What's New In Response?

July 2010 - Tips on being Ready for the Oil Spill

Click here for a few tips on what to do and a how to prepare check list.
[Posted 16 Jul 2010, Source: Steve Pegram, CEM BC-RIS]

An updated version of the CG-4612 Auxiliary SAR Incident and MISLE Case Data Entry Report form has been posted to the Auxiliary National Website Forms page.  The new form has been improved to better capture data for MISLE entry.  Click HERE for the new form.

[Posted 17 Jun 2010, source: Robert Shafer Dir-R]

November 2009 - Disaster Recovery Working Group

If you've been impacted by a Federally declared disaster, or have deployed to the disaster space either in your capacity as an Auxiliarist or as a FEMA DAE, here's your chance to comment on the way forward.
 
On October 28, 2009, the Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Secretary Shaun Donovan and Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Janet Napolitano announced the launch of DisasterRecoveryWorkingGroup.gov - a new interagency website that will allow federal disaster recovery officials to solicit public comments from state, local, and tribal partners and the public.
 
If you have been affected by a disaster or have been deployed to assist with disaster recovery, this is your opportunity to voice your thoughts, insights, and observations to assist in the development of a better national strategy for an effective approach to long‑term disaster recovery.
 
The full text of the press release can be found at:  http://www.disasterrecoveryworkinggroup.gov/releases/pr2009-10-28.cfm
 
The Questionnaire to Strengthen Disaster Recovery in Our Nation can be found at:  http://www.disasterrecoveryworkinggroup.gov/questionnaire/
 
Disaster Recovery Working Group.gov’s home page  is located at:  http://www.disasterrecoveryworkinggroup.gov/index.html
[Posted 02 November 2009.  Source: Murrianna Thomson, BA-OIM]

October 2009

UpTop In Operations  Newsletter - September 2009 has been posted. The September issue includes: National Preparedness Month, Semper Paratus part II, Warm Weather Patrols, 3 & 6 Minute Rules, Automated SAR Patterns, Puget Sound OPS Call Out, Conducting a Successful Callout, The Service Mark.
[Posted 05 October 2009. Source: Bruce Pugh, DVC-OE]

As a part of the restructuring of the Coast Guard Auxiliary National Organization, the Operations (Response) Department has been renamed the Response Department.  Former Operations Department Chief, David Elliot, has been promoted and is the new Assistant National Commodore for Response and Prevention.  Robert Shafer has been named the Director of the Response Department and COMO Gary Taylor has been named Deputy Director.  For further information on the restructuring of the National Organization, click here: http://auxpa.org/weblog/blogs/  “ [Posted 01 Sept 2009, Source Robert Shafer DIR-O]

June 2009

UpTop In Operations  Newsletter - June 2009 has been posted. The June issue includes: Contingency Communications the other side of Telecomm, Fit for Flight is your crew fit for duty, Semper Paratus are you ready for the next disaster, Leadership how do you 'lead' a civilian team that you can not "order" to do something, and Did you Know where Bravo Zulu comes from.
[Posted 05 June 2009. Source: Bruce Pugh, DVC-OE]

May 2009

Developing and Maintaining State, Territorial, Tribal and Local Government Emergency Plans, a Comprehensive Preparedness Guide, CPG 101.  See our Incident Management page for more details.
[Posted 03 May 2009 - Source: Linda Nelson DVC-OI]

April 2009

ALAUX from the Chief Director - Non-Operational Facilities Category Eliminated -012/09.

1. As a matter of information, NEXCOM and the National Bridge recently made final the decision to eliminate "non-operational facilities" from the categories of vessels in the Auxiliary. CG-5421 concurs with this action which is effective immediately.
2. The Auxiliary Ensign may now fly only on either inspected surface facilities that display a current facility decal or on vessels owned by Auxiliarists that have successfully completed a Vessel Safety Check and that display a current VSC decal.
3. Changes in regards to non-operational facilities to the Auxiliary Operations Policy Manual COMDTINST M16798.3(series) will be reflected in future editions of the manual.

