Return to Flotilla 8-2's Home Page.
03 JUN 2022
FM: CHDIRAUX
TO: ALAUX
ALAUX 017/22
Subj: SOLICITATION FOR AUXILIARY SUPPORT OF SOUTHWEST BORDER OPERATIONS
- The U.S. Coast Guard has received a Request For Assistance (RFA) from the U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) agency. The request seeks personnel to perform logistical and administrative support services as part of CBP’s operations along the U.S. Southwest Border (SWB). Coast Guard Auxiliarists are eligible and invited to help the Coast Guard fulfill this request. An initial deployment of nine Auxiliarists has been in place since May 27 and arrangements for follow-on deployments are underway.
- The current RFA seeks approximately 145 personnel to provide these support services in several locations along SWB areas of operations including California, Arizona, and Texas. The projected duration of this support extends through September 2022. The following table summarizes relevant deployment topics, considerations, requirements, expectations, and the method by which Auxiliarists can volunteer to participate in this effort.
| Deployment Topic | Deployment Question / Consideration | Deployment Requirement / Expectation |
|---|---|---|
| Orders / Travel / Duration | ||
| Projected Duration of Overall Support Operations? | June through September 2022. | |
| Minimum On-site Deployment Duration? | Auxiliarists are expected to be at a deployment site at least seven (7) full and consecutive days (travel days to-and-from the deployment site are not included). Availability for longer on-site durations as well as multiple deployment availabilities is welcomed. | |
| Auxiliary Coordinating Entity and Point-of-Contact For Auxiliarists? | 1 - The Incident Management Auxiliary Coordination Cell (IMACC) coordinates the vetting, management, and processing of Auxiliarists for this effort. It is operating virtually. 2 – Auxiliarists can apply for deployment and seek information through the IMACC by sending an email to the following address, [email protected]. 3 – Those who respond will be sent further information about the missions as well as links to a site where they can provide information that will enable their vetting prior to deployment. |
|
| Order Issuing Authority (OIA)? | An Auxiliarist’s District Director of Auxiliary (DIRAUX) currently serves as the OIA by: 1 - Facilitating creation of an Auxiliarist’s requisite E2 travel account for travel claim processing. 2 – Providing written travel orders using travel authorization information and accounting data (aka, POET line) issued by the Coast Guard Directorate of Operational Logistics (DOL). 3 – Facilitating the processing of an Auxiliarist’s travel claim upon completion of their deployment. |
|
| Travel Arrangement Expectations? | Travel arrangements needed to get to and from the deployment site are to be made by the deploying Auxiliarist through the Coast Guard’s contracted travel agency (CWT SATO. | |
| Travel Expense Expectations? | 1 - Travel expenses will be reimbursed via travel claim settlement upon completion of the deployment. 2 - Travel advances will not be provided. 3 - The possibility for interim travel claim submissions for lengthy deployments is unknown at this time. 4 - Air and rail transportation arrangements to-and-from a deployment site will be paid for through a Central Billing Account when a deploying Auxiliarist makes their air/rail travel arrangements with the Coast Guard’s contracted travel agency (CWT SATO). 5 - On-site lodging, transportation, and per diem food expenses will be reimbursed. 6 – Auxiliarists considering whether or not to volunteer for this mission must be prepared to pay up-front expenses for meals and lodging (currently about $150 per day), and potentially additional expenses for a rental car. |
|
| What If I Am Already Providing Recurring Support to a Coast Guard Unit? | Auxiliarists who provide recurring support to a Coast Guard unit (e.g., an Auxiliary Culinary Assistant (AUXCA-1) who provides daily/weekly/monthly support to a CG galley/dining facility) must check first with that Coast Guard unit to ensure awareness and confirm their availability to support this operation. | |
| Personal Financial Readiness Expectations? | Since associated deployment expenses are largely handled on a reimbursable basis, there is strong potential for Auxiliarists to compile significant bills. Interested Auxiliarists must therefore ensure they have a strong personal financial basis upon which to participate in this effort. As part of the deployment vetting process, Auxiliarists who indicate they need to borrow any funds in order to participate will be denied this assignment to duty. | |
| On-site Work Expectations | ||
| Types of Support That Are Needed? | Three general types of support needed: 1 – General administrative support (e.g. recordkeeping). 2 – Warehouse logistical support (e.g., stowing, monitoring, and recovering packages). 3 - Culinary assistance support as may become available (i.e., there is no current need but that may change). |
