The theme of N-TRAIN 2006 was "People First" and that theme permeated the conference from the first moment on arrival. The St. Louis weatherman cooperated with this theme serving up some very "people pleasing" sunny days and mild climate.

The National Training Workshop, popularly called N-TRAIN, convened its 2006 session this last weekend in January. As usual, this annual gathering of Auxiliarists from across the nation took place at the Renaissance Airport Hotel in St. Louis, MO.

N-TRAIN training workshops are the first order of business of the conference. The primary function of N-TRAIN workshops is to provide the latest policies and program information to the District Staff Officers (DSO) who were included in this years meeting. It is their responsibility to disseminate this information to their respective District departments.

The content of training programs that will follow within the Districts is usually composed from the materials and information received at N-TRAIN.

This year's workshops include training for the DSO's of the following programs:

• Communications (CM)
• Computer Services (CS)
• Marine Safety (MS)
• Public Affairs (PA)
• Personnel Services (PS)
• Publications (PB)
• Public Education (PE)

Additional, very specialized training was provided in workshops that convened before and during the DSO sessions. These included the following:

• AUX-09 OTO Training. This training provided basic information and the latest procedures/regulations to the Operational Training Officers (OTO) of the Coast Guard. The OTO serves the Auxiliary in the Director of Auxiliary's office as the chief Coast Guard training officer to the District as well as assisting in other Auxiliary Administrative matters.
• AUX-12 PA Training. This training provided the "nuts and bolts" and advanced curricula of being a Public Affairs (PA) officer in the Auxiliary. The course covered writing, editing, photography and other matters needed to properly conduct a Public Affairs program within the District. Writing press releases, conducting interviews, and video photography were some of the subjects covered during the three day workshop. Attendees included PA staff officers and PB (Publications) staff officers from around the country.
• AUX-15 Air Coordinator Training. This very specialized aviation training was provided in a two day workshop session. Graduates from this workshop can act as Air Coordinators in their respective Districts. Attendees traveled from all parts of the country to attend this workshop.
• In addition training was provided to Commercial Fishing Vessel examiners, the new AUX PLUS system that will be rolled out very shortly and Legal issue training to the District Commodores. Vice Commodores received a refresher Auxiliary Senior Officer (ASOC) Course with additional workshop material.