Basic Introduction to the Coast Guard

An overview presentation of USCG Organizational Structure

Basic Introduction to the Coast Guard (BIC)

The purpose of this course is to facilitate an in-depth discussion of items useful to new and seasoned Auxiliarists. It draws on extensive resources freely available from the USCG and USCG Auxiliary. It was originally developed by Flotilla 054-25-12 for use with that unit’s new members, but may be freely used by individual units wishing to provide such training.

Course Components: NASBLA-approved “Safe

Boating Course” » “Basic Qualification”

ICS-100 online course/exam» Offered by FEMA

Character in Action by ADM James Loy (Ret.)» Read and discuss

Complete an Individual Development Plan (IDP)» Do this with a coach/mentor

Classroom lectures and discussions» Demonstrate knowledge

mastery with signoffs

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Core Values at the Core of of our Service

Honor “Integrity is our standard. We demonstrate uncompromising

ethical conduct and moral behavior in all of our actions. We are loyal and accountable to the public trust.”

Respect “We value our diverse workforce. We treat each other with

fairness, dignity, and compassion. We encourage creativity through empowerment. We work as a team.”

Devotion to Duty “We are professionals, military and civilian, who seek

responsibility, accept accountability, and are committed to the successful achievement or our organizational goals. We exist to serve. We serve with pride.”

Honor is to serve yourself; Respect is to serve others; Devotion to Duty is to serve your country.January 28, 2010 3Coast Guard and Auxiliary Organizational Structure

The Guardian Ethos

I am America’s Maritime Guardian.I am America’s Maritime Guardian.

I serve the citizens of the United States.I serve the citizens of the United States.

I will protect them.I will protect them.

I will defend them.I will defend them.

I will save them.I will save them.

I am their Shield.I am their Shield.

For them I am Semper Paratus.For them I am Semper Paratus.

I live the Coast Guard Core Values.I live the Coast Guard Core Values.

I am a Guardian.I am a Guardian.

We are the United States Coast Guard.We are the United States Coast Guard.January 28, 2010 4Coast Guard and Auxiliary Organizational Structure

Definitions and Acronyms

Understand that… “Coast Guard Modernization” describes the organizational

realignment, undertaken during ADM Allen’s tenure as Commandant, intended to make the USCG more capable of executing it’s complex and diverse twenty-first century missions.

“Headquarters” (HQ) is the Coast Guard’s central command; located in Washington, DC.

“Area” describes the Coast Guard’s pre-modernization division of the world into two halves, Atlantic and Pacific, with boundaries at the Rocky Mountains and the Middle East.

“Districts” are large regional commands dividing areas of U. S. Territory. The Auxiliary divides some districts into Regions.

“Area of Responsibility” (AOR) describes the geographic area that a given unit has mission responsibility for.

“Sectors” are consolidated commands for a region; most operations within this area are the responsibility of the Sector.

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Discuss

COAST GUARD MODERNIZATION

The following information concerning the Coast Guard’s organizational structure is based on the ultimate vision, modernized Coast Guard, not all of which has been approved yet by Congress.

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Modernized USCG Organization

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Major Coast Guard Components

Following are general explanations for the responsibly of each of the four major USCG components.

Deputy Commandant for Mission Support (DCMS)» Responsible “Mission Support” activities such as human resources,

engineering and maintenance, logistics, communications and information technology, and acquisition.

Deputy Commandant for Operations (DCO)» Responsible for developing USCG operational policies, capabilities,

international affairs, and related programs.

Force Readiness Command (FORCECOM)» Responsible for the readiness of USCG forces and personnel

training such as that provided by the Training Centers.

Operations Command (OPCOM)» Responsible for Coast Guard mission execution;» District Commanders report to Commander, OPCOM;» All operational units fall within OPCOM.

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Deputy Commandant for Mission Support

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Force Readiness Command

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Operations Command

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Deputy Commandant for Operations

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Chief Director of Auxiliary (CG-542)

The Chief Director of Auxiliary (CHDIRAUX) is an active duty Captain who is responsible for Auxiliary administrative and operational controls and support.

CHDIRAUX directions Auxiliary administration within the policies established by the Commandant.

CHDIRAUX is the Commandant’s representative to the Auxiliary National Executive Committee (NEXCOM) and National Board.

More information available in the Auxiliary Manual (AUXMAN). A Director of Auxiliary (DIRAUX) is assigned to each Auxiliary

District to perform in that single district duties similar to what CHDIRAUX performs nation-wide.» A Chief Warrant Officer called the “Operations Training Officer”

(OTO) serves as a type of deputy to the DIRAUX in each district.» Additional enlisted personnel are assigned to the DIRAUX office.» Do not contact this office without prior authorization.

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Modernized USCG Auxiliary

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Auxiliary Mission Support

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Auxiliary Operations Policy

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Auxiliary Force Readiness

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Auxiliary Operations

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Discuss

WHERE MIGHT YOU LIKE TO SERVE IN THE AUXILIARY?

