Flotilla 5-4 Member Training
New and Future Shipmates,
I wanted to take a moment to welcome you as a new member, applicant, or prospective applicant. As the Flotilla Commander for 2023, I can assure you that Dan Kalina (Flotilla Vice Commander), Shari Forman (Human Resources & Member Training Officer) and I will be making your onboarding and professional development a priority this year. I wanted to give you a brief overview of the new member training pipeline so you will have an idea of what to expect over the next several months.
Those of you who are just beginning the process will be working closely with Shari to complete your application. For those of you who have already been accepted as members, your first goal as a new member will be to complete Auxiliary Core Training ("AUXCT"). This is the Auxiliary's "basic training" and consists almost entirely of online, self-study courses. These include: (1) Civil Rights Awareness; (2) Workforce Resilience; (3) Privacy Awareness; (4) Sexual Harassment Prevention; (5) Security; (6) Ethics; and (7) the Basic Qualification Course ("BQCII"). All of these can be accessed through the Auxiliary Online Classroom.
The BQCII course is the longest of these courses. It consists of seven modules: (1) History, Purpose and Administration; (2) Membership Requirements and Organizational Structure; (3) Member Training and Qualifications, Uniforms and Customs; (4) Personnel Management and Auxiliarist Recognition and Awards; (5) Auxiliary Regulation and Policy; (6) Support, Basic Materials and Reimbursement; (7) Courtesy and Protocols for Auxiliary Units and Auxiliarists. There is a quiz for each BQCII module, which can be accessed at the Auxiliary National Testing Center.
You will also be required to take two online courses from the Federal Emergency Agency ("FEMA") Incident Command System ("ICS"): ICS 100 and IS 700. These can be accessed at the FEMA National Emergency Management Institute. Please provide proof of completion of these courses to Shari so she can make sure they are input into the Auxiliary's system.
Finally, you will need to take an approved basic boating safety course. I strongly encourage you to complete this requirement by taking the Boat America course through our flotilla, particularly if you think you might be interested in becoming an instructor. We will be offering the class on January 28, 2023 and it will be free for all new members and applicants. Just give me a head's up that you plan to attend and we will reserve space. Alternatively, you can complete the Florida State Specific Boating Safety Course offered online through the BoatUS Foundation and provide proof of completion to Shari.
Once you have completed all of the training above, and you receive a favorable determination following the Personal Security Investigation ("PSI") (i.e., background check), your membership status will change to Basic Qualified ("BQ"). The Auxiliary prefers that new members achieve BQ status within the first six months of membership. That said, it does not take six months to complete the training described above. In theory, you could finish all of it over the course of a long weekend. I did all of mine during my lunch breaks over the course of a few weeks. You just have to buckle down and get it done!
Achieving BQ member status essentially means you are a full fledged auxiliarist, with the full range of participation opportunities open to you, so pick something that interests you and get involved! I strongly suggest that, whatever your area(s) of interest, you consider becoming certified as either a Vessel Examiner ("VE") or Program Visitor ("PV") first. Both of these certifications are relatively quick and easy to achieve, support the Auxiliary's core Recreational Boating Safety Outreach mission, and are the most flexible in terms of allowing you to set your own schedule of participation. If you choose not to maintain the certification thereafter, and move on to participating in some other area, that's perfectly fine.
Dan, Shari, and I are all here to answer your questions and support your membership journey and Shari will also be in touch to assign you an individual mentor who can serve as your primary resource during your first year of membership. Our goal is to help move you through the training pipeline to BQ status and get you actively involved in a substantive program area as quickly as possible. However, because so much of the training is self-directed, the faster you work through the training, the sooner you can start participating. Take the initiative!
Sincerely,
--
Christopher R. Fernandez | Flotilla Commander
Flotilla 5-4 (Delray-Boynton Beach)
I wanted to take a moment to welcome you as a new member, applicant, or prospective applicant. As the Flotilla Commander for 2023, I can assure you that Dan Kalina (Flotilla Vice Commander), Shari Forman (Human Resources & Member Training Officer) and I will be making your onboarding and professional development a priority this year. I wanted to give you a brief overview of the new member training pipeline so you will have an idea of what to expect over the next several months.
Those of you who are just beginning the process will be working closely with Shari to complete your application. For those of you who have already been accepted as members, your first goal as a new member will be to complete Auxiliary Core Training ("AUXCT"). This is the Auxiliary's "basic training" and consists almost entirely of online, self-study courses. These include: (1) Civil Rights Awareness; (2) Workforce Resilience; (3) Privacy Awareness; (4) Sexual Harassment Prevention; (5) Security; (6) Ethics; and (7) the Basic Qualification Course ("BQCII"). All of these can be accessed through the Auxiliary Online Classroom.
The BQCII course is the longest of these courses. It consists of seven modules: (1) History, Purpose and Administration; (2) Membership Requirements and Organizational Structure; (3) Member Training and Qualifications, Uniforms and Customs; (4) Personnel Management and Auxiliarist Recognition and Awards; (5) Auxiliary Regulation and Policy; (6) Support, Basic Materials and Reimbursement; (7) Courtesy and Protocols for Auxiliary Units and Auxiliarists. There is a quiz for each BQCII module, which can be accessed at the Auxiliary National Testing Center.
You will also be required to take two online courses from the Federal Emergency Agency ("FEMA") Incident Command System ("ICS"): ICS 100 and IS 700. These can be accessed at the FEMA National Emergency Management Institute. Please provide proof of completion of these courses to Shari so she can make sure they are input into the Auxiliary's system.
Finally, you will need to take an approved basic boating safety course. I strongly encourage you to complete this requirement by taking the Boat America course through our flotilla, particularly if you think you might be interested in becoming an instructor. We will be offering the class on January 28, 2023 and it will be free for all new members and applicants. Just give me a head's up that you plan to attend and we will reserve space. Alternatively, you can complete the Florida State Specific Boating Safety Course offered online through the BoatUS Foundation and provide proof of completion to Shari.
Once you have completed all of the training above, and you receive a favorable determination following the Personal Security Investigation ("PSI") (i.e., background check), your membership status will change to Basic Qualified ("BQ"). The Auxiliary prefers that new members achieve BQ status within the first six months of membership. That said, it does not take six months to complete the training described above. In theory, you could finish all of it over the course of a long weekend. I did all of mine during my lunch breaks over the course of a few weeks. You just have to buckle down and get it done!
Achieving BQ member status essentially means you are a full fledged auxiliarist, with the full range of participation opportunities open to you, so pick something that interests you and get involved! I strongly suggest that, whatever your area(s) of interest, you consider becoming certified as either a Vessel Examiner ("VE") or Program Visitor ("PV") first. Both of these certifications are relatively quick and easy to achieve, support the Auxiliary's core Recreational Boating Safety Outreach mission, and are the most flexible in terms of allowing you to set your own schedule of participation. If you choose not to maintain the certification thereafter, and move on to participating in some other area, that's perfectly fine.
Dan, Shari, and I are all here to answer your questions and support your membership journey and Shari will also be in touch to assign you an individual mentor who can serve as your primary resource during your first year of membership. Our goal is to help move you through the training pipeline to BQ status and get you actively involved in a substantive program area as quickly as possible. However, because so much of the training is self-directed, the faster you work through the training, the sooner you can start participating. Take the initiative!
Sincerely,
--
Christopher R. Fernandez | Flotilla Commander
Flotilla 5-4 (Delray-Boynton Beach)