E N D
1. Partners help Sea Scouts: U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary Case Study
Bruce Johnson
Boy Scouts of America There is no Sea Scout program that couldnt be improved by getting more help. Our local units get stronger by recruiting new and better leaders.
But what can we do as regional and national Sea Scout leaders to improve Sea Scouting in our respective countries on a national level? One of the most obvious answers is look for groups who share our interest in promoting safe boating and good citizenship.
The following presentation is intended to show you how the development of a partnership between the Boy Scouts of America and the United States Coast Guard Auxiliary has strengthened Sea Scouting in the United States. There is no Sea Scout program that couldnt be improved by getting more help. Our local units get stronger by recruiting new and better leaders.
But what can we do as regional and national Sea Scout leaders to improve Sea Scouting in our respective countries on a national level? One of the most obvious answers is look for groups who share our interest in promoting safe boating and good citizenship.
The following presentation is intended to show you how the development of a partnership between the Boy Scouts of America and the United States Coast Guard Auxiliary has strengthened Sea Scouting in the United States.
2. Provide an orientation to the Coast Guard Auxiliary
Explain the Coast Guard Auxiliarys relationship with the Boy Scouts of America
Outline how the Coast Guard Auxiliary can help the Sea Scouts Workshop Objectives
3. Coast Guard is a military service
Coast Guard Auxiliary is a civilian component of the Coast Guard
The Auxiliary fulfills all Coast Guard functions EXCEPT military and law enforcement roles The role of the Coast Guard Auxiliary The Coast Guard is a military service and is a component of the U.S. Armed Forces. The Coast Guard Auxiliary is a component of Coast Guard Forces like the active duty, Reserve, and civilian components. Thus, the Auxiliary may be referred to and considered a part of the general organizational umbrella of the Coast Guard. Auxiliarists, however, are not contractually bound, enlisted, or commissioned officers, but are volunteers pledged to serve in the Coast Guard Auxiliary. In addition to its military missions, the Coast Guard is also charged with many civil function responsibilities.
In contrast to Coast Guard active duty personnel and Reserve military components, the Auxiliary is specifically declared by statute to be non-military. This definition puts the Auxiliarys role entirely within the Coast Guards civil function responsibilities. The Auxiliarys role does not extend to any Coast Guard military or direct law enforcement missions assigned to active or Reserve forces. The Coast Guard is a military service and is a component of the U.S. Armed Forces. The Coast Guard Auxiliary is a component of Coast Guard Forces like the active duty, Reserve, and civilian components. Thus, the Auxiliary may be referred to and considered a part of the general organizational umbrella of the Coast Guard. Auxiliarists, however, are not contractually bound, enlisted, or commissioned officers, but are volunteers pledged to serve in the Coast Guard Auxiliary. In addition to its military missions, the Coast Guard is also charged with many civil function responsibilities.
In contrast to Coast Guard active duty personnel and Reserve military components, the Auxiliary is specifically declared by statute to be non-military. This definition puts the Auxiliarys role entirely within the Coast Guards civil function responsibilities. The Auxiliarys role does not extend to any Coast Guard military or direct law enforcement missions assigned to active or Reserve forces.
4. U.S. citizens, at least 17 years old, with an
interest in boating and water safety
Desire to help with one of the Auxiliarys many boating safety programs Who are Coast Guard Auxiliarists? Following passage of the Coast Guard Authorization Act of 1996. The Auxiliary assists the Coast Guard, as authorized by the Commandant, in performance of any Coast Guard function, duty, role, mission or operation authorized by law.
We conduct safety patrols on local waterways, assist the Coast Guard with homeland security duties, teach boating safety classes, and conduct free vessel safety checks for the public. We support many other missions including Marine Safety, Interpreter Support, ATON, radio communications, etc. Applicants must be U.S. citizens, at least 17 years old, and pass a basic check. There are no upper age limits or height/weight standards, although for operational activities, you must be physically able to perform certain tasks. You do not have to own a boat or participate in water-based operations to join the Auxiliary.
Applicants must be U.S. citizens, at least 17 years old, and pass a basic check. There are no upper age limits or height/weight standards, although for operational activities, you must be physically able to perform certain tasks. You do not have to own a boat or participate in water-based operations to join the Auxiliary.
Following passage of the Coast Guard Authorization Act of 1996. The Auxiliary assists the Coast Guard, as authorized by the Commandant, in performance of any Coast Guard function, duty, role, mission or operation authorized by law.