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Where are Auxiliary Districts and Sectors?

Notice that, whereas active duty District Commanders Report to Coast Guard Operations Command, Auxiliary District Commodores do not all report to Deputy National Commodore for Operations.

The Auxiliary is divided into “Areas,” with one Deputy National Commodore being elected from each area (DNACO-S is appointed NACO).

In addition to their National Staff responsibilities, the DNACO oversees the District Commodores from the respective area.

The Auxiliary further divides some Districts into regions, such as “Fifth District, Southern Region,” to decrease the geographic area that one District Commodore must manage as a volunteer.

Each Sector then is usually led by a District Captain, who reports to the District Commodore and is the Auxiliary counterpart of the active duty “Sector Commander.”

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Auxiliary District Organization

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USCG Auxiliary District Map

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USCG Sector Map

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Parallel Organizational Structures

The Auxiliary is administered in parallel to the active duty Coast Guard, but yet under and within the full control of the Commandant.

NACO serves on the Commandant’s Leadership Council. NACO works with CHDIRAUX to administer the Auxiliary. DNACOs, ANACOs, and Directors work with their organizational

counterpart on the active duty side. DCOs and District Commanders work together in the District. DCAPTs and Sector Commanders work together in the Sector.

» Most sectors further assign an Auxiliary Sector Coordinator and an active duty Auxiliary Liaison to coordinate operations and personnel.

DCDRs, FCs, and local active duty unit and station commanders work together to provide operational mission execution at the unit level.

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Auxiliary Chain of Leadership

Auxiliary National Staff

District Commodore

DCOS District Staff Officers

District Captain

Division Commander

VCDR Division Staff Officers

Flotilla Commander

VFC Flotilla Staff Officers

Members

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Understanding the Chain of Leadership

It is important to understand the Chain of Leadership so that you do not circumvent established procedures.

Locate yourself in the diagram; you may communicate with the person immediately to your left, right, top, or bottom.

Auxiliarists who serve in different assignments cannot abuse the position or responsibilities of one assigned duty to “pull rank” on someone they work with in another assigned duty.

“Commanders” are responsible for the entire unit, but that “Vice Commanders” are responsible for the staff.» The District Commodore is responsible for the entire District, while

the District Chief of Staff (DCOS) is responsible for the District staff.

All Auxiliarists, from the newest member up to the National Commodore, are members of a Flotilla.» This means that all Auxiliarists have a Flotilla Commander, Vice

Commander, Staff Officers, and Flotilla operations to work with and participate in.

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Flotilla Personnel

Flotilla Commander (FC)

Flotilla Vice Commander (VFC) manages the staff.

Flotilla Staff Officers: Communications (CM) Communications Services

(CS) Finance (FN) Human Resources (HR) Information Services (IS) Marine Safety and

Environment Protection (MS) Materials (MA) Member Training (MT)

Flotilla Staff Officers (cont) Navigational Systems (NS) Operations (OP) Program Visitor (PV) Public Affairs (PA) Public Education (PE) Publications (PB) Secretary/Records (SR) Vessel Examination (VE)

Flotilla Staff Officers are abbreviated “FSO-XX” where XX is replaced by the two-letter staff symbol.

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Discuss

WHAT DOES EACH STAFF OFFICER ACTUALLY DO?

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Centrality of the Flotilla

The Auxiliary’s operations take place at the Flotilla, local unit, level. Divisions covering a dense geographic area will often coordinate multi-Flotilla operations.

All Auxiliarists are members of a Flotilla because the Flotilla is also critical for personnel management, recruiting, training, and communications.

Flotillas are designated in two ways:» Numerically, DDD-VV-FF, whereas DDD is the District Number, VV

is the Division number, and FF is the Flotilla number.» Flotilla “054-25-12” would be Flotilla 12 in Division 25 in District 054

(meaning “District Five, Southern Region”), and will often be referred to as “Flotilla 25-12”.

» Flotilla 054-06-07 will often be called “Flotilla 67.”» Flotillas are also designated by geography; the Flotillas described

above are, for example, “Flotilla 054-25-12, Arlington | Northern Virginia” and “Flotilla 054-06-07, Williamsburg VA” respectively.

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Discuss

WHICH FLOTILLA ARE YOU IN; WHAT AOR DOES IT SERVE?

Flotilla’s do not have a rigid AOR, and an Auxiliarist is not required to join the closest Flotilla, but most Flotillas do concentrate on a single area or community that becomes the informal AOR.

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Discuss

ARE CORE VALUES AND THE ORGANIZATION CONNECTED?

Honor – Respect – Devotion to Duty

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Additional Resources

Auxiliary Manual, COMDTINST 16790.1 (series) http://www.uscg.mil/directives/cim/16000-16999/CIM_16790_1F

.pdf

Chief Director of Auxiliary (CHDIRAUX) Website http://www.uscg.mil/hq/cg3/cg3pcx/

National Commodore’s Website http://naco.cgaux.org/

USCG Modernization Website http://uscg.mil/modernization/

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