As an Auxie your job is to help the recreational boating public. Helping the CG is a subsidiary and optional role and is determined by local requirements and capabilities. It is NOT our primary mission.

Our customers are not the USCG. Our customers are the boating public.

"Help the boating public?" Not in this AOR. The big thing here is to sit behind a desk at Sector and shuffle papers. The rest of us are treated with benign neglect. Could this be the reason why all the recreational boating programs in this AOR are taking a dump?

quote:

Originally posted by ENGELJ:
That is incorrect. As an Auxie your job is to help the recreational boating public. Helping the CG is a subsidiary and optional role and is determined by local requirements and capabilities. It is NOT our primary mission.

Our customers are not the USCG. Our customers are the boating public.

Joe, it is a good idea, one I like to promote when doing attitude adjustments on members, but technically I don't think you are correct.

AUXMAN CH1 A.2.a:

quote:

14 U.S.C. § 822 expanded the purpose of the Auxiliary to read, “The purpose of the Auxiliary is to assist the Coast Guard as authorized by the Commandant in performing any Coast Guard function, power, duty, role, mission or operation authorized by law.”

AUXMAN CH2.A.2:

quote:

The first and primary mission of the Auxiliary is to attract, recruit, develop, train, nurture, and retain Auxiliarists for assignment to duty. Auxiliarists are trained to accomplish specific missions assigned to the Auxiliary and to support collateral Coast Guard missions on a day-to-day and surge basis....

AUXMAN CH2.A.3:

quote:

The Auxiliary has mission responsibility to support the Office of Boating Safety (G-OPB) with the development and implementation of various RBS programs. This mission includes Auxiliary traditional activities conducted on behalf of Federal,
State, and local governments to improve the knowledge, safety skills, and operating environment of recreational boaters.

AUXMAN CH2.A.4:

quote:

The Auxiliary has general mission responsibility for providing resources, personnel, and facilities in support of the operations and marine safety, security, and environmental protection missions, and in support of other Coast Guard missions, when requested.

AUXMAN CH2.A.4:

quote:

Fellowship remains an essential ingredient in making any organization of volunteers successful. The Coast Guard recognizes the importance of this aspect of volunteer participation and encourages a close relationship between Auxiliarists and other
Coast Guard personnel. Fellowship makes the team work and binds the entire organization together.

By my reading of the above assisting the Coast Guard is not secondary and the RBS cornerstone is not a keystone above the other cornerstones. RBS is a key mission, and like the rest of the USCG, our "customers" are the citizens of America but I don't think you can narrow this to " As an Auxie your job is to help the recreational boating public. Helping the CG is a subsidiary and optional role and is determined by local requirements and capabilities. It is NOT our primary mission".

And lest we think this is ahistorical even the original 14 U.S.C. § 822 contained a broad range of missions [AUXMAN CH1 A.1.a]:

quote:

“The purpose of the Auxiliary is to assist the Coast Guard:

(1) To promote safety and to effect rescues on and over the high seas and on navigable waters;

(2) To promote efficiency in the operation of motorboats and yachts;

(3) To foster a wider knowledge of, and better compliance with, thelaws, rules, and regulations governing the operation of motorboats and yachts;

(4) To facilitate other operations of the Coast Guard.”

Thanks, Usefulguy. I just knew that I'd read that somewhere...

Statutorially we have several co-equal purposes as given above, but on a operational level the CG has made it pretty clear that they would like the Aux overall to focus on RBS, though that certainly doesn't mean they turn away Auxies interested in direct CG support missions.

But, on a practical level, an Auxie's job is whichever CG Aux program they choose to focus their attention on.

Where is your AOR?

Statutorially we have several co-equal purposes as given above

By statute the USCG Aux only has one purpose.

14 USC Sec. 822

quote:

Purpose of the Coast Guard Auxiliary

The purpose of the Auxiliary is to assist the Coast Guard as authorized by the Commandant, in performing any Coast Guard function, power, duty, role, mission, or operation authorized by law.

Other laws bar the Aux from direct law enforcement and military missions.

The wording above replaced the old 4 part purpose you are thinking about in 1996 as part of the CG Auxiliar Reauthorization Act. The old 4 part purpose was:

quote:

"(a) to promote safety and to effect rescues on and over the high seas and on navigable waters;
(b) to promote efficiency in the operation of motorboats and yachts;
c) to foster a wider knowledge of, and better compliance with, the laws, rules, and regulations governing the operation of motorboats and yachts; and
(d) to facilitate other operations of the Coast Guard."