We conduct safety patrols on local waterways, assist the Coast Guard with homeland security duties, teach boating safety classes, and conduct free vessel safety checks for the public. We support many other missions including Marine Safety, Interpreter Support, ATON, radio communications, etc. Applicants must be U.S. citizens, at least 17 years old, and pass a basic check. There are no upper age limits or height/weight standards, although for operational activities, you must be physically able to perform certain tasks. You do not have to own a boat or participate in water-based operations to join the Auxiliary.
Applicants must be U.S. citizens, at least 17 years old, and pass a basic check. There are no upper age limits or height/weight standards, although for operational activities, you must be physically able to perform certain tasks. You do not have to own a boat or participate in water-based operations to join the Auxiliary.
5.
Recreational Boating Safety (RBS)
Public education
Vessel examinations
Promoting boating safety to the public
On Water Operations\Training
Working with other organizations
What are the Coast Guard Auxiliarys missions? The Coast Guard Auxiliarys primary missions are public education, vessel safety checks, and operations. Where we, the Boy Scouts and the Auxiliary, come together are with public education and vessel safety checks.
Recreational Boating Safety (RBS): This mission includes Auxiliary traditional activities conducted on behalf of Federal, State, and local governments to improve the knowledge, safety skills, and operating environment of recreational boaters. These include, but are not limited to:
Public Education programs;
Vessel Examinations.
Distribution of RBS literature and information to the boating public, and
Liaison for the purposes of enhancing RBS and the images of the Coast Guard and the Auxiliary in the RBS environs with other organizations.The Coast Guard Auxiliarys primary missions are public education, vessel safety checks, and operations. Where we, the Boy Scouts and the Auxiliary, come together are with public education and vessel safety checks.
Recreational Boating Safety (RBS): This mission includes Auxiliary traditional activities conducted on behalf of Federal, State, and local governments to improve the knowledge, safety skills, and operating environment of recreational boaters. These include, but are not limited to:
Public Education programs;
Vessel Examinations.
Distribution of RBS literature and information to the boating public, and
Liaison for the purposes of enhancing RBS and the images of the Coast Guard and the Auxiliary in the RBS environs with other organizations.
6. Boy Scouts of America is the nations foremost youth development organization
Coast Guard Auxiliary is nations foremost volunteer boating safety organization
Both organizations have a strong interest in promoting safety on the water
How do the Scouts fit in? Serving more than 4 million youth between the ages of 6 and 20, the BSA is the nations foremost youth program of character development and values-based leadership training. These youth represent the foundation of responsible citizenry for the next generation and future boaters. The BSA has a distinct interest in the safety of the individual scout and units. The Boy Scouts want to instill safety-mindedness with all scouts and their leaders in whatever activity they are involved in. Likewise, the Auxiliary has the same mission to instill safety-mindedness to the public for boating/sailing activity. The Auxiliarys goal is to advance its boating education to the public to reduce increasing recreational boating fatalities.
As a result of common mission, on April 2, 2009, the Boy Scouts of America and the Coast Guard Auxiliary signed a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) to work together.Serving more than 4 million youth between the ages of 6 and 20, the BSA is the nations foremost youth program of character development and values-based leadership training. These youth represent the foundation of responsible citizenry for the next generation and future boaters. The BSA has a distinct interest in the safety of the individual scout and units. The Boy Scouts want to instill safety-mindedness with all scouts and their leaders in whatever activity they are involved in. Likewise, the Auxiliary has the same mission to instill safety-mindedness to the public for boating/sailing activity. The Auxiliarys goal is to advance its boating education to the public to reduce increasing recreational boating fatalities.
As a result of common mission, on April 2, 2009, the Boy Scouts of America and the Coast Guard Auxiliary signed a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) to work together.
7. Promote public education programs
Collaborate on recreational boating safety activities
Encourage mutual volunteer support
Facilitate cooperative efforts What is the impact of the MOA? The Boy Scouts of America and the Coast Guard Auxiliary collaborate on projects that support recreational boating safety and promote citizenship training and character development. The agreement calls on these organizations to:
Promote efforts to teach safe boating;
Work together to support the recreational boating safety activities of the Scouts, the Auxiliary, and the general boating public;
Encourage members of each organization to help out the other organization;
Develop projects that meet the needs of both groups.The Boy Scouts of America and the Coast Guard Auxiliary collaborate on projects that support recreational boating safety and promote citizenship training and character development. The agreement calls on these organizations to:
Promote efforts to teach safe boating;
Work together to support the recreational boating safety activities of the Scouts, the Auxiliary, and the general boating public;
Encourage members of each organization to help out the other organization;
Develop projects that meet the needs of both groups.
