Pat McMenamin, District Chief of StaffFrom the Helm

Are you ready and willing to accept the challenge?

During this Ɵ me of uncertainty and day to day challenges, I have heard many stories of Auxiliarists coming together to weather the storm. From daily checkups on fellow members to donaƟ ng blood at the local blood banks and ensuring neighbors are geƫ ng their groceries are just a few things our Auxiliarists are doing to help in their communiƟ es. I applaud our member’s selfl ess eff orts. I want to express how important it is you stay healthy and safe. However, it is also essenƟ al during this Ɵ me to keep ourselves engaged within the Auxiliary.

Granted, we need to take care of ourselves both physically and mentally during these challenging Ɵ mes. Since we are not out dock walking, conducƟ ng program visits, or patrolling the many lakes and rivers, there are many ways to keep yourself physically fi t within your own home. There are plenty of resources on videos accessible through the Internet or even on the television to help you achieve this task. Another form of exercise is mental exercise. Doing puzzles, playing games and yes, conƟ nuing educaƟ on. Let’s look at the conƟ nuing educaƟ on piece from the Auxiliary viewpoint.

Have you visited the Auxiliary Learning Directorate page? This page shows you the many learning avenues available to expand your horizons.

(hƩ p://wow.uscgaux.info/content. php?unit=T-DEPT&category=aux-member-training) From here, you can access the Auxiliary training portal called Moodle. (hƩ p://classroom2.cgaux.org/ moodle/) There are many other sites also accessible from this main page. I would like to challenge you to take this opportunity to enhance your Auxiliary training. You can update your CORE training, maybe work on cerƟfi caƟ on as an instructor, program visitor, vessel examiner or public aff airs offi cer. Thinking of taking a staff offi cer posiƟ on or seeking elected leadership? Then this is the place for you! There are many leadership courses available. Just about any area you can think of off ers some type of online training available at your fi ngerƟ ps.

Here is a parƟ al list of areas courses are available:

• Public Aff airs • Computer and InormaƟ on Technology skills • Diversity • Public EducaƟ on • Human Resources – Auxiliary Chaplain Training, Civil Rights Awareness,

CiƟ zenship verifi er, Food Service • PrevenƟ on – Good Mate, Introduc

Ɵ on to Marine Safety • Response – NavigaƟ on Rules, OperaƟ ons Policy, TelecommunicaƟ ons

Operator • Training – Leadership Competencies,

Auxiliary OperaƟ ons (AUXOP) - CommunicaƟ ons & Weather, Auxiliary CORE and Basic Training (BQII) • Vessel ExaminaƟ on and Program

VisitaƟ on • • • • •

These are just a few of the areas where we need people to train and enhance their skills to keep current with the ever-changing needs of supporƟ ng the Coast Guard and the Coast Guard Auxiliary. So, are you prepared to exercise your mind and enhance your training? Are you ready and willing to accept the challenge? T w

Pat McMenamin, DCOS

District 7, USCG Auxiliary