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District Eight Eastern RegionImportance of Reporting

Art of the Vessel Safety Check

Dragon Boat Races

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Auxiliarist of the Year 8ER, Eddy Smith, spends much of his time on-the-go as he jumps from one Coast Guard Cutter to another, demonstrating his indispensable skills in the galley. Last Year he spent more than 1700 hours serving aboard active duty vessels.

Have Spatula - Will TravelAUX-FS Specialists Eddy and Teresa Smith Cook Up Their Specialties for the USCG, On-the-Go!

Eddy and Teresa Smith love to cook. And, the folks they most enjoy cooking for are Coasties. Eddy and Teresa, who hail from Rossville, Georgia, are members of Flotilla 82-16-02 based at the Ouachita Shore Side Depot on Chickamauga Lake on the Tennessee River, near Chattanooga. They have taken their love of cooking, and culinary talents, to a higher level of service as members of the Auxiliary’s Food Service program in the Eighth District Eastern Region. In fact, Eddy Smith heads up the eight-person AUX-FS program in 8ER.

Eddy’s dedication and commitment to the development of the AUX-FS program recently resulted in his being named 8ER Auxiliarist of the Year, an award he received at the Spring D-Train banquet in Ohio. It also got him a new Auxiliary job. Eddy is now an Assistant District Staff Officer in Human Resources, charged with recruiting for the AUX-

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The crew of the USCGC Morro Bay pose with Eddy (front row, 3rd from left) in front of the Cutter. The Morro Bay has a number of varied duties on the Great lakes, including Icebreaking, Homeland Security Patrols, Light House Projects and Law Enforcement.

plenty of work to do at Flotilla Public Affairs and other events. Eddy, however, has no such limitations. Now retired from his construction business, Eddy, is more than ready to grab his spices, his off-shore gear and join the crew of any Cutter in the Eighth District that needs him, he says. So far that means that Eddy has cooked on cutters ranging from the 65-foot CGC Ouachita with its 130-foot barge, their home based cutter, to the 270-foot CGC Northland, based at Portsmouth, VA and for crews ranging from under 20 to nearly 100.

Eddy brings a wealth of cooking experience to the job and is quick to say that experience is needed to be a good AUX-FS cook. It isn’t about just being able to cook a hamburger or a steak on a grill at home, he said during a recent Heartland Guardian interview. Cooking for hungry Coasties takes the ability to plan and deliver meals for entire crew on their schedule seven days a week, not his, he said. “I have all kinds of experience in cooking,” Eddy

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FS program. This position was created to allow Eddy to build a program that has truly become his passion. And Teresa is right there beside Eddy whenever she is needed, because the program has become her passion as well.

If there is a meal being served as part of an Auxiliary or Active Duty Coast Guard function around Chattanooga, it is a good bet that Eddy and Teresa Smith will be at the center of the planning, preparation and serving of the meal. It is a labor of love they both say. Each of them, like many Auxiliarists, serves in a variety of capacities within their flotilla. Eddy, in fact, is the Flotilla Commander, as well as the Flotilla Staff Officer for Program Visits and Vessel Examinations. Not to be outdone, Teresa is the FSO- MA and FSO-PE. While they both wear many hats in service to the Auxiliary, it is the hat of an Auxiliary Chef that both say they enjoy most.

Teresa’s AUX-FS duties are limited to on-shore cooking by time and employment constraints. She still finds

Theresa Smith and CDR Dell’Orco.

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explained. “I started out in the church. I cooked men’s breakfasts.” He learned from the church members he cooked with, serving large groups of hungry people.

Cooking for the Coast Guard, not only by the Smiths, but others throughout the Auxiliary, came about out of a need that the Active Duty personnel had, both Eddy and Teresa said. The Active Duty Food Service crews on cutters range from one to several Coast Guard personnel on a cutter depending on its size and crew compliment. They, like any Coast Guard member, are critical to the operation of that cutter. When an FS member of the crew

has to go ashore for any reason there is often no one to pick up the slack. That is when a call is made and the AUX-FS program steps up to the plate, in more ways than one. This can be for a few days, weeks, or even over a month at a time. Typically the call comes related to an unexpected leave: Family emergency, Maternity leave, or C-School Training.