8. Conduct Safety-At-Sea events for Sea Scouts and other scout groups
Offer boating safety and marine safety Public Education classes to Sea Scout units and other scout groups How Auxiliarists can help Sea Scouts Safety at Sea training events have been held jointly by the Sea Scouts, the U.S. Coast Guard, and the U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary for over a decade in California, Texas, Virginia, Maryland, New Jersey, New York, Connecticut, and other locations. The purpose of these events is to provide Sea Scouts and their leaders with an opportunity to receive instruction and hands-on experience in a variety of boating safety skills and equipment that is generally unavailable to them. Activities generally include flares, helo ops, P6 pumps, damage control, survival suits, hypothermia, fire fighting. This can be tailored to the resources locally available.
http://auxbdeptwiki.cgaux.org/index.php/Safety_at_Sea_Weekend
Safety at Sea training events have been held jointly by the Sea Scouts, the U.S. Coast Guard, and the U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary for over a decade in California, Texas, Virginia, Maryland, New Jersey, New York, Connecticut, and other locations. The purpose of these events is to provide Sea Scouts and their leaders with an opportunity to receive instruction and hands-on experience in a variety of boating safety skills and equipment that is generally unavailable to them. Activities generally include flares, helo ops, P6 pumps, damage control, survival suits, hypothermia, fire fighting. This can be tailored to the resources locally available.
http://auxbdeptwiki.cgaux.org/index.php/Safety_at_Sea_Weekend
9. Offer Vessel Safety Checks to the Scouts, particularly local Scout council camps and Sea Scout units
Provide Auxiliary public affairs exhibits at appropriate scouting venues, such as council and regional events
Provide Sea Scout exhibits at Auxiliary District Conferences How Auxiliarists can help Scouts
10. Designed to help boat owners check for all required safety equipment
Helps you prepare for emergencies on the water
More information online at: http://safetyseal.net/ Vessel Safety Checks (VSCs) The VSC program is a safety check service provided free to owners or operators of recreational boats and certain Federal, State, and local government-owned boats. Uninspected vessels carrying six or fewer passengers for hire may have a VSC. The same is true for boats owned by scouting/youth organizations, most of which do not come under Coast Guard inspection and certification provisions.The VSC program is a safety check service provided free to owners or operators of recreational boats and certain Federal, State, and local government-owned boats. Uninspected vessels carrying six or fewer passengers for hire may have a VSC. The same is true for boats owned by scouting/youth organizations, most of which do not come under Coast Guard inspection and certification provisions.
11. Offer Public Education (PE) classes to scout units
Provide on-the-water PE training
Provide boating safety, marine safety, and Auxiliary public relations functions at scout events Auxiliarists
12. Offer Vessel Safety Checks to scout units, scout camps and councils
Participate in National Scout Jamborees as members of the U.S. Coast Guard contingent Auxiliarists can
An example is Safety-At-Sea events for Sea Scouts that have been conducted either by the Auxiliary or jointly by the Auxiliary and active duty Coast Guard. An example is Safety-At-Sea events for Sea Scouts that have been conducted either by the Auxiliary or jointly by the Auxiliary and active duty Coast Guard.
13. Sponsor Scout units without prior approval from the Coast Guard Commandant. Auxiliarists cannot
What are Auxiliarists precluded from doing with Scouts?
Charter/sponsor any BSA units without prior approval by the Commandant.What are Auxiliarists precluded from doing with Scouts?
Charter/sponsor any BSA units without prior approval by the Commandant.
14. Implementation AuxBWiki Online resource for sharing best practices
auxbdeptwiki.cgaux.org/index.php/Boy_Scouts_of_America
Learn Safe Boating Practices from the Coast Guard Auxiliary
www.auxbdept.org/pdf/BSA-PE_brochure-2010-08-07.pdf
Promote BSA Safety Afloat with a Free Vessel Safety Check
www.auxbdept.org/pdf/BSA-VSC_brochure-2010-08-07.pdf
Safety at Sea Weekend
auxbdeptwiki.cgaux.org/index.php/Safety_at_Sea_Weekend
15. AuxBWiki:
auxbdeptwiki.cgaux.org/index.php/Boy_Scouts_of_America
Email Bruce Johnson
commodore@seascout.org
Questions?