There is an interesting historical discussion about whether the above is an equal list (your position) or whether in fact, based on legislative intent and history, it is an ordered priority list. The CG in many cases and one explicit case in the last 2 years appears to have treated it (or the spirit of the original) as an ordered priority list.

Note that SAR would remain tied in first place in an ordered list. RBS is the other part of the first place tie and occupies spots 2 and 3 by itself. CG Augmentation places a distant fourth.

the CG has made it pretty clear that they would like the Aux overall to focus on RBS

Except for a very brief interlude caused by 9/11/01 that has been true for at least 10 years on the Gold Side. Even after 9/11/01, The Sainted One tried to tell the Aux its role was surge and the Infamous (to the Aux) 'backfill and support'. The Aux was not to ignore or diminish its efforts in RBS. Of course, the Aux ignored the latter, as it has ignored the CG's decade long admonition to return to RBS. On the Silver Side there is no 'balanced effort'. Remember my Navigator Study of about 2 years ago? If I re-did that today you would still see the overwhelming coverage given to Ops with almost nary a word about RBS.

But, on a practical level, an Auxie's job is whichever CG Aux program they choose to focus their attention on.

With the cavaets:

1. If the training is available;
2. Whether someone is available to sign-off the quals;
3. If a CG related qual or PQS, that the local CG wants Auxie involvement and you (generic 'you') in particular;
4. You have the time for not only getting trained but also the time to meet any CG requested committment (if augmenting);
5. The books/manuals and other training material you need are either available in hard copy (preferred by membership) or in e-form as opposed to vaporware.

But this part of the conversation really belong in another active thread.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: FL51D7,

And bear in mind that all discussions of the Auxiliary's role based on the current AuxMan, does not account for the Auxiliary's recent move in the CG hierarchy from CG Ops to the merger with the CG Office of Boating Safety.

That is actually a return to the Auxiliary's old 'place' in the CG. The Auxiliary leadership (part of Incompetence) hasn't even begun to fathom what that change entails. Nor have most Auxies.

Nor has the Auxie leadership nor most Auxies fathomed what it means that the day-to-day head Coastie in charge of the Aux (the Real ChDirAux) is now a CDR and not a Captain. Like it or not the Auxiliary was transferred and then demoted in the CG hierarchy. And that will not portend well for the Aux in the future.

And the transfer to the CG Office of Boating Safety should send a absolutely clear message of what the Aux should be concentrating on. A message the incompetent Aux leadership has totally missed. Here is a clue - "Balanced" effort is out. When your boss,the Real Acting ChDirAux, reports to his boss, The Official ChDirAux and head of Boating Safety, he had better be singing his boss's tune.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: FL51D7,

quote:

Other laws bar the Aux from direct law enforcement and military missions.

I think it is policy not law.

--M

quote:

Nor has the Auxie leadership nor most Auxies fathomed what it means that the day-to-day head Coastie in charge of the Aux (the Real ChDirAux) is now a CDR and not a Captain. Like it or not the Auxiliary was transferred and then demoted in the CG hierarchy. And that will not portend well for the Aux in the future.

You may be onto something there... people should check their DIRAUX staff positions to see who is replacing their current staff as they rotate/retire out.

--M

Other laws bar the Aux from direct law enforcement and military missions.

I think it is policy not law.

The military prohibition is written into Title 14 Coast Guard.

14 USC 821

quote:

Administration of the Coast Guard Auxiliary

(a) The Coast Guard Auxiliary is a nonmilitary organization administered by the Commandant under the direction of the Secretary.

The law enforcement prohibition is also 'in there' but a bit more difficult to extract. First of all to have law enforcement authority the law must explicitly grant it to a person or position. No such law exists for the Aux.

You also need to understand that Coasties derive their law enforcement powers from the old Revenue Cutter Service and their position as customs officers. Auxies aren't customs officers.

So the miltiary prohibition is direct and the no law enforcement is indirect since no grant of authority exists for the Aux.

quote:

Purpose of the Coast Guard Auxiliary

The purpose of the Auxiliary is to assist the Coast Guard as authorized by the Commandant, in performing any Coast Guard function, power, duty, role, mission, or operation authorized by law.

I think that you could definetely use this statement to say that Auxies could be given law enforcement authority by the Commandant since the CG is authorized certain law enforcement powers and apparently there is nothing prohibiting those powers to be given to Auxies.

On a practical and policy level, that isn't the case as things stand now, but there does not appear to be anything in federal law from prohibiting Auxie involvement in law enforcement if the Commandant wanted us to.