UpTop In Operations  Newsletter - April 2009 has been posted. The April issue includes: Search Coordination and Execution and how to report SAR cases, What is Mentoring and How does it work, and the conclusion of Low and Slow Flight from last month.
[Posted 17 Apr 2009. Source: Bruce Pugh, DVC-OE]

Telecommunications Operator PQS (Personal Qualification) A new CD is available from the ANSC on training for the Telecommunications Operator PQS (Personal Qualification). This CD contains the PQS, all the reference documents, and a new Interactive Mentoring Guide to provide everything needed for radio qualification on one CD. Order CD 2015A from the ANSC.
[Posted 09 Apr 2009.  Source:DVC-OT Bill Scholz]

March 2009

From the office of the Chief Director. Updated deadline for the ICS210 course for Pilots, Coxswains, and PWO operators.  See our Incident Management News page for further details
[Posted 30 March 09. Source: DC-O David Elliot]

UpTop In Operations  Newsletter - March 2009 has been posted.  The March issue includes: Contingency Planning, Emergency Communication and Mass notification within the Auxiliary, What about ICS210 - questions and answers from the field, Radio Communications on Patrol, and Low and Slow Flight part 1. 
[Posted 9 March 2009. Source: Bruce Pugh, DVC-OE]

Upgrade to AIMS 3n.  There is an upgrade planned for the AIMS 3n system.  We are currently implementing the recurring monthly updates from AuxData to 3n. As part of this process we are loading all Auxiliary Districts into the system. If your District is an early adopter of AIMS this will cause some rework for your Organization and Group leaders.  See our Incident Management News page for details.

Update from the Telecommunications Division.  There is a new Mentoring guide now available for the PQS (Personal Qualification Standard) that has been developed by the Telecommunications Division.  A CD with complete documentation for the PQS, the Guide and all references with hyperlinks will be available shortly at the Auxiliary National Supply Center. 
[Posted 12 Mar 2009.  Source DC-O David Elliot]

NSAR Update  We have been informed by the NSAR Coordinator that NSAR will not be held in 2009, but will resume in 2010.
[Posted 11 Mar 09.  Source: Dante J. Laurino Chief, National Department of Personnel]

UpTop In Operations  Newsletter - February 2009 has been posted.  The February issue includes: Joint Air-Sea Operations, welcome to the new DVC-OA, Line handling commands.
[Posted 03 March 2009. Source: Bruce Pugh, DVC-OE]

January 2009

UpTop In Operations  Newsletter - January 2009 has been posted.   The January issue includes: Maritime Domain Awareness Part IV (MDA), 406MHz EPRIB and ELT update, MOM patrols - what are they.
[Posted 12 January 2009. Source: Bruce Pugh, DVC-OE]

December 2008

2009 OPERATIONS WORKSHOP (Optional) has been released.  This is a voluntary workshop that has been produced by Operations (Response) at the request of the National Board.  It is intended to provide guidance for Districts, Divisions, and Flotillas to update their members on Operations programs for 2009.  This workshop is presented in two parts, "2009 Operations Workshop Facilitator Guide", and the "2009 Operations Workshop Power Point Slides".

The Team Coordination Training (TCT) refresher course is required in 2009 and is now available.  This annual requirement for operations personnel includes the 2009 TCT Power Point Presention, 2009 TCT Facilitator Resource, and the 2009 TCT Participant Reference.  This one hour refresher session emphasizes crew problem solving and the seven key components of Team Coordination Training (TCT).
[Posted: 29 December 2008. Source: Bruce Pugh, DVC_OE]

Org Chart and Job Descriptions - Updated department Organization Charts for the Operations (Response) Department as well as revised Job Descriptions for the Department have been posted.
[Posted 23 Dec 2008, by DVC-OE Bruce Pugh]