To work as an AUX-FS cook takes training and a

willingness to be available at any time he is needed, Eddy said. He added that he, and the Auxiliary, are looking for volunteers for the program.

Eddy took classes in cooking the Coast Guard way at the Shore Side Station and has continued to hone his craft through experience and further training. “We had a (manual) to follow, they talked about different ways to prepare food, hot and cold, you have got your deserts and they discussed regulations,” Eddy explained. “Preparation, storage, temperatures to maintain the food and all the regulations that the Coast Guard applies,

not necessarily how to cook,” Teresa added. “The primary purpose was to teach us the Coast Guard standards.” When asked whether he enjoyed the training, Eddy said, “I loved it! It is something that I always wanted to do, to be a part of a unit. I can feed somebody’s stomach when they are hungry.”

Adaptability and the ability to cook many different ways is a key to being a good AUX-FS cook and shipmate on a cutter often peopled by young Coasties with big appetites. “I can cook small portions and larger portions too at the time,” Eddy said. “I can go from doing silly cooking, tacos and burritos, and I

can turn from that to a T-Bone Steak, salad and baked potato and desert. I can do Shepherd Pies or a shrimp boil.”

Eddy must be ready to go at any time, he said. “We are not always given much notice,” he said. “Most requests need you to report for duty within days of the call out. Occasionally we have gotten a planned event a few weeks in advance.” If the local District cannot fill the spot, then

Continued from page 2Have Spatula - Will Travel

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an ALL CALL is issued to neighboring District Chairs to see if they might have an AUX-FS available. Eddy serves as the AUX-FS Chair for Eight ER.

Once aboard, Eddy becomes a critical member of the crew. This is about as close to being an Active Duty Coast Guardsman as it can get, Eddy said. When he stepped on board the Ouachita the first time he was called to duty, Eddy said he didn’t quite know what would happen. “I didn’t know what they were going to think, whether they would like my cooking or not,” he said. “They could throw me overboard and say swim back to shore!” he added with a smile. “I came in, I did breakfast, they were used to having cold things, cereal, doughnuts, sweet stuff and milk, juice and coffee and I brought to the table eggs to order, omelets, single eggs, scrambled eggs, eggs over light, eggs over medium, I fixed bacon, I fixed home-made gravy and biscuits.” Safe to say they didn’t throw him overboard.

Teresa has not been able to serve while underway but has been given opportunities to serve aboard the

Continued from page 3Have Spatula - Will Travel

Do you enjoy cooking and serving others a great meal? Can you prepare meals for 20 or more people, as well as, plan and assist in the shopping for a week or two’s tour underway? Do you have time available to serve from a few days to possibly up to several months? If you answered yes and would like an opportunity to serve alongside the Coast Guard, you should think about the AUXFS program.

The AUXFS program was created to support the Coast Guard in the galley when the current FS is away for training, leave, etc.

In District Eight Eastern, our Cutters are typically 20 man crews and you would be the only FS aboard. You would have the full galley responsibilities of planning, preparing, cleaning, and maintaining the galley while on board. You could serve shore side or underway (Only men can serve while underway on any cutter that has an all male crew).

There are three parts to the AUXFS training:

1. Classroom training of approximately 14 hours

2. “Hands-on” training of approximately 8 hours where a meal is planned, prepared and served.

3. Accomplishment of Performance Qualifications to be performed within one year of completion of AUXFS training and signed off on by an

AUXFS mentor or unit Food Service Specialist.

Additional requirements:

4. Hepatitis A Shots are required. The Coast Guard can provide the shots at a Coast Guard health care facility if supplies and operations allow. However, all AUXFS must provide proof of their vaccination.

5. The AUXFS must be physically able to handle the assignment and provide a Health Record Verification form.

6. Team Coordination Training (TCT) must be completed every two years.

7. Sanitation Workshop must be completed every year.

References

• AUXFS Training and Qualifications Guide

• USCG Food Service Manual, COMDTINST M4061.5 (series)

Ouachita when in port in Chattanooga, she said. Eddy has been given many opportunities to go onboard and underway with the Coast Guard active duty crews. “They have always made me feel like part of the crew,” Eddy was quick to add. Being able to serve the active duty Coast Guard, allows them to give back and show their support and willingness to give whatever they can to the CG, both Eddy and Teresa said.