I think that you could definetely use this statement to say that Auxies could be given law enforcement authority by the Commandant since the CG is authorized certain law enforcement powers and apparently there is nothing prohibiting those powers to be given to Auxies.

It might help your credibility if you did a little research before firing off your keyboard, especially after I posted that there was another section of the law that did not grant Auxies LE authority. Did you even try to research the issue? If you had you, you would have discovered that the section of the US Code isn't hard to find. It is also in Title 14 the Coast Guard title and clearly labeled Law Enforcement. Here it is:

14 USC 89. Law enforcement

quote:

(a) The Coast Guard may make inquiries, examinations, inspections, searches, seizures, and arrests upon the high seas and waters over which the United States has jurisdiction, for the prevention, detection, and suppression of violations of laws of the United States. For such purposes, commissioned, warrant, and petty officers may at any time go on board of any vessel subject to the jurisdiction, or to the operation of any law, of the United States, address inquiries to those on board, examine the ship's documents and papers, and examine, inspect, and search the vessel and use all necessary force to compel compliance. When from such inquiries, examination, inspection, or search it appears that a breach of the laws of the United States rendering a person liable to arrest is being, or has been committed, by any person, such person shall be arrested or, if escaping to shore, shall be immediately pursued and arrested on shore, or other lawful and appropriate action shall be taken; or, if it shall appear that a breach of the laws of the United States has been committed so as to render such vessel, or the merchandise, or any part thereof, on board of, or brought into the United States by, such vessel, liable to forfeiture, or so as to render such vessel liable to a fine or penalty and if necessary to secure such fine or penalty, such vessel or such merchandise, or both, shall be seized.

quote:

(b) The officers of the Coast Guard insofar as they are engaged, pursuant to the authority contained in this section, in enforcing any law of the United States shall:

(1) be deemed to be acting as agents of the particular executive department or independent establishment charged with the administration of the particular law; and 2) be subject to all the rules and regulations promulgated by such department or independent establishment with respect to the nforcement of that law.

Notice that Coastie non-rates do not have LE authority. That authority is restricted to "commissioned, warrant, and petty officers" of the Coast Guard. Since Auxies are even lower on the totem pole then non-rates, they cannot be given law enforcement authority. The law restricts who it may be given to and Auxies do not fit the criteria.

So the general permission of the purpose clause can be and is limited by other sections of Title 14 and the USC. There is no military mission nor is there a law enforcement mission nor can there be.

Law enforcement consists of more than boarding parties and slapping handcuffs on people. One might say (and I would) that quite a few of our programs fall within the realm of law enforcement. I'd say that assisting in boardings of container vessels and assisting in pollution investigations, for example, has crossed any "line" that existed and gets Auxies as involved in law enforcmenent as the average Coastie.

Law enforcement consists of more than boarding parties and slapping handcuffs on people.

Only for those that want to exaggerate the role of the Aux. See what is coming below, but if you cannot arrest people (the Aux cannot), if you cannot restrain them (the Aux cannot) and if cannot write citations (the Aux cannot) then you are not performing Direct Law Enforcement which is what the Aux is barred from.

One might say (and I would) that quite a few of our programs fall within the realm of law enforcement.

Some may have but those that the CG thought did are now off-limits to Auxies. Auxies can no longer do HarPats but are restricted to MOMS. Except for AuxAir, Auxies cannot participate in Operation Neptune Shield etc.

I'd say that assisting in boardings of container vessels and assisting in pollution investigations, for example, has crossed any "line" that existed

You might be correct but then again the CG pulled every single Aux PQS in the "M" program that involved that kind of involvement for 'revision' and those 'revisons' haven't been made and may never be made.

And BTW - if you are correct about Aux LE involvement, the Coasties are supposed to be warning the public that the Aux is only there as an assistant. The Coastie isn't supposed to leave any doubt in the public's mind about the lack of LE authority of the Auxie's present. If a boarding is done from an Auxie boat then the BTO is supposed to give the boarded party a card with that info on it.

quote:

You might be correct but then again the CG pulled every single Aux PQS in the "M" program that involved that kind of involvement for 'revision' and those 'revisons' haven't been made and may never be made.

Funny, if they were pulled, how are Auxies still putting hours in these programs and why are all the quals still on the books?

Regarding those MS programs, all that was said is that we won't be qualifying on the Active/Reserve PQS and that we'll be doing Aux-specific "Assistant" PQS.

Anyway,