Auxiliarist Training Opportunities

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The overarching mission of the U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary is to contribute to the safety and security of our citizens, ports, waterways and coastal regions.  We balance our missions of Recreational Boating Safety and Coast Guard Support with Maritime Homeland Security and other challenges that emerge as a result of our growing understanding of changes required in the post 9/11 era. That is the mission of the Auxiliary. To accomplish that mission to the fullest extent our members must be trained. The Coast Guard Auxiliary has an in-depth training program.

Training is available in many areas of Coast Guard Auxiliary Operations, including Surface operations, Air operations, Telecommunications, Aids to Navigation, Marine Safety, Public Affairs, and Incident Command. 

One area in which many of our members participate is that of the crewman.  The Auxiliary Boat Crew Training and Qualification Guide specifies the standards required to become certified as a Crewman on an operational Coast Guard Auxiliary facility (boat, or vessel). The next level up is the qualification as a coxswain, whose qualification standards are found in the Coxswain Qualification Guide.  Personal Watercraft Operator is another Operations area where training is available.  Trainees are assigned mentors to guide and train him or her through the training program, which consists of classroom and underway learning.  While training never truly ends, certification in these areas is obtained after a successful review with a Coast Guard Auxiliary Qualified Examiner (QE).

To be successful, boat crew training includes significant amounts of underway time in boat operations. Most of the training requirements in this program can be accomplished coincidental with multi-mission operations. When additional opportunities are required, our flotilla schedules training patrols in addition to classroom or on-the-dock training.

Crew members may take additional Auxiliary Operations courses, such as Seamanship, Patrols, Communications, Weather, Search & Rescue, Basic & Advanced Navigation, Aviation.  Training is also available for Vessel Exams, Aids to Navigation Verification, Public Education, Marine Safety and various leadership areas.  Training may be delivered online, with a mentor, or in a classroom.  Bi-yearly District training sessions are scheduled to provide training in these and other areas, and to meet other auxiliarists.  Please contact us for more information.