For both of them, cooking for the Coast Guard is a labor of love. It is a calling that both Eddy and Teresa hope that others interested in the AUX-FS program will hear and become a part of. While the demands of cooking for the Coast Guard may be great, the rewards of seeing those in service to the Nation, well fed and ready for duty are even greater, the Smiths say. Anyone interested in becoming a part of the AUX-FS program should contact Eddy Smith to offer their services. He will be happy to assist in the process.

More About AUX-FSWhat you need to know to join the program

Story by H William Smith , ADSO-PBPhotos by H William Smith or provided by Eddy Smith

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EDITORIAL STAFF

CONTRIBUTORS

Curt PrattDSO - PBDivision 18

Norm ArbesADSO - PBDivision 7

Geri McKeeADSO - PBDivision 8

Bill SmithADSO - PBDivision 12

Eddy Smith - ADSO-HRRandy Ventress, DCOSOTO Nick Frascella - USCGGerlinde Higginbotham - DSO-DVJeff Tinklepaugh - ADSO-HR

Picture this scenario. A Flotilla Commander is standing in front of newly appointed Flotilla Staff Officers and welcomes them to the team. “Here are your Appointment Letters and Job Descriptions. If you have any questions please refer the questions to your Vice Flotilla Commander who is your Chief of Staff who is on an extended vacation to Asia and won’t be back for a couple of months.” Sound bizarre or does it sound like reality?

As a newly appointed Staff Officer you will have read your Appointment Letter and Job Description furnished to you. At least you should have. These documents do not point you toward your entire job description. Reference the Auxiliary Manual COMDTINST M16790.1 (Series), Chapter Four, Section G, Introduction, second paragraph that reads in part, “The Auxiliary is organized and administered along parallel staffing principles, which requires staff officers at all levels to report to senior levels and to monitor activities at lower levels.”

Many of us, if not most of us in our Business World have heard this expression, “If it weren’t for the reports, I could get a lot more done” or “Oh no, not another report!” spoken in frustration. I personally do not know anyone that actually enjoys doing reports, myself included. However reports are essential on all levels to the effectiveness of each level of this organization. By using reports, Elected Officers can more effectively do their work and manage the unit.

Reports are not punishment for taking an Elected or Appointed Office. The reports we generate each month are a form of Communication, yes, the Big “C”, that gives our leadership a gauge of how we are doing overall as a unit. Unless an Officer reports up his or her reporting Chain, the next level does not know what is going on in subordinate areas. District could not possibly know what each flotilla is doing, who is excelling, who needs help, unless we report up.

Another responsibility as a Staff Officer on any level is to find out who your counterpart is on the adjoining level(s). Whether you are asked by the next level staff officer or not, send your required reports to them. If the next level does not have a staff officer in your parallel staffing position, refer your report to the Elected Leadership of that level.

Reporting is very important for the successful operation of any business or organization and the U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary is no exception. Please take a few minutes out of each month to get your reports in. Our District Staff is here to assist you in any way however, we have to have communication with you to know what you need. We would really appreciate knowing what you are doing so that we may recognize your efforts as well. Help us better serve you.

The Importance of ReportingIt’s an essential component for the Auxiliary to do its job

Story by Randy Ventress, DCOS

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The Art of the Vessel Safety ExamRecreational Boating Safety is one of the Coast Guard Auxiliaries’ four cornerstones. Vessel Safety Checks is the first step to boating safely. In our district every Division provides Vessel Safety Checks. It is one of the biggest and most vital programs in the entire United States Coast Guard Auxiliary.

This one service provides so many avenues of safety: Education, Equipment Checks, Safety Checks, Battery Checks, Compliance with regulations and laws, Introduction to the Coast Guard Auxiliary and other safety programs and Fellowship.

