US Coast Guard Aux.

[wcsellers]

I saw these guys out on the lake this weekend and was courious about joining them. Any ideas or thoughts on this organization?

 

[FunInDuhSun]

Re: US Coast Guard Aux.

Great organization in general but IMO it depends on how each local branch is run. Most are A-OK but some are managed by 'little Hitlers'. Again, just my opinion.
I'd suggest you find your local USCGA unit and give 'em a try. In case you don't know, it's all volunteer.

 

[wcsellers]

Re: US Coast Guard Aux.

yeah i read that they were volunteer. I guess when they saw my fire depatrment tattoo's and learned I was a first responder it opened the door for them to recruit me and get some more coverage on the lake, not that I mind. Kinda feels good to know your having fun but could also help a fellow american/ boater out

 

[burp]

Re: US Coast Guard Aux.

Ditto with FunInDuhSun.....some units are OK, others tend to take things too far. They all offer good, useful, educational boating courses.

 

[Borchik]

Re: US Coast Guard Aux.

The only issue I have with them, which as someone said it depends on each group, is that they like to say they have power and control but in actuality they have none at all. I have had them at my marina doing free safety inspections which is nice until 2 customers in a row told me they were threatened with getting a ticket from them...they have no authority to give or even threaten to give tickets so i booted them out and told them why. they are under the supervision of the actual Coast Guard however I dont think its very close supervision.

 

[ziggy]

Re: US Coast Guard Aux.

they are under the supervision of the actual Coast Guard however

i think that's true. i also think that they are subject to on call for natural disasters. they take the light duty of real uscg and free real cg up to go do whatever they do. that part i wasn't hip to. + i believe they do a back ground check on you prior to joining. this is what i understand anyways. i do think that perhaps they are slightly more professional than usps. i still may join someday though.

i haven't done it this year. but the past two i had the uscg aux do my safety inspection. that was fun and i enjoyed talking with the uscg aux. member.. they even came to my house to do the inspection... that's going out of their way to help i thought..

i was a usps member for maybe 5 years. i liked it and got lots of good education from them. but in the end. the squadron kinda fell apart and had very few members. i am from ne. and real land locked so it's not a surprise to me that this occurred.

 

[RicMic]

Re: US Coast Guard Aux.

I always sought them out to get the safety inspection and sticker and enjoyed talking to them and although certainly some people get their nose out of joint, when told that they don't have enough PFD's and COULD get a citation, it may well save some lives and when I heard it, they were not threatening to give people tickets, they were saying that IF they got stopped and checked by the CG out on the water, they COULD get X number of citations. Some people take that as a threat.
I was in a volunteer sheriffs office and the little hitler thing happens a lot, its not unique to any organization, the problem is firing someone thats not getting paid! HOWEVER it can be really rewarding when you do good stuff and people let you know that they DO appreciate your efforts.