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Boat Crew Curriculum
Posted by: Robert Kothe
Order, curriculum, and Lessons of Division 22 Boat Crew Program
As outlined in our manual there are just around 485 individual signoffs to be completed to be fully certified in boat crew. This sounds like a big number and make no mistake, it is. That is why time management and a constant commitment to moving forward is necessary to complete the program.
On the aggressive side, my wife and I started our training around Mid-May with one other candidate in our class and both got fully certified around August after training and testing. An average week for us was something like this… “Read all of First aid at home and we will test you next week”.
I do not recommend a pace this aggressive unless you have the time, ability and a mentor and some Coxswains willing to play along. Most importantly, my wife and I grew up boating all of our lives and have always owned and operated boats. Walking on gunwales, throwing lines, anchoring and docking was already second nature for both of us.
The other candidate that started with us did not finish when life got in the way.
Jumping
around the books:
If we were to follow the manuals in order it would look something like this:
Section A. Crew Efficiency Factors and Team Coordination
Section B. First Aid and Survival
Section C. Marlinespike Seamanship and Boat Nomenclature
Section D. Boat Handling
Section E. Communications
Section F. Navigation
Section G. Mission Oriented Operations
Section H. Auxiliary Specific Tasks
Training Plan - In-port Tasks
Training Plan - Underway Tasks
Modules as you progress through the seasons
Since New York has four distinct seasons including bitter winters, it is important to make best use of our time. ‘
With or without Facilities (Boats)
in Boat Crew we call our boats Facilities. Certain required tasks are possible to do in the winter without Facilities (boats} while other tasks require multiple operational Facilities (boats) such as towing. To progress throughout the year in a logical manner as to reserve the nice boating weather for boat related activities, it is best to get the activities out of the way that are indoors and strictly academic.
Although the Coast Guard Auxiliary signoff books show the curriculum is a completely different order (illustrated above) to successfully complete the season we need to jump around the training manual.
To labor that point, when I am writing this, tomorrow is New Years Eve and is just before a change of leadership from the old Commanders and Officers to the newly elected and appointed Officers and Commanders. Practically nothing is going on related to boat crew except planning such as improving this website and getting feedback from other officers.
To make the program work well, in a few months Mentors, Instructors, Certified crew members and Coxswains will all mobilize to help current trainees who are in the process and future trainees who have not started yet.
The way we will teach the Boat Crew program looks more like this:
| Section | Notes / Description | New Order | Task Type | Old Order |
| Study and Read on Your Own | ||||
| BCM-01-04-AUX | Complete ICS 100 and 700 | Pre | Land Task | Pre |
| BCM-01-01-AUX | Crew fatigue standards | A | Land Task | 1 |
| BCM-01-02-AUX | Motion Sickness | A | Land Task | 1 |
| BCM-02-03-AUX | Crew First-Aid Responsibility | A | Land Task | 1 |
| BCM-02-15-AUX | Sun and Heat Related Factors | A | Land Task | 1 |
| BCM-02-16-AUX | State the Symptoms of Shock | A | Land Task | 1 |
| BCM-02-17-AUX | State the Symptoms of Anaphylactic Shock (Allergic Reaction) | A | Land Task | 1 |
| BCM-02-18-AUX | State the Signs for Burns | A | Land Task | 1 |
| Navigation - Class and Videos | ||||
| BCM-06-01-AUX | Identify the Symbols, Abbreviations and Basic Parts of a Nautical Chart | B | Land Task | 6 |
| BCM-06-04-AUX | Plot a Position Using Latitude and Longitude | B | Land Task | 6 |
