D17 Auxiliary Operations

D17 Operations page

Alaska has 6,640 miles of coastline and, including islands, has 33,904 miles of shoreline. Combine this with 44,292 square miles of water area inland and you start to get the idea of the size of the 49th state. Now factor in that there are only 3 US Coast Guard small boat stations in Alaska and the challenge and importance of Auxiliary operations becomes evident.

The D17 auxiliary prides itself with its innovative and pro active operations program. Working directly with active duty boat and air stations, patrols are scheduled and SAR cases and callouts are handled. In 2001 the D17 Safeboat program was started and for the first time in the Auxiliary's history a US Coast Guard owned and maintained NSB (non-standard boat) was manned and operated wholly by auxiliarists. The first was a successful operation and now three Safeboats are now operated by the D17 auxiliary.

The D17 NSB "Safeboat" Program

Even before the arrival of the Safeboats, D17 had set up several operating areas as Auxiliary stations. Popular with local boaters these areas auxiliary stations were operated by multiple flotillas alongside active duty units with regular patrols and radio communications.

AUXSTA Seward

AUXSTA Whittier

AUXSTA Homer

In 2002 D17 started a PWC program. With a unique operating environment there were many challenges for this program but it has has been popular with both the membership and the public as a hi visibility way to make a presence to the boating public.

The D17 PWC Program

With all this operational activity it is critical to have good training. Here again D17 has excelled with the Safeboats as perfect training platforms along side the regular auxiliary operational facilities. Qualifications are maintained with yearly checklists and new members that are interested in operations are mentored and encouraged by all.

How to get Crew Qualified

Once qualified as crew, members are encouraged to advance to the coxswain rating. Seeing this as a challenge D17 has created it own "Coxswain Academy" that has been extremely popular with the membership. It is a nine day intensive course that goes over most all the practical areas of the Coxswain program with many hours as "on the water" and includes TCT, many hours of classroom instruction and a night nav session done late night on the water. Instructors are Auxiliary QE's and Active duty Coast Guard teaching side by side both on the water and in the classroom.

The D17 Coxswain Academy

Operations Information Links

National Operations Department Web Site: http://www.auxodept.org/index.htm

The Ops Dept. Surface Ops Web Page: http://www.auxodept.org/surfaceoperations.htm

USCG G-PCX Auxiliary Surface Operations Web Site: http://cgauxsurfaceops.us/

POMS Links - POMS User Window

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D17 Operations - Member Training Presentations

2008 D17 Operations Workshop PowerPoint

2008 TCT Presentation PowerPoint

2008 TCT Participant Reference pdf

2008 TCT Facilitator Reference pdf

D17 Specific Operations Forms