C-Schools for Auxiliarists

By Daren Lewis

Shipmates,
Earlier this week Dave Baker, our FSO-MT, sent out the current C-School schedule. Newer members may not be aware of what this opportunity means. C-Schools are advanced resident training offered to Auxiliarists to prepare them for new roles. Examples include a number of leadership trainings, training to serve as an Information Services Officer, training to serve as a Public Affairs Officer, advanced training in AUXAIR, and others.

In most cases (except where noted) Auxiliarist receive paid travel orders and per diem to attend these courses. Typically you may attend a C-School every three years.

Our Flotilla Commander, Diane Epstein, prepared a wonderful article on her C-School experience - http://www.flotilla76.org/2011/02/aux-10-c-school-alameda-great.html

Learn more about Auxiliary C-Schools at: http://cschool.auxservices.org

If you'd like to attend one of the C-Schools in the current Federal Fiscal Year (Until Oct) review the material and submit a Short Term Training Request (STTR) to Diane for endorsement and forwarding to DIRAUX.

AUX LMS - what it means for you

By Daren Lewis

Yesterday we all received an ALAUX (all Auxiliarists) message from the Chief Director's office about the Auxiliary Learning Management System. I've included the full text at the bottom of this message but I wanted to hit a few highlights.

Mandated training

• The mandatory course requirements were announced awhile ago but held pending availability of the system - this is the availability announcement so we are good to go.
• The AUXLMS is designed so you can complete these courses in the comfort of your home at a time convenient to you.
• Current members have eight courses to complete between now and 31DEC2016.
• Two of the eight courses are taken only one time. The other six are taken every five years.
• New enrollees will be required to complete their courses in the first full year of membership (the year after their enrollment year). Please be sure to make this distinction if you find yourself in conversation with a new member.

Beyond mandated training

• AUXLMS is not just about these mandated courses. There is a wide variety of interesting Active Duty material that can help you improve your proficiency as an Auxiliarist. We'll be highlighting some of this in future posts.
• We can expect to see other Auxiliary courses added that are optional or mandated for particular qualifications -- again, so you can meet the requirements of your qualifications from home.
• A big win is the inclusion of ICS-210, available now. This course was designed for the AUX and is now the Coast Guard standard for Single Resource Unit leaders (SRU). An example is those seeking Coxswain qualification. Previously we needed to find an Active Duty instructor for this course. Now you can do it at home.

I've gotten a login and started using the AUXLMS. I think this will prove to be at lease as big a positive change as the online AUXOFFICER system has proven to be.

I encourage each of you start working through the required courses - if you do one per quarter you'll be done well ahead of the deadline... or you can knock them all down today.



To: ALAUX
From: CHDIRAUX
Subj: AUXILIARY LEARNING MANAGEMENT SYSTEM (AUXLMS) - BENEFITS,
REQUIREMENTS, AND IMPACTS ON AUXILIARY MANDATED TRAINING -001/13


1. Purpose: To announce implementation of the Auxiliary Learning
Management System (AUXLMS) and associated benefits, requirements, and
impacts on Auxiliary Mandated Training (MT).

2. Background: The Coast Guard is committed to supporting the Coast Guard
Auxiliary by providing training materials, courses, and tools to impart the
skills and knowledge needed to achieve mission excellence. As part of this
commitment, the Coast Guard has launched an enterprise-wide Auxiliary
Learning Management System (AUXLMS) to automate the delivery and, in turn,
improve the efficiency of training processes for Auxiliarists. This rollout
of AUXLMS is a result of an extensive and comprehensive analysis performed
by the Coast Guard Office of Training, Workforce Performance, and
Development (CG-132), FORCECOM Training (FC-TADL), OSC Martinsburg,
Auxiliary national training and information technology programs, and the
Chief Director's office (CG-BSX-1). Relevant references include ALAUX
008/11, ALAUX 011/11, and the Coast Guard Auxiliary Manual (COMDTINST
M16790.1 (series), section 8.E.).

3. Benefits:

a. The AUXLMS provides the flexibility for Auxiliarists to access
training material anywhere and anytime on a personal computer. For example,
with AUXLMS, you can fulfill your Auxiliary MT requirements from the comfort
of your home. Although the current inventory of Auxiliary training material
on the AUXLMS is relatively small, it will grow as more training materials
are developed for online availability.

b. Through the AUXLMS, Auxiliarists also have the opportunity
to access active duty "Gold Side" training courses and materials, such as
content on Coast Guard boat and cutter operations.

c. Each course has a 6-digit code numbers which can be used to
quickly search-and-find.

d. ICS-210 is now available online through the AUXLMS (use
course code 502325).

e. Successful course completion is automatically recorded in
AUXDATA without manual intervention of an Information Services (IS) staff
officer. Data uploads from the AUXLMS to AUXDATA occur on a weekly basis
each Monday.