| BCM-06-05-AUX | Plot a Magnetic Course on a Nautical Chart | B | Land Task | 6 |
| BCM-06-06-AUX | Measure Distance on a Nautical Chart | B | Land Task | 6 |
| BCM-06-07-AUX | Compute Time, Speed, and Distance | B | Land Task | 6 |
| Class Demo indoors or Videos | ||||
| BCM-03-06-AUX | Identify the Different Parts of a Line and the Hitches Used in Line Handling | C | Land Task | 3 |
| BCM-03-07-AUX | Tie Various Knots, Hitches, and Bends | C | Land Task | 3 |
| BCM-03-08-AUX | Secure Lines to Cleats, Bitts, and Posts | C | Land Task | 3 |
| BCM-04-06-AUX | Identify Common Sound Signals Used by Ships and Boats | C | Land Task | 4 |
| BCM-04-07-AUX | Identify Maritime Distress Signals | C | Land Task | 4 |
On land not underway | ||||
Boat or handheld VHF Radio | ||||
| BCM-05-01-AUX | Operate a VHF-FM Radiotelephone | D | Land Task | 5 |
| BCM-05-02-AUX | Use the VHF-FM Radiotelephone to Give a Operations and Position Report | D | Land Task | 5 |
| BCM-05-03-AUX | State General Communications Policy and Doctrine | D | Land Task | 5 |
On land not underway | ||||
| BCM-03-03-AUX | Boat Construction | E | Land Task | 3 |
| BCM-03-04-AUX | Watertight Integrity | E | Land Task | 3 |
| BCM-03-05-AUX | Stability | E | Land Task | 3 |
| BCM-03-09-AUX | State the Types of Breaking Seas, Characteristics, and Causes | E | Land Task | 3 |
| BCM-04-05-AUX | Identify the Common Navigation Lights Displayed by Ships and Boats | E | Land Task | 4 |
| BCM-07-09-AUX | Identify the Different Classes of Fires; State the Fuel and Primary Extinguishing Agents Associated with Each | F | Land Task | 11 |
| BCM-07-11-AUX | Operate a CO2 Fire Extinguisher (Simulate), (If equipped) | F | Land Task | 11 |
| BCM-07-12-AUX | Operate a Dry Chemical Fire Extinguisher (Simulate), (If equipped) | F | Land Task | 11 |
| Outdoors Warmer weather | ||||
| BCM-02-07-AUX | Identify Boat Crew Survival Equipment | G | Land Task | 2 |
| BCM-02-08-AUX | Use the Emergency Signaling Mirror | G | Land Task | 2 |
| BCM-02-09-AUX | Describe the Use of Hand-Held Distress Flares | G | Land Task | 2 |
| BCM-02-10-AUX | Describe the Use of Aerial Flares | G | Land Task | 2 |
| BCM-02-11-AUX | Operate the Personal Marker Light (PML) or Strobe Light | G | Land Task | 2 |
| BCM-02-12-AUX | Operate the Personal Locator Beacon | G | Land Task | 2 |
| BCM-02-13-AUX | State Survival Procedures in Event the Boat Capsizes or Swamps | G | Land Task | 2 |
| Whenever Available: | ||||
| BCM-01-03-AUX | Risk Management / TCT | WA | Land Task | WA |
| BCM-02-01-AUX | Personal Physical Requirements and Policy | WA | Land Task | 1 |
| Need Swimming Pool | ||||
| BCM-02-14-AUX | Perform Water Survival Exercise - Need Pool | G | Need Pool | 1 |
| BCM-02-02-AUX | Personal Physical Fitness and Vision | G | Need Pool | 1 |
| BCM-02-04-AUX | Don the Type III PFD | G | Need Pool | 1 |
| BCM-02-05-AUX | Don Anti-Exposure Coveralls (as applicable) | G | Need Pool | 2 |
| BCM-02-06-AUX | Don the Boat Crew Dry Suit (as applicable) | G | Need Pool | 2 |
| On Facility at the Dock is OK | ||||
| BCM-03-01-AUX | State Common Boat Nomenclature and Terminology | H | Boat Task | 3 |
| BCM-03-02-AUX | Locate and Identify the Purpose of the Equipment Aboard the Boat; Perform Pre-Underway Testing; Conduct Pre-Underway Briefings | H | Boat Task | 3 |
| BCM-07-10-AUX | Locate and Identify the Firefighting Equipment Carried Onboard the Boat (as applicable) | H | Boat Task | 11 |
| BCM-04-01-AUX | Rig Fenders to Side of the Boat | H | Boat Task | 4 |
| BCM-06-03-AUX | Identify Local Landmarks on a Nautical Chart | H | Boat Task | 7 |
| Electronics | ||||
| BCM-06-08-AUX | Determine the Depth of Water Using a Fathometer/Depth Sounder | I | Boat Task | 8 |
| BCM-06-09-AUX | Operate RADAR (If equipped) | I | Boat Task | 8 |
| BCM-06-10-AUX | Report Range and Bearing of Charted RADAR Objects (If equipped) | I | Boat Task | 8 |
