Coast Guard Auxiliary, Flotilla4, Des Moines, Iowa

U.S. Coast Guard Commandant, Admiral Thad Allen, as well as other senior Coast Guard leaders currently responsible for leading our Modernization efforts, offer a brief 12-minute overview of the Modernization and explain how our efforts to enhance mission execution will positively impact our members, external stakeholders and the general public.

Labels: Coast Guard Modernization

CWO Leavell (left) Presents Ralph Tomlinson with his AUXOP Device During the Division 33 Change of Watch

The AUXOP, or Operational Auxiliarist, program is an advanced training program available only to members of the Coast Guard Auxiliary. An AUXOP member has completed six advanced specialty courses and is entitled to wear the special AUXOP device on the uniform. Those courses are Seamanship, Navigation, Patrols, Communications, Weather, and Search & Rescue.

The Director of Auxiliary controls the examinations for the AUXOP Specialties. All of the examinations are closed-book.

For the past few months several members of Flotilla 4 have been working hard to complete all of these courses. Ralph Tomlinson is the first member of Flotilla 4 to earn this prestigious award. Congratulations to Ralph. Hopefully more members of our Flotilla can accomplish this as well.

AUXOP Device

The January 2009 Flotilla 4 Newsletter, Above Board, is now available at http://www.flotilla4.org/newsletter/AboveBoardJanuary2009.pdf

In 2008 many things happened in Flotilla 4. Here is how the Flotilla stacked up against the other 77 Flotilla’s in the entire 8WR DISTRICT with regard to just a few things:

AUXOP Test Completions:
(District) / (Flotilla 4 )/ (% of total)
AUXCOM 12/ 10/ 83%
AUXNAV A 1/ 1/ 100%
AUXPAT 13/ 9/ 69%
AUXSAR 6/ 7/ 117%
AUXSEA 3/ 1/ 33%
AUXWEA 3/ 3/ 100%

Two exams that help lead to the Trident are the Good Mate and IMSEP.
Here’s how you did against the DISTRICT:
GOOD MATE 26/ 9/ 35%
IMSEP 16/ 4/ 25%

Likewise on specific competencies:
APC 35/ 14/ 40%
AIROBS 5/ 2/ 40%
PILOT 3/ 1/ 33%

(Statistics are based on Flotilla 4 completions versus the statistics in the Quarterly Report from the OTO)

This was due to the help from Division 33, particularly the Pauline Longnecker and Frank Reiss from Division who helped facilitate our testing.

With -20 degree wind chill factors, Flotilla 4 members decided to do a little dry dock work during the December Training Weekend. Sunday was the tear down day in the Auxiliary facility project.

The crew got together and pulled this soon to be facility apart. The Radar came off, radios, cables, stereo, and trim pieces littered the floor of the shop. Wiring was checked, and in the end we now have a blank canvas from which to build an optimized Coast Guard Auxiliary Patrol Vessel. Stay tuned as this build project takes on a life of its own.

The December 2008 Flotilla 4 Newsletter, Above Board, is now available at http://www.flotilla4.org/newsletter/AboveBoardDecember2008.pdf

The November 2008 Flotilla 4 Newsletter, Above Board, is now available at http://www.flotilla4.org/newsletter/AboveBoardNovember2008.pdf