The first District 17 Personal Watercraft training secession was held in Whittier Alaska in 2002. CWO Mark Matuschek, District 11S Operational Training Officer was brought to Alaska as a Qualifying Examiner. Mark was to assess the abilities of the PWC Operators, put the operators through the National PWC Operations training and to qualify the operators. What Mark didn’t expect was the fact that we can and do operate PWC in Alaska and he also didn’t expect the response and abilities of these first qualified operators. We were able to share with Mark the beauty of our area, taking him on an area familiarization patrol.

Since the first 2002 training session, the Auxiliary PWC Operations program has grown to 15 qualified operators representing all three of our divisions and five personally owned PWC‘s have been offered for use.   We have developed a partnership with PWC Manufacturers and their local dealers for loaner PWC’s used for training and patrols.  We have developed District protocols for PWC operations taking into account our unique status of PWC Operations in Alaska.

Our training starts each year on Memorial Day Weekend with Operation Big Lake. This is an event originally designed to help boaters start the boating season off safely. Vessel Safety Check stations are set up at the two largest local lakes of the area giving Auxiliary members a chance to promote boating safety to the boating public. Auxiliarists from Fairbanks travel 400 miles to the Matanuska-Susitna Valley area to participate in the Vessel Exams and to work on Boat Crew and Coxswain qualifications and to run Safety Patrols.  With the development of the Auxiliary PWC Operations program we now have the Auxiliary PWC participation in Operation Big Lake.  Several of our operational members have qualified during this training.

We have provided Safety Patrols on various lakes in the Matanuska-Susitna Borough, Safety and Harbor Patrols in Juneau, Seward, and Whittier. We have provided Safety Patrols for Challenge Alaska’s Summer Splash – a program giving people with disabilities a chance to participate in adaptive water sports. We have provided Safety Patrols on the Chena River in Fairbanks for their Red Green River Regatta. We participate in Search and Rescue Exercises with various flotillas. We have participated in Operation Northern Edge, showing the versatility, maneuverability, and adaptability of PWC. We have participated in a joint US Coast Guard, Auxiliary and Whittier City Emergency Service Emergency Exercise.  The Auxiliary PWCs have been in parades, generating interest in the Auxiliary.

Our membership has increased due to the program and several Active Duty US Coast Guard members have joined to become PWC Operators, including the first ever active duty Flag officer, RADM James Olsen.

With this strong beginning and support the Auxiliary PWC Program will continue grow and explore new ways to incorporate this versatile vessel in support of our various missions.