There are so many ways that members make contact with boaters to provide the checks. Walking marine docks seems to be the most popular. This technique can land you on a canoe or a 120-foot yacht. Of course the vessel has to be boarded so members are privileged to go aboard many different types of vessels. This has proven to be

one of the most efficient contacts. If the Vessel Examiner gets to the docks - not too early and not too late in the morning - most boaters are just milling around getting ready to go out on the water for the day or weekend. It is critical to wear the appropriate uniform (The VE polo shirt, inflatable life jacket, navy blue shorts, white socks and boat shoes or white tennis shoes, you can also wear ODU;s, or our districts summer hot. It is preferred you where the VE Polo shirt), that way the examiner appears professional and knowledgeable. Most boaters welcome the Auxilarist to provide the safety check right then, but if the boater is unable at that moment, ask them if you can make an appointment for a later date.

Providing Safety checks at the marine boat launch ramp area is also a successful way to get boaters interested. As the boats arrive on the parking lots and stop to ready for launching, members will approach, explain what they

Keith Blosser, DCDR of Division 18, makes certain the navigational lights work on this fishing boat during a Vessel Safety Check. Vessel Inspections are a key part of one of the cornerstones of the Auxiliary, and a great way to interact with members of the boating community.

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are doing and ask if they would like a Vessel Safety Check. When providing the service in this way, the examiner needs to be quick but thorough. Holding up the line for the launch ramp is not courteous; those Flotillas that provide the service in this manner most always have a spot for the trucks and trailers to pull into so it is not inconvenient for those boaters not wanting the sticker. There are so many ways to advertise to the boaters coming into the marina, large ‘A’ framed signs, using saw horses with arrows and signs, having an information booth that attracts attention or just standing in uniform at the parking lot entrance.

Advertising at local Marinas and nautical & boating supply stores by leaving the brochure with your name

and number on it is yet another way VE’s get the word out to the public. Also, leaving the Safety list that the examiner will be checking is working well for several Flotillas. Letting the public know that you will come to them, whether it’s at their house, storage unit or marina, is a bonus for the boaters. However, never go

out alone to conduct Vessel Safety Checks, and always make sure your FSO-VE or FC know when and where you will be. It is also recommended you contact them before you begin and after the session is completed.

Some Divisions and Flotillas also have a Vessel Safety Check available on their website. The boat owner can answer questions on the information asked by the vessel examiner and listed on the check off sheet. After which they will be contacted by the member to make an appointment to visit the boat. Many of the contacts even come from participants from the Boating Safely classes that are provided throughout the district. And vise versa,

Story by Geri McKee , ADSO-PBPhotos by Geri McKee and Curtis Pratt

many of the students who attend Boating Safely classes learn about the our offering education from the Vessel Safety Checks. These are two key operations that work hand-in-hand.

District Eighth Eastern has 206 Vessel Examiners listed in AUXDATA. These Auxiliarists provided 4,772 safety checks on public boats, 728 paddle craft vessels and 85 facilities in 2014. That is a lot of safer boats and safer boaters operating in our waterways. While there is no way to know how many registered or documented boats there are in our district because each state’s method for registering boats is different, overall our District does a great job of getting the word out about Vessel Safety Checks and keeping it a safer place to enjoy boating.

Vessel Safety Exam Continued from page 7

Following the Vessel Safety Check form is an easy way to bring up recommended topics to boaters, like having a Float Plan.

Features of the app include: state boating information; a safety equipment checklist; free boating safety check requests; navigation rules; float plans; and calling features to report pollution or suspicious activity. When location services are enabled, users can receive the latest weather reports from the closest National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration weather buoys as well as report the location of a hazard on the water. The app will be available on the Apple and Google Play online stores. For more information, please visit http://www.uscg.mil/mobile

US Coast Guard Releasing Boating Safety App

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MESSAGE FROM The Chief of Staff

THE BIRDS AND THE BEES

The Personnel Security Investigation (P.S.I.) is one of the sticking points for all of us in this organization. Not so much the paperwork to get it done, but the length of time it takes a new member to get his or her Security Clearance. Understand something, the length of time that the P.S.I. takes is not something that is under Auxiliary control,

District, National, or the Director’s Office cannot “fix” this. However, Commodore Simoni is working diligently with the Coast Guard to try to improve on the process however a remedy probably won’t be overnight.

