USCGAUX - Surface Operations

USCGAux Surface Operations Program logo US & Auxiliary Flag

Policies, Procedures Manuals & Qualification Guides

Surface Ops Topics

Training Materials

Forms

Member Activity Log (aka 99 form) - ANSC 7029

Mission Activity Report - ANSC 7030

Facility Inspection and Offer of use - ANSC 7003

Float Plan and instructions

PWC Inspection and Offer of use - ANSC 7008

From the Bridge

Mission Statement

Job Descriptions for Operations Department.

Operations Dept Organizational Chart.

Frequently Asked Questions for:

Welcome to Surface Operations
Division Chief - Gary A. Taylor, DVC-OS

Surface Operations and the Boat Crew Training Program are at the heart of most flotilla activities. Boat Crew members and Coxswains are qualified in accordance with the current Auxiliary Boat Crew Training Manual, COMDTINST M16794.51a (as revised effective January 1, 2007). The Coxswain requests and receives orders for a patrol that is multi-mission in nature. Patrols are carried out in accordance with the Auxiliary Operations Policy Manual.

Links to Auxiliary Knowledge Base for Surface Operations Questions

SAMA (Standard Auxiliary Maintenance Allowance)

If you have questions about SAMA (the program intended to reduce the maintenance costs incurred by Auxiliarists), check out the following web site: http://cgauxsurfaceops.us/sama.htm [Source Gary A. Taylor, DVC-OS]

Surface Operations News

April 2008 - PWC Carriage Requirements Changes

After careful consideration by the Surface Stan Team, the following PWC OPFAC carriage requirements are changed effective immediately:

Throwable PFD is no longer required.

Spare spark plugs are only required for 2 stroke engines. They are no longer required for 4 stroke engines.

These items are in Appendix C (Required Facility Equipment) and again in task PWC-03-05-AUX (4.g and 4.r) of the PWC Operator Qualification Guide, COMDTINST 19794.54 (series). They are also found on the PWC Facility Inspection and Offer for Use form, ANSC 7008 in Section VII, items 12 and 20.

These changes will be reflected in the next editions/revisions of these documents.

[Posted 14 April 2008 by DVC-OE, Source DVC-OS Gary Taylor]

March 2008 - Important information about PFD and Hypothermia devices. Please review ALAUX OPM/CVhange 030/07 from 5 November 2007 and an Items of Interest notice on PFD changes effective for all Auxiliary PFDs effective June 1 2009. [Posted 28 March 2008 by DVC-OE, Source DVC-OS]

March 2008 - Links to Auxiliary Knowledge Base for Surface Operations Questions [Posted: March 24, 2008, by DVD-OE, Source DVC-OS]

December 2007 - 2008 OPERATIONS WORKSHOP (Optional) has been released. This is a voluntary workshop that has been produced at the request of the National Board. It is intended to provide guidance for Districts, Divisions, and Flotillas to update their members on Operations programs for 2008. This workshop is presented in two parts, "2008 Operations Workshop Facilitator Guide, and the "2008 Operations Workshop Power Point Slides".

November 2007 - Updated regulations regarding Navigation Rules Examination currency requirements. See NotesUpdates page for Navigation Rules Requirement -031/07

November 2007 - Updated regulations on hypothermia protection from CHDIRAUX, effective immediately. See NotesUpdates page for Hypothermia Devices - OPM Change -030/07.

November 2007 - Inflatable PFD Mysteries Exposed. Stu Soffers, N-MS, has written a very informative tutorial on inflatable PFDs. This vital document is posted on the Boating Department website. http://auxbdept.org/pdf/InflatablePFDs.pdf

October 2007 - Notice: In all three Boat Crew Program Qualification Guides, a reference to a Study Guide was inadvertently left in. There are no study guides in any qualification guide. They were removed with the last revision and replaced with reading assignments for each section. We will remove the reference in the next edition.

Revised Qualification Guides Released

January 2007 - After almost 2 years of work, the Surface Ops Standardization Team (Stan Team) has completed the revisions to the Auxiliary Boat Crew Qualifications Guides to align them with the revisions to the Auxiliary Boar Crew Training Manual. The links below and to the left will take you to the latest version of these guides, or go to the Surface Operations manuals page on the Chief Directors site.

Revised Auxiliary Boat Crew Training Manual Released

December 2006 - After almost 2 years of work, the Surface Ops Standardization Team (Stan Team) has completed the revisions to the Auxiliary Boat Crew Training Manual.

