Marine Safety PQS
The Coast Guard Auxiliary Marine qualifications are designed to facilitate and encourage Auxiliary support for Coast Guard Sectors in the legacy Marine Safety and Environmental Protection Programs. They are developed in conjunction with Coast Guard Headquarters program managers and TRACEN Yorktown. The Auxiliary qualifications mirror those of the Active Duty – minus any law enforcement or military activities.
Marine Safety qualifications are open to Auxiliarists are based on the needs of the individual Sector. If a Sector has no need of Auxiliary support in a particular program area, it is not available to Auxiliarists in that area. Check with your Auxiliary Marine Safety staff chain to determine the PQSs available in your area.The below list of PQSs are the only PQSs currently available to Auxiliarists. No other qualifications are authorized (see ALCOAST 505/08 and ALCOAST 45/10).
The following two (2) PQSs have the Letter of Designation is issued by the District DIRAUX.
Auxiliary Administrative and Management Specialist- Study Guide for AUX MSAM PQS
- At one time there was an on-line test for a portion of the MSAM PQS. A certificate was issued for test completion, signed by CAPT Bary Smith, CHDIRAUX. This certificate is NOT a Letter of Designation and does not indicate qualification. The PQS booklet must be completed and a Letter of Designation issued.
- Prior to 28 Jan 2010 Letters of Designation for this qualification were issued by the Department Chief, or Deputy Department Chief, for the Marine Safety (M) Department. The Department Chiefs/Deputy Department Chiefs are: Helumt Hertle, John Cooper, David Hand, Greg Kester, Denise Castrogiovanni, Kevin Cady. Letters of Designation issued by anyone other than those listed are invalid.
The Letters of Designation for the following PQSs are issued by the Captain of the Port (COTP)
- Auxiliary Assistant Barge Inspector
- Auxiliary Assistant Container Inspector
- Auxiliary Assistant Contingency Planner
- Auxiliary Assistant Facility Inspector
- Auxiliary Assistant Federal On Scene Coordinator Representative
- Auxiliary Assistant Foreign Freight Vessel Examiner
- Auxiliary Assistant Foreign Passenger Vessel Examiner
- Auxiliary Assistant Hull Inspector
- Auxiliary Assistant K-Boat Inspector
- Auxiliary Assistant License and Document Examiner
- Auxiliary Assistant License and Document Evaluator
- Auxiliary Assistant Life Raft Inspector
- Auxiliary Assistant Machinery Inspector
- Auxiliary Assistant Machinery Inspector – Steam
- Auxiliary Assistant Marine Casualty Investigator
- Auxiliary Assistant Maritime Enforcement Investigator
- Auxiliary Assistant Pollution Responder
- Auxiliary Assistant Port State Control Examiner
(formerly Auxiliary Port State Control Boarding Team Assistant) - Auxiliary Port State Control Dispatcher
- Auxiliary Assistant Suspension and Revocation Investigator
- Auxiliary Assistant T-Boat Inspector
- Auxiliary Uninspected Passenger Vessel Examiner
- Auxiliary Uninspected Tow Vessel Examiner
- Auxiliary Assistant Waterways Management Representative
- Commercial Fishing Vessel Examiner (active duty qualification)
The following PQSs are discontinued but may be counted toward ribbon or device if earned prior to listed date:
| PQS | Replaced by | Effective Date | LOD must be issued by |
Marine Environmental Education Specialist | Prevention Outreach Specialist | 28 Jan 2010 | 28 April 2010 |
| AUX Asst Pollution Investigator | AUX Asst Pollution Responder | 18 Nov 2011 | 18 Jan 2012 |
| AUX Asst Harbor Safety Observer | NONE | 28 Jan 2010 | 28 April 2010 |
| AUX Marine Safety Watchstander | NONE | 28 Jan 2010 | 28 April 2010 |
| AUX Asst Contingency Preparedness Specialist | AUX Asst Contingency Planner | 28 Jan 2010 | 28 April 2010 |
| Port State Control Boarding Team Assistant | AUX Asst Port State Control Examiner | 28 Jan 2010 | 28 April 2010 |
| AUX Asst Federal On-Scene Coordinator Representative | AUX Asst Pollution Response Specialist | 28 Jan 2010 | 28 April 2010 |
Active duty marine safety qualifications (other than the Commercial Fishing Vessel Examiner listed above) are not authorized to be earned by Auxiliarists after Oct 2008. (See ALCOAST 505/08) If earned prior to Oct 2008 they may be counted toward the Marine Safety (Trident) device. To be counted they must be qualifications accepted toward the active duty Marine Safety Professional device.