4. Requirements: Though the need to have a special card is not required to
access the AUXLMS, you must have a unique e-mail address that is not shared
with any other Auxiliarist and that is listed as your primary e-mail address
within AUXDATA. This is a mandatory requirement to ensure course completion
data is properly transferred into AUXDATA and correctly credited to you.

If you have not yet provided your unique e-mail address to the Auxiliary
(i.e., - an e-mail address that is not shared with another Auxiliarist), or
if you need to update your personal e-mail address, you should do so as soon
as possible by completing the ANSC-7028 form with the unique e-mail address
in the "EMAIL 1" field and submitting it to your FSO-IS. The form is
available online at: http://forms.cgaux.org/archive/a7028.pdf. You may also
logon to http://auxofficer.cgaux.org, check what is currently in your
AUXDATA record, and submit an online ANSC-7028 form to make the change.

5. Accessing AUXLMS and Password Set-up:

a. Access to AUXLMS is through the following site:
https://auxlearning.uscg.mil/

b. How do I get my password in AUXLMS?

(1) Click on the "I forgot my password" link under the
Login button.

(2) Fill in the Username field with your individual
primary e-mail address currently in AUXDATA. This is your username for
AUXLMS. Click on the Submit button.

(3) An e-mail will be sent to your AUXDATA e-mail
address that contains your login and password. Check this email account for
a message from osc-dg-ms-sa-admin@uscg.mil

(4) Return to https://auxlearning.uscg.mil and use the
credentials provided in the e-mail to log in.

(5) You will then be asked to change your password.

c. Where can I find additional information about using the
AUXLMS? The Auxiliary Knowledgebase (AUXKB) will be filled with a
comprehensive listing of AUXLMS Q&As by February 1, 2013. The AUXKB can be
found at: http://help.cgaux.org. Once there, click on "Knowledgebase" link
at the top of the site, then the "AUXLMS" link, and type your query.

6. AUXLMS Impact on Auxiliary Mandated Training (MT) Requirements: The
purpose of MT is to build awareness and enhance the knowledge, skills,
abilities, and attitudes of the Coast Guard's workforce. All other elements
of the Coast Guard workforce have MT requirements, generally more extensive
than those for Auxiliarists. MT cannot be taken lightly, and it is not
unreasonable to expect in the future that Coast Guard Order Issuing
Authorities will expect Auxiliarists to be current in MT requirements before
making assignments to duty. With the advent of the AUXLMS, the bridge that
allows automatic recording of successful MT course completion into AUXDATA
has been built. The Auxiliary MT requirements established in section 8.E.
of the Coast Guard Auxiliary Manual (COMDTINST M16790.1 series) are now in
effect. Notably:

a. Auxiliarists must successfully complete the following MT during
their first year of enrollment and then once every five years thereafter:

(1) DHS Together - Resilience Training - course code 502379
(2) Security Education and Training Awareness (SETA) - course code 810030
(3) Privacy at DHS / Protecting Personal Information - course code 810015
(4) Sexual Harassment Prevention - course code 810000
(5) Sexual Assault Prevention and Response - course code 810045
(6) Civil Rights Awareness - course code 502319

b. Auxiliarists must successfully complete the following MT only
once (new members shall complete them during their first year of
enrollment):

(1) Ethics 1 / Personal Gifts - course code 502306
(2) Influenza Training - course code 502290

c. Enrolled Auxiliarists now have until 31 December 2016 to
complete all eight of the MT courses listed above. As each of the first six
courses listed above is completed, its own five-year cycle will start. Each
cycle will extend to 31 December of the fifth year regardless of the date
the course was completed during the year, and so on. For example, if an
Auxiliarist completes the Civil Rights Awareness course on 15 November 2013,
then he/she will have to complete it again by 31 December 2018.

(1) If a course has already been successfully completed
within the past five years, and written proof of successful completion
(e.g., course completion certificate or screen shot; transcript) can be
provided by the Auxiliarist, then that course shall be recognized as already
in its five-year cycle. This includes credit for comparable courses that
were successfully completed under different course titles in the past. Such
written proof must be presented to the IS officer responsible for the
Auxiliarist's AUXDATA entries.

