New Page 11

AUXSAR, the Auxiliary Search and Rescue Specialty course, is designed to present the Auxiliarist with a thorough understanding of the policy, organization and procedures involved in the search and rescue process as generally practiced by the U.S. Coast Guard. It prepares the Auxiliarist to assist the Coast Guard in a safe and prudent manner.

The safety of both the towing and towed vessels and their crews is of utmost importance throughout this course. The AUXSAR student learns how to calculate the power (RPM) limits when towing to avoid engine damage, how to determine maximum safe towing speeds for different vessels under existing sea conditions, and how to reduce towing strains by adjusting tow line length, or modifying course direction or other actions. The AUXSAR Specialist is aware of the overall structure of the search and rescue organization.

They are able to plan search operations. A comprehensive knowledge of search and rescue operations and an understanding of towing principles, tow line properties, and recognition of the effects of sea state are necessary to ensure a safe and successful search and rescue.

You can achieve success as an AUXSAR Specialist by passing a closed book, proctored examination with a score of 75% or better.

2007 – 2009 Planning Updates: Advanced Learning Division

1. Preparation to release a new AUXOP course, Search Coordination & Execution, has started. This course will replace Auxiliary Search and Rescue, AUXSAR. Three sites (Portland, Colorado Springs, and Cape May) will be used to offer a Train-The-Trainer course to three members from each District. A total of seventy-five members will be trained. The course will be taught by instructors from the National SAR School.

2. Development of the new or updated AUXOP courses (Weekend Navigator Course, Communications and Seamanship) continues. An extensive review of the status of each course development is underway. Apparently, progress has been limited in some areas and is being reassessed. Our goal is to complete course development by the end of the year.

The roll-out of the new AUXSCE course to the membership is planned for January, 2008. If you have completed the AUXSAR course previously, you will not need AUXSCE to complete the AUXOP process. In addition, if you have begun the AUXSAR course, you have until January, 2008 to successfully complete the course and pass the exam. Following January, 2008 -- only the AUXSCE course will apply toward the pursuit of AUXOP.

This new course was created and presented to the instructor candidates by active duty instructors from the National SAR School. It closely mirrors the active duty SCE course and contains excellent -- and relevant -- material for the Auxiliarist conducting actual SAR operations.

Because AUXSCE is a Coast Guard course, the Auxiliary has no options for changing or altering the material or instructional design. The course MUST BE delivered in the same way that you have just received it. Specifically, this means:

1. AUXSCE is a 28 hour course. You must deliver the entire course, not an “abbreviated version”, even for the Train-the-Trainer sessions you may hold with experienced AUXOP members. While some of the content of AUXSAR will be similar in AUXSCE, the course, in its entirety, is different. The National SAR School takes the time to ensure that the active duty personnel that complete this course have received the instruction and practice (laboratory) time needed to be competent, and we must do the same.
2. No changes can be made to any of the materials, including the PowerPoint slides (no added or deleted slides, no altering of any of the content on the slides). This may be different than how you have traditionally handled other AUXOP courses in the past, when you have “customized” the materials to your preferences.
Again, this is a Coast Guard course, not an Auxiliary course. We want a standard program that is taught the same way across all Districts. Your opportunity to personalize the material will come in the form of “sea stories” or personal experiences that you can utilize to make a relevant teaching point. AUXSCE References

Charts have been ordered for ANSC. However, ANSC has not yet received a promised delivery date from the source. The National Training Department will advise you, by email, as soon as this information is available.

Will the same chart used for AUXSCE also be used for the new, updated AUXNAV course?

While the AUXNAV course is still in development, it is our intention to use the same chart.

Can the Train-the-Trainer (T3) Instructors have a listing of all of the T3 Instructors attending the AUXSCE initial classes held in Portland, Colorado Springs, and Cape May?

Yes. The list of attendees will be provided by email toyou following completion of all classes.

Do members who previously successfully passed AUXSAR need to attend AUXSCE when it is available?

Members that have already passed AUXSAR do not need to attend AUXSCE. To attain the status of AUXOP, either the course AUXSAR
or AUXSCE, will satisfy the requirement. However, since the AUXSCE course is a
significant update and covers the SAR techniques employed now, it would be
beneficial to the member to learn current techniques.

Can any AUXOP or IT, who has completed AUXSAR, teach the AUXSCE course?

No. The instructor must attend both the AUXSCE and T3 Instructor course to qualify to teach AUXSCE. This is necessary since the two courses are significantly different.