The P.S.I. takes as much as a year, sometimes more. This is a very long time for some and there is some incorrect information some of our flotillas are telling a new member, such as “there is nothing you can do while waiting” or “you are limited in what you can do”. The first statement is totally false and the latter statement is misleading. Granted the individual may not qualify for any competency that is security-centric, however the individual can qualify as Instructor, Vessel Examiner, and Program Visitor and be working toward qualifying as Boat Crew or in the Aviation area, or any other area for that matter.

There is a test program underway in three Districts for the Basic Qualification Course. This course is a mentored course that takes a new member through all of the areas that the New Member Course presented plus much, much, more. Some of the subjects cover, Auxiliary Regulations and Policy, Organizational Structure, Courtesy and Protocol. There is also a very good chapter on our Uniforms, covering explanations of our uniforms and proper wear guidance. Along with all this is a requirement inside the BQ Course to complete required ICS Courses and the Mandated Training Courses.

District Eight Eastern is voluntarily taking part in this

test program with Flotilla 7-2 already running the program. They have members that have been involved in this program since shortly after Spring DTRAIN and the reports back so far are very positive. I encourage all our flotillas to take part in this program and I suppose one of the first questions asked will be what we will get out of the program. There are many pluses for this opportunity.

This program will span the wait for a P.S.I. A second plus is that the program is a mentored program so we will get more involvement out of our longer-termed members by putting a qualified mentor with the new member. The new member can learn and the mentor can use his or her skills and refresh the memory at the same time. And the most important benefit of this course is the opportunity to make Succession Planning work for your flotillas. Through this course we will be bringing up a more knowledgeable member that can become a more informed and better prepared leader for the future.

The Basic Qualification Course, Mentor Guide, and PQS are all found on the Training Directorate website: http : / /wow.uscgaux. info/content .php?unit=T-DEPT&category=basic-qualification

While you are on the Training Directorate website please take some time to look over the link to Deckplate Leadership, (listed in the dropdown link boxes on the Training Directorate website as Deckplate Ldr). This is a powerful tool that can be used to greatly enhance your Member Training opportunities, and in particular your Member Training portions of your flotilla meetings. Michael Brzezicki gave us insight into what the series comprises in last months’ Heartland Guardian.

Again, I invite all our flotillas to participate in our own Beta testing of the Basic Qualification Course. Your FSO-MT’s can use the Parallel Staffing Chain for questions on either the BQ Course or Deckplate Leadership. If we use the tools available, and these two are only a fraction of the tools available to us, we can grow better trained, and be tomorrow’s leaders. “Knowledge is power”.

Randy Ventress, DCOS 8 ER

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MyFitnessPal is a free smartphone app and website that tracks diet and exercise to determine optimal nutrients and caloric intake for the users’ goals. In a Consumer Reports diet rating, MyFitnessPal was rated the best free program.

GETTING FIT FOR SERVICE

part 2The Battle of the Bulge Continues

The battle to get fit for service, like the historic World War II Battle of the Bulge, is a tough one. The enemy is stubborn, well equipped and tenacious. And, like the hard-fighting troops of the 101st Airborne were in the Ardennes Forest in late 1944, often there is the feeling of being surrounded. But, progress, though slow and frustrating at times, is being made.

To be sure, the process of getting in shape bares no real resemblance to the heroic deeds of the Allied Forces in those dark days when victory hung in the balance and individuals were called upon to be extraordinary. But, the

obligation to honor the sacrifice of our active duty personnel, especially our Coast Guard shipmates by being prepared for service is real and needs to be considered.

In short, if an Auxiliary member is not prepared, motivated, in shape and ready to serve what are they? That is the question that I was forced to ask myself when getting dressed for the Division 12 Change of Watch ceremony in January. That ceremony, and the fact that the Service Blue jacket, with its new silver stripes on the sleeves, had to almost be cinched closed forced me to ask myself a hard question. Was I ready for service as a Flotilla Commander. Was I ready to try to set an example for new members and old? I didn’t like the answer.

So, as was detailed in a previous Heartland Guardian article, I decided it was time to get off my posterior; make that particular part of my anatomy and the surrounding territory, a bit smaller. As winter has turned to spring I can see progress being made, not as much as I would like, but progress none the less. I am down 14 pounds and making plans to, hopefully take off 14 more.

Further progress will be detailed in a few months but here’s is how I got this far. First of all, I had to figure out what the enemy was. That was the easy part. The enemy was food, frosty beverages and a tendency to sit on the afore-mentioned posterior.