The revised Auxiliary Boat Crew Training Manual, COMDTINST M16794.51A has been signed and will become effective as of 01 January 2007.

The manual is being released now to give members as much time as possible to become familiar with the changes made to the Boat Crew
Training Program.

Here is the link to the surface operations site: http://cgauxsurfaceops.us/ABCTM.htm

The three Boat Crew Qualification Guides (Crew member, Coxswain, and PWC Operator) are also being revised and expected to be signed later this month (December 2006).

January 2007 - DSO-OP will receive training on the revised manual and new qualification guides at N-Train 2007 in St Louis the last weekend of January 2007.

Crew Qualification

After completion of training (Auxiliary Boat Crew Qualification Guide, Volume I: Crew Member, COMDTINST M16794.52A) and having knowledge and skills approved by a Qualifications Examiner, a member may be certified by the District Director of Auxiliary (DIRAUX) as Crew in the Boat Crew Program. Boat Crew members perform their duties under supervision of a Coxswain. They stand helm, lookout, towing watches and anchor watch as well as other tasks that may be directed by the Coxswain.

Coxswain Qualification

A Coxswain will have been trained as a Boat Crew member and, beyond that, will have mastered additional knowledge and a number of other skills (Auxiliary Boat Crew Qualification Guide, Volume II: Coxswain, COMDTINST M16794.53A). After approval of knowledge and skills by a Qualifications Examiner, a particular Coxswain may be certified by the DIRAUX to receive orders for an operational facility (OPFAC). The operational facility used for a patrol must have been inspected and "offered for use" by completion of the appropriate form. That offer must have been "accepted" by the DIRAUX. Often, but not always, the vessel offered for use belongs to the Coxswain who receives the patrol "orders."

The Coxswain is responsible and in charge of the boat and crew during the patrol for which Coast Guard orders have been issued. The Coast Guard places great trust in the Coxswain's ability to provide leadership, coordination and risk management skills in the execution of an ordered mission.

Personal Watercraft Operator (PWC) Qualification

An Auxiliarist who meets knowledge and skills performance standards as approved by a PWC Qualifications Examiner may be certified as an Auxiliary Personal Watercraft (PWC) Operator. These standards are set forth in the (Auxiliary Boat Crew Qualification Guide, Volume III: PWC Operator, COMDTINST M16794.54A). A PWC Operator is eligible to receive orders for patrols using a PWC that has been offered for use and accepted as a PWC facility.

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Team Coordination Training

To enhance and maintain skills inherent to the teamwork needed for safe and well-executed patrols, Crew members and Coxswains are required to attend training seminars called "Team Coordination Training." Updates are required every five years. Team Coordination Training stresses seven personal skills: adaptability/flexibility assertiveness, communication, decision-making, leadership, and situational awareness in order minimize risk during the execution of tasks during a patrol.

Currency Maintenance

Currency maintenance insures that members maintain their proficiency and ability to safely perform their duties. Coxswains and Crew are required to annually perform a set of tasks (observed by a Qualifications Examiner each fifth year). Currency maintenance tasks must be performed while under orders.

Additionally the Operations Department has released the documents and presentation for Team Coordination refresher training for 2008. This TCT Refresher Training session is MANDATORY for all Crew, Coxswains, & PWC Operators in 2008. The Refresher Training session is approximately 1 hour in length. Flotillas and Divisions should plan to present this program. Note - This session is designed to be given at the local level and a 'qualified' TCT Facilitator is NOT required. See the TCT Facilitator Guide and the optional TCT Participant Reference guide for more details. This year there is also a Slide presentation to assist the facilitator in running the session. This session must be completed prior to December 31, 2008. *** Note: If an Auxiliarist has taken or will be taking the full 8 hour TCT course they are not required to also take this refresher session in the same year as the full 8 hour course.

Orders - Authorization for Patrols

Orders for facility movement, whether for vessel or aircraft movement, or radio facility activation and/or movement is one of two general kinds of orders that may be issued to Auxiliarists. Such orders are considered "assignment to duty." These orders may be either written or verbal, and may be reimbursable or non-reimbursable. Auxiliarists may not use any facility or special purpose facility for any Coast Guard or Coast Guard Axuiliary purpose or mission unless appropriate patrol orders have been issued and the facility has been properly offered and accepted for use. The Patrol Order Management System (POMS) is the mandatory method of issuing patrol orders to operational facilities. This system is an online web-based tool. An OIA must issue or authorize orders before an Auxiliarist conducts any patrol activity.