Currency Maintenance for Boat Crew Program

To maintain currency in the Boat Crew Program, Crew Members, Coxswains, and PWC Operators must perform defined tasks annually and be evaluated by a Qualification Examiner (QE) during an underway check ride at least every three years following initial certification.  The annual and three year cycles are defined as follows:

The "year" begins on 1 January of the year following initial certification and currency requirements must be met by 31 December of that year.  Thus, if a member is certified as a Coxswain on 15 July 2006, that member's first currency year begins on 1 January 2007.  In this example, 3rd year currency requirements must be met by 31 December 2009.  Failure to meet currency requirements in any annual or the three-year cycle will cause a member's certification to lapse and the designation for this status is REYR.

Annual Currency Maintenance Tasks

Crew Members, Coxswains, and PWC Operators

1. Boat Crew Qualification Program (BCQP) Currency Maintenance (effective
01 January 2011): In clarification of maintenance hours for Personal
Watercraft Operator (PWO), coxswain, and boat crew member, Auxiliarists are
required to perform at least 12 currency maintenance hours per calendar year
after being qualified as a boat crew member. If an Auxiliarist is a PWO and
boat crew member, then at least 18 annual currency maintenance hours must be
performed, with at least 12 of those hours performed as PWO AND at least six
hours as boat crew member. If an Auxiliarist is a coxswain and PWO, then at
least 18 annual currency maintenance hours must be performed, with at least
12 of those hours in any combination as coxswain or boat crew member, AND at
least six hours as PWO.

2. Complete requirements specified in BSX Policy Letter 19-01,  February 1, 2019 RISK MANAGEMENT TRAINING REQUIREMENTS FOR THE COAST GUARD AUXILIARY 
   

Note: Operations Workshops are sometimes “mandated” by the National Board and if mandated, will be announced by 1 January of a given year.  If such a Workshop is required, then, in addition to the above tasks, the member must also attend this Workshop to maintain currency.  The member's attendance is reported by the workshop instructor using the workshop attendance list.

Third-Year Currency Maintenance Tasks:

All Qualifications: Complete the two annual currency requirements defined above.

Crew Member: Complete a QE check ride as outlined in the Crew Member Currency Maintenance Check Ride Form, Enclosure (1) from the Boat Crew Training, Manual COMDTINST M16794.51A.

Coxswain: Complete a QE check ride as outlined in the Coxswain Currency Maintenance Check Ride Form, Enclosure (2) from the Boat Crew Training Manual, COMDTINST M16794.51A.

PWC Operator: Complete a QE check ride as outlined in the PWC Operator Currency Maintenance Check Ride Form, Enclosure (3) from the Boat Crew Training Manual, COMDTINST M16794.51A.

QEs report a successful check ride on the Third Year Currency Maintenance form, Appendix F, Auxiliary Boat Crew Training Manual and posted on the Auxiliary national web site unless directed by the District DIRAUX to report on an alternative form.

Five-Year Currency Maintenance Tasks:

All Qualifications: Complete the two annual currency requirements defined above.

Nav Rules: Coxswains and PWC Operators must pass an open book Auxiliary Navigation Rules exam with a minimum score of 90% at least every five years. Note: remember this is 5 years from the date of the last certification NOT 31 December of the 5th year since last certification.

NOTE:

1. Districts may require additional tasks for currency maintenance.

2. The three-year currency maintenance tasks may be completed at any time during the three years. Completion of currency maintenance tasks begins a new three-year cycle.

Recertification After Failure to Meet Currency Requirements

If the member fails to attend a Required Workshop (REWK) by the designated deadline specified, that member will become unable to receive patrol orders and listed as REWK until the training has been documented as received.  Crew and Coxswains may continue to go on patrols but they will be considered 'crew trainees' and cannot be counted for minimum crew compliment.

A member who fails to meet annual currency requirements for the year shall make up the missing hours as a trainee, under the supervision of a certified coxswain the following year. (Ex. If the member only completes 4 hours the previous year they must complete 8 hours as a trainee to regain certification.) Once the missing hours are completed the member is no longer a trainee. The member must then complete 12 additional hours to maintain certification. Members who fail to complete the triennial check ride must complete the check ride before being recertified.

Members who fail to complete all of the required hours for one to four years must complete twelve hours as a trainee to regain certification and 12 additional hours as a fully qualified member to maintain certification. Members who fail to complete the triennial check ride must complete the check ride before being recertified.

Members who do not have underway hours for a period of five years or more must re-qualify by completing all required tasks for the desired position.