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Now You are a Member
Upon completing the Basic Qualification exam, your membership application is sent for approval
by the 11th Coast Guard District Director of Auxiliary. Upon approval, you will be issued a member
number and your Certificate will be forwarded to the Flotilla Commander. You will then be
administered a Member Pledge to support the U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary and its
purposes.
As a member, you can wear the Auxiliary uniform, display the Auxiliary Blue Ensign on
your "Facility" and perform certain tasks for the Auxiliary and/or the Coast Guard. You
are also eligible to start on a series of courses provided at no cost to you. These
courses prepare you to actively support programs and missions in the Auxiliary, and administrative
and operations support for the Coast Guard. The courses available are as follows:
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Auxiliary Support
Boat Crew and Coxswain
Vessel Examiner
Instructor
Communications
Information Systems, etc.
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Coast Guard Support
Marine Safety
Operations
Aids to Navigation Inspection, etc.
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You may decide to advance to and become an "Operational Auxiliarist (AUXOP) Member."
AUXOP involves passing six specialty courses, Communications, Patrols, Navigation,
Seamanship, Search & Rescue, and Weather. You may just take some of these
courses to enhance your skills in selected areas. You may also take U.S. Coast Guard Academy
correspondence courses as additional skill enhancements.
When you decide to participate in on-the-water activities, you will go through a Boat Crew
Qualification process which will train you to crew on AUXILIARY OPERATIONAL FACILITIES while
under Coast Guard orders, or to crew on COAST GUARD CUTTERS. The first qualification level is
BOAT CREW MEMBER, and the second, and "ultimate" level, is AUXILIARY COXSWAIN.
Most Boat Crew training is "on-the-water" and will be aboard Auxiliary boats other
than your own. Passing a boating safety course is not a prerequisite to joining the Auxiliary,
but it is required before you can commence training to become boat crew qualified
to serve on Auxiliary or Coast Guard vessels.
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