| BCM-06-11-AUX | Use RADAR to Determine if Risk of Collision Exists (If equipped) | I | Boat Task | 8 |
| BCM-06-12-AUX | Obtain a Fix Using GPS/DGPS | I | Boat Task | 8 |
| BCM-06-13-AUX | Operate Electronic Charting System (If equipped) | I | Boat Task | 8 |
| BCM-07-13-AUX | Locate and Operate the Boat’s Bilge Pump | I | Boat Task | 12 |
| Underway | ||||
| BCM-04-02-AUX | Make Fast a Boat to a Pier (Bow On Mooring, No Current/Wind) | J | Boat Task | 4 |
| BCM-04-03-AUX | Assist in Anchoring the Boat | J | Boat Task | 4 |
| BCM-04-04-AUX | Assist in Weighing the Boat’s Anchor | J | Boat Task | 4 |
| BCM-04-09-AUX | Act as a Helmsman and Steer a Compass Course | J | Boat Task | 4 |
| BCM-04-10-AUX | Get the Boat Away from a Pier/Dock and Secure the Deck | J | Boat Task | 4 |
| BCM-04-11-AUX | Prepare for, Moor and Secure the Boat to a Pier/Dock | J | Boat Task | 4 |
| BCM-04-12-AUX | Boat Handling | J | Boat Task | 4 |
| BCM-06-02-AUX | Identify Common Aids to Navigation Used for Inland and Coastal Piloting | J | Boat Task | 7 |
| BCM-07-02-AUX | Participate in a Man Overboard Evolution as a Recovery/Pickup Person | J | Boat Task | 9 |
| BCM-07-01-AUX | Participate in a Man Overboard Evolution as a Pointer | J | oat Task | 9 |
| Needs 2 Boats underway | ||||
| BCM-07-03-AUX | Stand a Tow Watch | K | Boat Task | 10 |
| BCM-07-04-AUX | Execute an Alongside Tow and Moor a Towed Vessel | K | Boat Task | 10 |
| BCM-07-05-AUX | Bend a Heaving Line to a Bridle and Pass the Heaving Line to Another Boat | K | Boat Task | 10 |
| BCM-07-06-AUX | Pass a Towline to Another Boat | K | Boat Task | 10 |
| BCM-07-07-AUX | Connect a Towline to a Trailer Eyebolt Using a Skiff Hook | K | Boat Task | 10 |
| BCM-07-08-AUX | Secure an Alongside Tow | K | Boat Task | 10 |
There is another reason I am using a Ferris wheel as part of the timing analogy; it is to illustrate the importance of commitment. If the boat crew program was like learning how to swim, you can do that all year round since the country is filled with indoor pools. The weather outside is irrelevant since the pool is heated, indoors, and climate controlled.
With boat crew only a few types of tasks can be done any time of year since they are academic and memorization. Many of our most important tasks can only be done when the Long Island Sound water temperature is over 60 degrees, and the average winds are under 10 Knots in speed. In the fall time, the water is warm enough, but the wind can blow over 20 Knots on average.
A Ferris wheel implies that once the compartment leaves the ground, more people cannot get in and the people in it cannot get out without falling. If two boats leave the dock to practice towing, you are either on one of those boats or you are not. If the trainee needs towing practice to complete their signoffs there will likely be more patrols within the year with towing but they may have missed enough chances to be proficient at it enough to complete the program and be tested that season.
Another example of timing and compartmentalization is TCT Training. TCT Training is an annual risk management class that all boat crew are required to re-take annually. There are very few trainers that are certified to teach the class and might only be offered in our area as few as 1 time per year.
Students can seek out the class in different flotillas, regions or perhaps a regional on-line training series but if they do not take TCT annually by any means they will lose certification status. In essence the “TCT Class” basket on the Ferris wheel might only board once, complete its mission for the attendees and never board that ride car again until next season.
If trainees do not mind the 2+ year plan than it is fine to make boat crew the last priority in their life but to get it done in one season, trainees need to be boarding as many Ferris wheel Baskets as humanly possible and staying in until they are proficient enough to complete the sign-off.