November 2008

Reminder on ICS-210 - (Initial Incident Commander) is a classroom course designed for Single Resource Leader Type 5/Type 4 Incident Commanders. It is a four-hour course.  This course or the full ICS-300 course is required for Auxiliary coxswains, pilots (Aircraft Commander, First Pilot and Co-Pilot), any member in the Trident Program or any other team/task force leader determined by a Coast Guard unit Commander to have a need based.   The deadline for this course is 31Mar09 (revised form the original 31Mar08).  You WILL go into REYR for these qualifications (Coxswain/Pilot) if you have not completed this course by this revised date. See additional details on our Incident Management page.
[Posted 12 Nov 2008, by DVC_OE Source: DC-O David Elliot]

Inflatable PFDs - Revised regulations notice regarding inflatable PFDs has been posted to our Surface Operations page.
[Posted 12 Nov 2008, by DVC_OE Source: DVC-OS Gary Taylor]

October 2008

Air Operations Call Sign Procedures - Coast Guard Air Operations Call Sign Procedures Document posted or our Air Ops News page.
[Posted 17 Oct 2008, by DVC_OE. Source: DC-O David Elliot]

September 2008

Useful web sites for flight safety - Here are a couple sites worth making available to any USCGAux aviators:

• United States Bird Avoidance Model (BAM)! - very timely info on bird activity for your area.  Factors in historical data, and current migration and weather info.
• See and Avoid - info on military bases around the country.  Airspace, training routes, etc., it is part of the Mid-Air Collision Avoidance program

C-School Opportunities - updates posted to our Aviation Page regarding C-School opportunities for Pilots, Air Crew, and Air Observers.
[Posted 05 Sept 2008, Source: DVC-OA Byron Moe]

July 2008

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) regarding the new Telecommunications operator (TCO) personal qualifications standard for the Auxiliary have been posted on the Telecommunications web page under the Comms FAQ link.  These new standards will take effect on 1 August 2008.  This information was provided by Bill Scholz, Chief-Auxiliary Communications. "William.Scholz@uscg.mil" or call (714-292-4271)
[Posted 23 July 2008. Source: Nevin Lantry, BC-OEW]

UpTop In Operations  Error Correction! Nav Rules Test Currency - there was an error in an article in the March edition of UpTop in Operations regarding currency requirements for the Nav Rules test for Coxswains or PWOs.  The article should have stated that for currency maintenance, Nav Rules are now due on the five-year anniversary date of the original test and Coxswains (or PWOs) no longer have until 31 December to do their 5-year requalification.  This means that your currency can and will expire in AUXDATA during a calendar year when you hit this 5 year anniversary date and you will fall automatically into REYR status and not be able to request orders.  If this happens, your local DIRAUX office will have to re-instate you after you have taken the requalification test.  Our apologies for any confusion this may have caused.
[Posted 23 July 2008 by DVC-OE Bruce Pugh]

**** UPDATE - DFSO AUX-14 C School Cancelled *** Due to insufficient attendance the DFSO AUX-14 C School set for Aug 20-22 has been cancelled and will be offered at a later time.
[Posted 01 July 2008, Source: DVC-OA Byron Moe]

June 2008

NEW PERSONAL QUALIFICATIONS STANDARD (TelComPQS)   A new Personal Qualifications Standard (PQS) for Auxiliary Telecommunications has been developed by the Operations (Response) Department and approved by the National Board and CG Head Quarters.  The Chief Director of the Auxiliary has announced the implementation of the new personal qualification standard (PQS) for a Telecommunications Operator (TCO) specialty.   Effective 1 August 2008, all new applicants for fixed land or land mobile radio facility certification and/or operation must be certified as a TCO. Current AUXCOM-rated members will continue to be eligible for facility ownership and operation indefinitely, as long as their AUXCOM was earned prior to August 1, 2008.  Details of this PQS are available on the Chief Director’s Web site at "Auxiliary Telecommunications PQS Announcement 11 June 2008".   The PQS for Auxiliary Telecommunications is posted at "Telecommunications PQS". (See our Telecoms News page for details)

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