At 63 years old, a certain amount of get-up-and-go has done got up and went. Patterns, acquired over the years and changes in eating and exercise habits, have conspired to take me from a once svelte 185-pound Helitack Firefighter to what topped out at a 268-pound old round guy. Hey, it happens, but 83 pounds is a lot of extra weight on knees, the back and most importantly, the heart.

So, confronted by the obvious, I did the obvious thing. I stopped eating. And, I am here to tell you, that doesn’t work. Next, I stopped drinking, that doesn’t seem to work very well either. I then consulted Mark Twain, my weight loss guru. Twain once said “Every thing in moderation,” or something like that. That is what has worked in my case. My advice is… “Read Huckleberry Finn and forget about the Jane Fonda Workout tapes.

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Well not really. There is a bit more to it. I started to look at what was working for others around me, on-line and anywhere else I could get information. Two individuals who really helped were Bob Spera, Division 12’s Assistant Division Commander, and my wife, Nancy Smith, a retired dietician.

Besides providing a partner to walk with as I added exercise to the program, Bob also showed me an application on my smart phone that recorded the number of calories I took in each day. That app., named My Fitness Pal, is free and can be downloaded to either a smart phone or a computer. I set a goal of 2400 calories per day and have been able to stay substantially under that limit for the last several months. And don’t worry, My Fitness Pal takes fitness seriously. If I don’t log in my meals each day it asks me why not and prods me to do so. The program is remarkably complete, lists foods of all types, their calorie counts, fat grams and all that other stuff I am totally ignorant of nutritionally. By the way, it also lists beverages, including, unfortunately, my favorite frosty ones. Drat!

Nancy Smith, my long-suffering wife, knows all about that nutritional stuff. And has been more than willing to tell me what I should, or should not, eat. I am sad to say that I haven’t had a doughnut in four months… a new record! Now I eat dry cereal and a banana for breakfast, usually have air for lunch and eat a reasonably portioned meal with actual vegetables and salad for supper. I know she is right about eating healthier foods with smaller portions, because she always is right. Again… Drat!

The exercise part of the program has had success but

recently suffered a blow… literally. On the way to our Quad Cities Flotilla meeting Bob and I got hit in the back end of my Subaru at a stoplight by a Mack Truck, really. While not specifically endorsing Subaru, I can say that the “They Lived” commercials are right. On the other hand, while we, thankfully, were not as seriously hurt as we could have been, really sore does not lend itself to exercise. Neither does an exceptionally wet spring. Hopefully, I can get back on track with walking a couple of miles a day in the near future. I enjoyed it and know that it is an integral part of the program. Another smart phone app. that I have found useful is, “Map My Walk,” which is a GPS driven app. that will actually create a map of a walk, time the walk, let you know your pace, measure calories used and provide other interesting facts. It will, like My Fitness Pal, bug you if you don’t pay attention and use it.

So, this is where things stand as spring turns toward summer. The battle of the bulge continues. The enemy is known and is still all around me. But, progress is being made in driving it back. Eating smaller portions, healthier foods, less fatty foods (that is the hard “food” part for me) and getting more exercise are the weapons that I am using to wage this fight. While the battle will continue, probably for years, it is one worth fighting, especially if I want to get fit for service and have a long, productive career in the Auxiliary.

To be continued…

Story by H William Smith , ADSO-PBPhoto courtesy of My FitnessPal, Inc.

Guidelines for Safely Engaging in Physical Activity1. Get checked out. Before you begin a program, make

an appointment with your doctor to make sure you are not doing anything that may be contraindicated to your health.

2. Go at your own pace. If you have not exercised in a while take it slow. Research has shown that as long as you’re doing physical activity at a moderate or

vigorous effort for at least 10 minutes at a time you are receiving the benefits of exercise.