Is it necessary to have more than one instructor to teach an AUXSCE class?
For classes less that about 8 people, it is possible to teach the course with one
instructor. However, it is difficult to mentor more students during the chart exercises
with only one instructor. The second instructor should have completed AUXSCE, but need not have taken the T3. Thus, more than one instructor is recommended for class sizes larger than eight.

Will attendance at this class be listed in AUXDATA?

Yes. However, we can not easily add a new class title to the AUXDATA list. Your attendance will be shown as attending “AUXSAR”.

When will the material to support teaching AUXSCE be available?

The Training
Department is planning to release the entire package in the first quarter of 2008. There are several items that require effort in order to accomplish this goal including the CG update of some material, printing of the Student Guide and the development of final exams. If you desire to print copies of the Student Guide using the CD provided you may do so. However, the cost of printing this manual, until the released version is available, must be covered by your district or unit.

Describe the final exams required by the students attending AUXSCE once released. The AUXSCE exam will be in two parts: knowledge based open book exam, consisting of about 30 questions and a practical closed book exam using 2 to 4 exercises. Both exams must be proctored and will be available on-line and as printed exams. The exam can be proctored by any AUXOP proctor, as is the case for all AUXOP courses.

When will these exams be available? The exams are currently in development. The exams will be reviewed by CG and the Training Department prior to release. The goal is to have the new exams available by 1 January 2008. Exams for the old AUXSAR course will be available until 1 April 2008.

Can the exam used at the T3 AUXSCE course be used in the interim until the Training Department exams are available?

While this is not desirable, consideration will be made on a case-by-case basis.

Can the students work as teams to take the practical charting exam as was done in the T3 Instructor course.

No. The member must achieve a passing grade independent of external assistance.

What will be a passing grade for the open book knowledge exam?

The final exam will be a “proctored open book exam”. The passing grade is the same as the exam taken at the T3 Instructor course and for the Coast Guard’s active duty course (Search Coordination & Execution - SC&E). Thus, a maximum of 6 wrong out of 30 is a passing grade (80%).

Can a member challenge the exam without attending the course?

Yes. This is
the case for all AUXOP exams. However, because of the nature of this course which
requires skills beyond simply knowledge, it is not recommended.

Is it acceptable to use the same chart the student used during the class for the
final exam?

No, a clean chart will be required and will be collected by the AUXOP proctor after the completion of the charting problems.

Can we ask CG to provide local charts to be used for practice?

Any chart could be used for practice. It is probably easier for the instructor to obtain these charts locally, since ANSC will only be stocking the chart utilized in the course and providing
2 charts to each student taking the course (one for class chart work and one for the final practical exercise).

Will AUXSCE be mandatory for Boat Crew and Aviation programs?

No. This course remains only as one of six courses required for AUXOP.

Will the T3 Instructors be advised of the development of this program and its
progress to full release?

Yes. The National Training Department will develop an
email distribution list including all instructors. As significant developments are
completed, email notice will be sent to each instructor.

Will my attendance at AUXSCE be recorded in AUXDATA and count toward completion of one of the requirements for AUXOP?

Yes, but it is your
responsibility to ensure that that data entry into AUXDATA occurs. Make a copy of your completion certificate and forward it to your Director of Auxiliary for entry in
AUXDATA and your personnel file.

Note: I read a comment from one of the most active AUXAIR pilots in the 081 district. He basically indicated that he recently flew a SAR with a new perspective after having completed the new AUXSCE course.

The Content of these web pages is explanatory and not authority for action. Views and opinions expressed within do not necessarily reflect those of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security or the U.S. Coast Guard. Information may be reprinted except news stories and articles republished from other sources. Commercial use of Coast Guard emblems, logos, or other graphics must be approved by the Commandant of the U.S. Coast Guard.

NOTICE - DISCLAIMER: Links to non-Coast Guard entities are not under the control of the United States Coast Guard, or the United States Coast Guard Auxiliary, and are provided for the convenience of our customers. They do not, in any way, constitute an endorsement of the linked pages or any commercial or private issues or products presented there. We cannot make any warranty or representation concerning the content of these sites, or secondary sites from the pages to which they link. CONFIDENTIALITY NOTICE - PRIVACY ACT OF 1974 The information contained in this website is subject to the provisions of the Privacy Act of 1974, and may only be used for the official business of the United States Coast Guard or the United States Coast Guard Auxiliary.