(2) For example, the current Sexual Harassment
Prevention course used to be titled Prevention of Sexual Harassment (POSH).
Credit is granted to Auxiliarists who provide proof of successful POSH
course completion during the past five years. The following table reflects
known course title changes that have occurred in the past two years since
being listed in the Auxiliary Manual:

Old Course Title || Current Course Title

Suicide Prevention || DHS Together - Resilience Training
Privacy Awareness || Privacy at DHS / Protecting Personal Information
Prevention of Sexual Harassment || Sexual Harassment Prevention
Sexual Assault Prevention || Sexual Assault Prevention and Response
Ethics Training || Ethics 1 / Personal Gifts

d. New enrollees must complete all eight of the Auxiliary MT
courses listed in 6.a. and 6.b. within their first year of enrollment. For
this purpose, the first year of enrollment will extend to 31 December of the
year following their Base Enrollment Date. For example, if a new enrollee
has a Base Enrollment Date of 15 November 2013, then that individual will
have until 31 December 2014 to complete all mandated training. The
subsequent five-year cycle for each of the courses listed in 6.a. will start
after each respective course completion as described above for enrolled
Auxiliarists.

e. Auxiliarists with certain types of access (e.g., security
clearance; standard work station account) must still comply with any other
associated Coast Guard MT requirements established by FORCECOM (e.g., annual
Information Systems Security (ISS) training for those with standard work
station accounts).

7. These changes will be reflected in the next update of the Coast Guard
Auxiliary Manual (COMDTINST M16790.1 (series)).

8. The purpose of this list is to keep Auxiliarists as well as all other
interested parties abreast of current developments, policies, manuals, etc.
All information contained herein and linked is OFFICIAL policy and
information.

9. Internet Release and Distribution is Authorized.

10. CG-BSX-1 sends

Flotilla Staff Resources: Using AUXDATA training reports to manage qualifications in your program

By Daren Lewis

This USCG Auxiliary District 13 video discusses two AUXDATA reports that help FSOs (and Flotilla elected leaders) manage the qualifications of members in their program areas.

Target audience: Flotilla Staff Officers

AUXDATA reports covered: Training Management Report and Training Status Unit Report

Staff Officer Toolkit: Using AUXOFFICER to learn your staff chain

By Daren Lewis

Shipmates,
If you are a Flotilla 76 FSO please watch this video. It is under three minutes and is designed to help you determine you staff chain of leadership. These folks are a key resource for you as you work to make your program excellent. As an FSO please be in regular touch with your SO and your FSO colleagues. Talk about your challenges. Talk about your ideas. Share your successes. Make each other successful. We are all in this together.

Tucked ODUs

By Daren Lewis

Shipmates, We discussed tucked ODUs at the Flotilla meeting. To clarify, tucked ODUs remain authorized until no longer serviceable:

Auxiliarists shall pay particular attention to appearance while wearing the ODU. It shall be serviceable, well-maintained, clean, and not faded or discolored. In addition to the following general provisions, proper wear and maintenance shall be as prescribed in the Uniform Regulations, COMDTINST M1020.6 (series), or other relevant, interim Coast Guard policy. The untucked version of the ODU has black Coast Guard emblems embossed on them in several locations. Untucked ODUs are not produced without the emblems. Therefore, Auxiliarists are authorized to wear the untucked ODU version with the embossed Coast Guard emblems. Moreover, although the untucked ODU is the prescribed version, Auxiliarists are authorized to wear the tucked ODU version until no longer serviceable. - COMDTINST M16790.1G Auxiliary Manual Chapter 10, H.4.

As a reminder we have been requested to make all possible effort to wear un-tucked ODUs while aboard MSU Portland.

D13 Staff Resources: Using AUXOFFICER to learn your staff chain

By Daren Lewis Shipmates, If you are in a staff role (FSO, SO, DSO) you may find this video useful. It shows how to find the members of your staff chain and your peers.

Windbreaker and Trench Coat insignia placement

Shipmates,

The insignia worn on our Coast Guard windbreaker and Trench Coat are a special large size. The placement of these devices is not clearly defined in the Auxiliary Manual but it can be found in the Coast Guard Uniform Manual COMDTINST M1020.6G.

In Chapter 3.D.3. "Officer Rank Insignia Placement" the placement is described as follows:

"Larger metal shoulder rank insignia are worn on outerwear epaulets so that the outer edge of the insignia is parallel to and 3/4 inch from the straight side of the epaulet."

December 31 Uniform Changes

From D13 EXCOM

Shipmates,
Each of us takes pride in wearing the Auxiliary uniform. The new year will bring a number of changes to our Auxiliary uniform as announced in the Auxiliary Manual published in August 2011 (COMDTINST M16790.1G). Many of these changes are to little used uniforms and uniform items and have little impact on the majority of members. A few are significant and we'd like to assure all members are aware of the changes to avoid inadvertent violation of the uniform rules.

Please take this opportunity to review the changes and assure that you are in compliance as of 2013.

Thank you for your attention to these changes and your commitment to the Core Values of the Coast Guard as shown by your proper wear of the uniform.

If you have any questions please submit them via your chain of leadership and management.

