Chief Director of the Auxiliary Captain Smith

Wednesday and Thursday, 24-25 January 07. St. Louis, MO.

North, South, East and West, Auxiliarists from across the country, the Pacific Ocean and the Caribbean have gathered once again in St. Louis for their annual National Training Conference (NTrain).

The days leading up to the “meat” of the training sessions and workshops, those for the specific District Staff Officers, were filled with National staff meetings and specialized training.

Specialized Training Workshops

The specialized training workshops are actually “C Schools” including AUX-05 Rear Commodore (RCO) Academy; AUX-11 Junior DIRAUX training; and AUX-15 Air Coordinator training.

The AUX-05 RCO Academy is a unique opportunity for these officers to meet, learn and share ideas.  The objective of the workshop is to provide senior leadership interaction and the nuts and bolts of leadership at this level.  “Excellent presentations and a great opportunity to meet Auxiliarists who share our same goals, ambitions, failures and successes,” said Jim Emery, RCO D5-NR.  Excellent facilitators with very useful subject matter to keep our attention, even during the normal sluggish time in mid-afternoon,” said Ron Goldenberg, RCO D7.

“The RCO Academy is a leadership course that is one of the courses targeted to the appropriate leadership competencies,” said Gail Fisher, Department Chief-Training (DC-T).

The AUX-05 Junior DIRAUX (Director of Auxiliary) training workshop presented directions and information for civilian and active duty personnel who work in the various DIRAUX offices around the country.  This workshop presented an opportunity for individuals to share solutions to common problems and work-a-day issues.

The AUX-15 Air Coordinator training covered issues unique to and relating to Auxiliary aviation programs.

National Business Meetings

The National Operating Committee (OPCOM) chaired by National Chief of Staff Warren MacAdams (NCOS) met in session with District Commodores (DCO) added to the “round table” for the first time.  “In your position as a District Commodore you are member of the National staff and you are now seated accordingly,” said National Commodore Steven Budar.

The OPCOM is the forum where each of the National Department Chiefs (DC) have an opportunity to highlight their achievements, successes and not-so-successes during the previous year.  The DC’s also use this opportunity to showcase their department’s current projects, goals and plans for the coming year and beyond.  Due to the nature of these reports and them not being “ready for prime time” only an overview of the OPCOM sessions is being reported.

The seating of the District Commodores with the Department Chiefs allowed them to pose questions and suggestions to the department presenters.  “The open dialog between the two groups was productive and refreshing,” said Robert Amort, District 5NR Commodore.

The National Directorate Commodores and their Department Chiefs for 2007 are:
            Directorate Commodore-Member Services (NADCO-MS) Fred Gates
            Department Chief-Personnel (DC-P) Gregg Trask
            Department Chief-Information Services (DC-I) Brett Grooms
            Department Chief-Training (DC-T) Gail Fisher
            Department Chief-Public Affairs (DC-A) Ed Sweeney
            Directorate Commodore-Operations and Marine Safety (NADCO-O) David Hand
            Department Chief-Marine Safety (DC-M) Greg Kester
            Department Chief-Operations (DC-O) David Elliot
            Directorate Commodore-Recreational Boating Safety (NADCO-RBS) Jesse Harrup
            Department Chief-Vessel Examination and Recreational Boating Safety Visitation Program (DC-V) Peter Urgola
            Department Chief-Boating (DC-B) Bob Melvin
            Department Chief-Education (DC-E) Robin Freeman

Editor’s note: Photos of each of the above staff officers accompany this article.

Presentations were also proffered by:
Department Chief-Legal Services (DC-L) Don Krispin
Chief Director of the Auxiliary (CHIDIRAUX) Captain Barry Smith, USCG and members of his staff.

Mr. Carol W. Brewton, Uniform Program Manager introduced new uniform items that are now available at the Uniform Distribution Center (UDC) in Woodbine, NJ.  Uniform items can now be easily ordered online at www.uscg.mil/uniforms.  CWO Green of the UDC modeled a new “Riggers Belt” that can be worn with the ODU uniform.  New uniform styles are in the works and will be announced when available.

The District Directors of Auxiliary and their Operational Training Officers (OTO) attended the Chief Director’s meeting.  The purpose of this meeting was to discuss updates to current and ongoing programs and roll out new issues and objectives.

To say the least, the days at NTrain are rather long.  Training sessions continue into the night.  Soon after dinner the Marine Safety Department and their Commercial Fishing Division commenced their indoctrination sessions for their newly appointed Marine Safety District Staff Officers (DSOs-MS and CFVE).  The sessions provided an overview of “things to come” in the next few days and gave the new officers a chance to meet and mingle with their counterparts from other Districts.