Getting Started with Training

Now that you've become a member of the Auxiliary you need to start your training activities.  Training is one of the great opportunities provided to Auxiliarists.  Not only do you learn new skills and progress towards earning Auxiliary qualifications, you also get to meet your new shipmates and start building the friendships and working relationships that will stay with you going forward.

New Auxiliarists should all focus on becoming Basically Qualified (BQ).  This is accomplished by completing an About Boating Safely course taught by the Auxiliary.  This course is offered several times a year and is free for Auxiliarists to attend.  Watch announcements from the flotilla for an opportunity to take the course.

One thing you can do immediately is to start completing your Incident Command System (ICS) courses online through the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).  ICS 100, 700, 200, and 800 are required to be part of several Auxiliary specialties.  These courses are available online for free and when you successfully complete them print out your certificate and turn it in to the flotilla commander to have the competency entered into your record.