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U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary - Public Affairs - Training Program

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Welcome to The Training Division of the Public Affairs Directorate, we offer a myriad of training opportunities for members and officers of the United States Coast Guard Auxiliary.  In order to better enable them to perform their jobs, we provide online learning resources, helpful tools, classes either web based and in person, and guides in order to produce quality Public Affairs Specialists.

Our primary goal as members of the Training Division is to prepare members for interaction with the public while maintaining the highest integrity and standards of the United States Coast Guard and the United States Coast Guard Auxiliary.  By training in public affairs and publication topics, our members will be able to successfully and confidently learn how to interact with the public and various types of media.  

Christopher von Zwehl, Division Chief of Training (DVC-AT)

 

  • Core Training (AUXCT)
    Pursuant to provisions of 14 U.S. Code § 831 which deals with Coast Guard Auxiliarists’ assignment and performance of duties, the Coast Guard is required to ensure that its Auxiliarists are appropriately trained, tested, and found competent before they can be assigned to duty.

  • AUX-12 / C-School
    Introduction to the concepts, policy and principles of unit The Public Affairs Programs. Basic training in how to tell the Coast Guard and Auxiliary story. Students learn news writing, editing, marketing, branding and digital photography, along with how to handle media interviews as part of a Joint Information Center. 

  • IS-29 Public Information Officer Awareness
    This course covers basic information about the role of a State or local Public Information Officer. The goal of this awareness course is to provide an orientation to the public information function and the role of the Public Information Officer (PIO) in the public safety/emergency management environment.

  • e-Learning - Public Affairs Online Courses 
    The following courses may be accessed through the Moodle site - Public Affairs Training section. In order to access Moodle, you will need to log in through the Moodle portal. If you do not already have a Moodle password, you will need to set up an account before you may begin your training. The instructions to set up an account are located at the top of the Moodle training page.

  • PA Specialist Training
    The PA Specialist Program offers a pathway to skills development by blending formal and on-the-job training. Candidates are certified through AUXPA3 [Entry Level], AUXPA2 [Intermediate Level] and AUXPA1 [Senior Level] levels using the Performance Qualification System (PQS). Each candidate completes a series of tasks for print and broadcast media, photography, public appearances, video, static displays, and exhibits.

  • The Photography School
    The PA Photography Class is a 32 week online course, see photo class schedule, presented in 4 classes consisting of 4 sessions. Each of the classes is open to any member of Team Coast Guard regardless of photography skill level. Successful completion of each class will lead to the US Coast Guard Auxiliary Public Affairs Photography Graduate Certificate for that class. Whether you're interested in basic photography of your family gatherings, reporting the news, or creating a public
    affairs campaign, our photography classes are designed to expand your grasp of skills to create an artistic body of work.

  • Photography Class Schedule
    Each week will have a photography exercise. This will not require uniforms, operational assets, travel or other auxiliarists. Tasks will focus on local items in any neighborhood. Attendees will have a week to complete each assignment.
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