|
| Work Environment Expectations? | 1 – General administrative support expected to be performed indoors. 2 – Warehouse logistical support expected to be performed indoors (anticipate needing physical ability to move boxes, materials, and supplies as well as performing shipping/receiving, inventorying, cataloging functions; ability to lift any weight is acceptable. 3 - Culinary assistance support expected to performed indoors (e.g., warming up and distributing meals). |
|
| Workday Expectations? | 1 - Expect most support services to be performed in 8-to-12-hour shifts on a 24x7 basis every day. 2 – Auxiliarists deploying for 7 days will likely not have a day off during the deployment. Those deploying more than 7 days can expect a day off after 7 days and every 7 days thereafter. 3 - Minimum 8-12 hours/day. 4 - Nighttime hours should be expected. |
|
| Lodging Expectations? | Local hotel/motel lodging arrangements as they are identified. | |
| Meal Expectations? | There are no meal facilities provided for deployed personnel. Meals must be procured/arranged on an individual basis in and around local communities. | |
| Personal Protective Equipment Expectations? | Masks and gloves are provided. | |
| Chain of Leadership Reporting Expectations? | Deployed Auxiliarists should expect to have an in-brief from fellow Auxiliarists who have been on-site and the CBP on-site leader. An Auxiliary on-site team leader will be designated to serve as the primary point-of-contact with their CBP counterpart. The CBP on-site leader will provide day-to-day tactical tasking for Auxiliarists. | |
| Other Deployment Concerns? | The Auxiliary Deployment Guide contains useful information for deployment preparations. It can be downloaded from the Auxiliary web site: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1tN7_VZ3oRf0NJBZ5Q5YfweUGHhgKQ82k/view. | |
| Medical / Health | ||
| Full COVID-19 Vaccination Required? | 1 - Yes. 2 - Auxiliarists are considered fully vaccinated two (2) weeks after completing the second dose of a two-dose COVID-19 vaccine or two (2) weeks after receiving a single dose of a one-dose COVID-19 vaccine. Auxiliarists must be vaccinated with vaccines that are either fully licensed or authorized for emergency use by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) (e.g., PfizerBioNTech/COMIRNATY, Moderna, Johnson & Johnson/Janssen vaccines); listed for emergency use on the World Health Organization Emergency Use Listing (e.g., AstraZeneca/Oxford). 3 – Until otherwise directed, Auxiliarists must attest to their full COVID-19 vaccination directly to the IMACC as part of their vetting process. |
|
| Other Vaccinations Per Auxiliary Deployment Guidance Required? | Yes. The Auxiliary Deployment Guide contains useful information for deployment preparations. It can be downloaded from the Auxiliary web site: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1tN7_VZ3oRf0NJBZ5Q5YfweUGHhgKQ82k/view. | |
| Other Medical Concerns? | The heat that typifies natural outdoor environmental conditions along the SWB at this time of year warrant consideration. | |
| Training / Security | ||
| Auxiliary Core Training (AUXCT) Currency Required? | Yes. | |
| Auxiliary ID Card Required? | Yes. An Auxiliarist with an ID card that is expired less than one year remains eligible for deployment. | |
| Auxiliary Logical Access Card (ALAC) Required? | No. | |
| Auxiliary Culinary Assistance (AUXCA-1) Currency Required? | Yes. If culinary assistance is requested, then an AUXCA-1 must be fully current in the AUXCA-1 competency to provide those services. | |
| Background Check Expectations? | 1 - Must have at least a current annual Operational Support (OS) background check (i.e., favorably completed within the past year). 2 – The CBP Office of Professional Responsibility will review these background checks and also perform its own background check prior to an Auxiliarist’s travel to the deployment site. |
|
| Other Vetting Expectations? | 1 - The IMACC performs the majority of checks on Auxiliarists to ensure they are ready and appropriately eligible for deployment. 2 – The Auxiliary national culinary assistance program manager also assists with checks to ensure any AUXCA-1 is ready for deployment. 3 – The IMACC also collaborates with Auxiliarists’ District Commodores (DCO) and Directors of Auxiliary (DIRAUX) to confirm their suitability for deployment. |
- Internet release is authorized.
***For many reasons including the value of keeping communication lines clear and open as well as facilitating access to training and educational tools, all Auxiliarists are urged to have their own email address and to keep it updated in AUXDATA.***
*All ALAUX's are posted on the Chief Director of Auxiliary web site located at: CHDIRAUX ALAUX
If you have a question regarding this ALAUX, please seek resolution within your Chain of Leadership and Management (COLM) including up to your servicing District Director of Auxiliary (DIRAUX). If your question still cannot be resolved after that, then please email [email protected].