3. Have fun and be safe! Do something that you enjoy but know your limitations. If you feel pain while exercising something is wrong, stop what you are doing, and get checked out! For more information go to: http://www.cdc.gov/physicalactivity/everyone/guidelines/adults.html

Getting Fit For Service Continued from page 7

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The new Vessel Safety Check Manual (COMDTINST M16796.8A) was rolled out in October of 2014 and the Vessel Safety Check Manual (COMDTINST M16796.8) and the Vessel Examiner Manual (COMDTINST M16796.2E) are cancelled. Incorporated into this new Manual are a few changes that all Vessel Examiners, Staff Officers for VE, and leaders shall become familiar with. This Manual is downloadable from the “V” Directorate website:

http://vdept.cgaux.org/pdf-files/CIM_16796_8A_Printable_Version.pdf

The Vessel Safety Check Manual states in Chapter 2 (Conducting a Vessel Safety Check), paragraph B (Uniform), and item 3 “Auxiliarists shall wear a life jacket while conducting vessel safety checks on vessels that are in the water, and are encouraged to do so during classroom training to promote their use among the boating community”.

There have been questions asked on this change and I would like to answer.

Question: Several years ago Vessel Examiners were given a manual inflate P.F.D. Are these still authorized for Vessel Examiners?

Answer: VE’s may wear these manual inflate PFD they were given on shore for educational or demonstration purposes. Once they go to work overwater they need an approved PFD.

Question: Can a Vessel Examiner wear an approved auto inflate?

Answer: Yes, VE’s can wear an approved inflatable PFD (there are four of them) however our region only supports one of them the MD 3183. Issuing guidance is covered in the 8WR/ER PPE SOP and Inflatable PFD policy located on the 8ER website in the Operations tab under the PPE tab.

Question: Will there be a requirement to complete a PQS for the approved Inflatable PFD?

Answer: Yes, VE’s wearing an approved inflatable PFD will have to complete the Inflatable PQS, accounted for and maintain it in accordance with

our regions PPE SOP and the Inflatable PFD policy. Both are on the 8ER website in the Operations tab under the PPE tab.

Question: Will VE’s be issued an approved PFD if they do not currently have one?

Answer: Yes, at a minimum VE’s will be issued a Type III PFD with Auxiliary markings. We are currently conducting a region wide inventory of all personnel protective equipment (PPE) to determine what the need will be. Once complete the DIRAUX office will begin processing the data and formulate a plan to outfit each VE in need of PPE.

Question: What do the VE’s do in the mean time?

Answer: This is all about safety of our people and educating the public; so when a VE steps out onto the dock to conduct the great work that they do, they will need to put on their Auxiliary PFD or any Coast Guard approved PFD.

The National “V” Directorate has the 2015 VE Workshop on that website. While not mandated for 2015 this presentation will answer many of the questions and give great insight into the Vessel Safety Check Mission. I encourage every Division and Flotilla to present this at Member Training as a workshop.

For questions on the above subject matter please contact your FSO-VE.

Q & A With OTO Nick FrascellaRegarding changes in the new Vessel Safety Check Manual

Story by BOSN4 Nick Frascella, USCGOperations Training Officer, 8ER

Central Ohio Auxiliary Partners with

The Asian Festival During National Safe Boating Week

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On May 17, 2015, US Coast Guard Auxiliary 18-06 patrolled the Asian Festival Dragon Boat Races on the Scioto River in Columbus, Ohio. They also had a Public Affairs booth where they handed out Recreation Safe Boating material and Coast Guard information at the event. This was the second day of activity to kick off National Safe Boating week. On May 16th they were hosted by Cabela’s to complete Vessel Exams of small boats, canoes and kayaks. 18-06 is proud that they are successfully continuing their Diversity Outreach activities to more areas in their AOR. By using the 3 Star NACO Diversity Award outline as a tool to increase our growth in membership and Flotilla activity, they are being invited to be involved in a wider range of activities in the community. They were also invited back to patrol and have a Public Affairs Booth at the 2016 Asian Festival as a result of their willingness to work with the City of Columbus and the Asian Community.

1) Racing Dragons; 2) Leon Wisenberg, SO-FN 18-06, Anna Reed, FC 18-06, and Jeff Tinklepaugh, ADSO-HR, keep things safe; 3) Racers ready to shove off; 4) Leon Weisenberg ready to embark; 5) DIG!!! 6)Eric Mowery, SO-PA 18-06, greets the public; 7) A good sign.

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photos by Gerlinde Higginbotham, Jeff Tinklepaugh and Curtis Pratt