Note: All letter references are to the Auxiliary Manual, COMDTINST M16790.1G, Chapter 10


Authorized Uniforms After 31 DEC 2012 (subject to wear dates and other limitations)

• Blue Blazer Outfit [E.2.]
• Auxiliary Jump Suit [E.3.]
• Auxiliary Operations Polo Shirt [E.4.]
• Dinner Dress Blue Jacket Uniform [G.1./I.1.]
• Dinner Dress White Jacket Uniform [G.2./I.2.]
• Service Dress Blue [G.3./I.3.]
• Dinner Dress Blue [G.5./I.4.]
• Service Dress White [G.6./I.5.]
• Winter Dress Blue - 01NOV-31MAR each year [G.7./I.6.]
• Tropical Blue [G.8./I.7.]
• Undress Blue Winter [G.9./I.8.]
• Hot Weather Uniform [H.3. / see also Operational Polo (E.4.) & VE Polo (A.2.) options]
• Operational Dress Uniform (Tucked and Untucked) [H.4. / see also Operational Polo (E.4.) & VE Polo (A.2.) options]
• Auxiliary Flight Suit [H.5.]
• Auxiliary Chef (AUXCHEF) Uniform [H.6.]
• Organizational clothing (e.g. Anti-exposure PPE for Air & Surface Operations)

Discontinued Uniforms as of 31 DEC 2012

• Undress Blue - Summer (Alpha) [G.10.]
• Undress Blue - Summer (Bravo) [H.1.]
• Working Blue [H.2.]

Changes in wear as of 31 DEC 2012

• Cardigan Sweater is no longer authorized with the ODU [D.6.]
• Wooly-Pully Sweater is no longer authorized with the ODU [D.6.]
• Windbreaker is no longer authorized with the ODU [D.10.a.]
• Auxiliary Ball Caps WITH silver embroidered visor ornamentation are no longer authorized [D.3.b]
• Auxiliary Ball Caps WITH mesh backs are no longer authorized [D.3.b]
• Auxiliary Ball Caps WITH embroidered/sew-on devices are no longer authorized [D.3.b.] (metal devices are required as of 31 DEC 2012)
• Trench Coat is no longer authorized with the ODU [D.10.e.]
• Garrison Cap is no longer authorized with Service Dress Blue, only the combination cap may be worn [G.3.j./I.3.j.]

Individual Uniform Items Discontinued After 31 DEC 2012

• Blue Working Utility Cap [D.3.a.]
• Work Jacket [D.10.b.]
• Foul Weather Jacket WITH Service Dress Blue [D.10.c.]
• Reefer Coat [D.10.d.]
• Overcoat [D.10.f.]

In addition please note the three following areas of particular concern:

• Wear of Coast Guard Unit Ball Caps have very specific wear requirements and allowable circumstances for wear by Auxiliarists. If you have the privilege of supporting a Coast Guard unit and have the Command's authorization to wear the Unit Ball Cap please be sure to know, understand and follow these requirements. [D.3.c.]
• Soft shoulder boards/shoulder loops have not been authorized on Tropical Blue for a number of years and are no longer authorized on any uniform item including sweaters [D.5.].
• For District 13 the Active Duty Chief of Staff has put the period for winter uniforms as 01 November - 31 March. Tropical blue is always authorized for the D13 Staff for office wear. Between 01 November - 31 March ODUs will be worn with sleeves rolled down. If you work with a Coast Guard unit follow the Command direction of sleeves when aboard that unit.

Very respectfully,
U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary, District 13 EXCOM

October Flotilla Meeting slideshow

By Daren Lewis

Congratulations to our 2013 Flotilla Commander, Diane Epstein, and our 2013 Vice Flotilla Commander, Andy Cochran. Thank you for serving as our leadership next year!

Photo set link: http://www.flickr.com/photos/usefulguy/sets/72157631792708677/

Good Luck Shipmates

 Post by Jonathan James, VFC

This weekend will be our District Conference at the Monarch Hotel in Clackamas were elections for District Officers for 2013 will be conducted.

In these election will be our very own Daren Lewis, DCAPT-South (District Captain) who will be running as our DCOS (District Chief of Staff) who's duties include managing the DSO (District Staff Officer) as well as assisting the DCO (District Commodore) with other district business. To put it into perspective, his duties are close to that of the VCDR (Vice Division Commander) and VFC (Vice Flotilla Commander) times a hundred.

Brad Schuldt, DCDR (Division Commander) will be running as out DCAPT-South. The DCAPT is charged with supervising the southern divisions in the district as well as working with the Goldside Command in his area.

We all wish both of you well in the coming election and hope to see you both Frocked (old office insignia replaced with newly elected office insignia) by conference end.

     Daren Lewis, District Captain - South

Brad Schuldt, Division Commander