History:
District 17 received it's first SAFE Boat in 2001 to be part of Auxiliary Station (AUXSTA) Whittier. This Government owned and maintained/Auxiliary operated SAFE Boat (NSB or Non Standard Boat) was the first in the country to be operated 100% by the Auxiliary. Shortly before the arrival of the first SAFE Boat, the second D17 Auxiliary Coxswain Academy was held in Juneau, the first being held in the fall of 2000. Five of the students from the first academy and six from the second academy went on to become Coxswain/NSB qualified. The AUXSTA Whittier SAFE Boat was part of Operation Noble Eagle and could be found on Patrol at the Port of Valdez shortly after the 9/11 tragedy augmenting Active Duty security patrols in that area.
Due to the huge success of the program, more Safe Boats were soon to follow. In August 2002, a second SAFE Boat was transferred to the Auxiliary to be part of AUXSTA Seward. This has been the busiest boat in the SAFE Boat program due to it's Area of Operations. In 2 short years, Seward's boat has some very impressive stats with well over 30 SAR cases, 11 lives saved, over 250 people assisted, and over 2 million dollars in property assisted! In the spring of 2003 the third Coxswain Academy was held in Seward with both D17 SAFE Boats participating. All 8 students have become Coxswain/NSB qualified.
In August 2004, the Auxiliary received its third SAFE Boat to be part of AUXSTA Homer. Around the same time, the fourth Coxswain academy was held in Seward. All three D17 SAFE Boats participated, with graduated students from previous academies instructing and mentoring. This was the largest Coxswain Academy yet with nine students, three lead instructors, 4 assistant instructors, and 2 privately owned operational facilities participating. All nine students have become Coxswain/NSB qualified.

Requirements to become a Crew Trainee:
A strong desire to be active in the D17 Auxiliary Operations program and to work on becoming NSB crew qualified. You will need to have a favorable determination on your security check (the SF-86). Team Coordination Training (TCT) is also required.

What you can expect as a trainee:
All trainees go out on patrol with a NSB qualified crew consisting of at least one qualified Coxswain and one qualified crew. You will learn about all aspects of the boat and crew duties. You will learn common phrases and terms specific to the boat, the location of all items on board and their use, radio communications, navigation by both electronics and paper charts, communications with other team members, radar, survival, and many other areas required to qualify. You will get time at the helm (stick time). All members will remember for the rest of their lives the first time at the helm of the boat. While still a trainee, you still get the feeling you are part of the team. If you have a concern about the safety of any operation, your opinion is the same as anybody else's on board. SAFETY IS NUMBER ONE!

Requirements to become Crew/NSB Qualified:
It takes a little more work to become a qualified crew member in the SAFE Boat program than crew qualified on a privately owned operational facility. There is a whole separate set of sign-offs that must be completed on top of the regular crew sign-offs. SAFE Boat requirements are the same as the "Active Duty" sign-offs for NSB. After getting your sign-offs done, you must sit down with a Qualification Examiner (QE) and complete an "Oral Board" which is several questions from all chapters of the Boat crew manual and boat specific knowledge. There is also the dreaded "checkride" where a QE plans out a SAR scenario that you and your coxswain are tested on proficiency in the scenario. All checkrides are different, but based on things that have actually occurred on previous cases. Training is held on every patrol and an effort is made to work on things that trainees need time with. Members who are Crew/NSB qualified are also qualified as crew on privately owned operational facilities.

What you can expect as a NSB crew member:
As a NSB crew member you are a qualified part of the most elite Operations program in D17. You will be issued all required Personal Protective Equipment (PPE). This includes a drysuit, speed rated life jacket, survival vest, PEPIRB, and many other items. All crew members are proficient in not only basic crew duties, they also take part in all aspect of boat operations. This includes the helm, radio, navigation, lookout, first aid, maintenance, Team Coordination Training (TCT) and many other areas. This is when, if you choose, you can start to get some of your coxswain training and sign-offs taken care of. You will take part in the training of new trainee's. All qualified NSB crew members are considered to be coxswains in training.

Requirements to attend the Coxswain Academy:
You must already be at least crew qualified with at least 14 hours of underway time as a qualified crew member (trainee hours do not count), have passed the NAV RULES test, and a strong desire to be active in the OPS program.

What you can expect from a Coxswain Academy:
Nine days of extensive classroom study, on the water time, homework, and fellowship. A typical day at the academy is class room study in the morning, on the water practice in the afternoon, and homework at night. You will learn from the boat crew manual, the National SAR Assistance Policy, the Station Operations Manual, the D17 addendum to the Station Ops Manual, and the Rescue and Survival Systems Manual. A full day TCT coarse is always presented the first day of the academy. Toward the end of the academy, 2 students per boat go out with an instructor after dark and have a night navigation drill. You will be graded on your chart work, communication, and your ability to follow your designated track among other things. This is all considered to be a "basic" training with qualification coming later. Students will leave the academy with the feeling of accomplishment, good friends, and the knowledge to be an effective NSB Coxswain.

Requirements to become Coxswain/UTM Qualified:
To become a Coxswain/NSB qualified you MUST successfully complete a Coxswain academy (which are offered annually) and have completed all coxswain/NSB sign-offs. SAFE Boat requirements are the same as the "Active Duty" sign-offs for NSB. After getting your sign-offs done, you must sit down with a QE and have a "Oral Board" covering all aspects of the training received in the Academy. There is also the dreaded "checkride" where a QE plans out a SAR scenario that you and your crew are tested on proficiency in the scenario. All checkrides are different, but based on things that have actually occurred on previous cases. When you are certified as a Coxswain/NSB, you are also a qualified as a Coxswain on privately owned facilities.

What you can expect as a Coxswain/NSB qualified:
Once you are qualified as a Coxswain/NSB qualified, you are in the top 10% of the operations program in D17. You will be responsible for the boat, the safety of the crew, training while underway, responding in the event of an emergency, and the safety of the people you are assisting. There is a feeling of accomplishment every time you pull out of the slip, respond to a distress call, mentor a trainee, complete a complex maneuver, and receive a thank you from someone you assisted. Most Coxswain/NSB annually receive the operations support ribbon with "O" device for hours underway. You are very well respected by the active duty side for your knowledge and abilities.

How to get involved:
Get in contact with your Flotilla Commander, Flotilla Operations Officer, Leader In Charge of a SAFEboat or contact the District Operations Officer. There is always room for members interested in this challenging but rewarding program