Hi Lou,
As a member of the AUX, I don't have a problem with background checks.
My past is clean and my background pristine. I haven't even had a
traffic ticket in the last 10 years.

Your background is checked many times a year without you ever knowing
it. Police cars simply type in your tag number and your life's history
comes up. So does your bank, credit card companies, tax collector's
office, and in some cases, sales persons. Believe me, your "private"
stats" are not private at all. Go to the link below, and with little
input info, you can find out anything about anyone.

http://www.800ussearch.com/search/st...ID=1050017173&

As far as fingerprints, no problem! It would not be the first time, and
with bio-metrics coming into their own, likely won't be the last.

Capt. Frank
USCG AUX and damn proud of it.

http://www.home.earthlink.net/~aartworks

Capt Lou wrote:

When the Coast Guard was transfered into the Department of Homeland Security,
so was the Coast Guard Auxiliary. Now all auxiliarists have to be
fingerprinted, and if they want to volunteer as crew or for other jobs, they
have to pass a security background and criminal check. I know an auxiliarist
friend of mine who had long hair and was told to cut it. Does anyone feel that
the government is going a little overboard for civilian citizen volunteers?
What about the auxiliarist who has been volunteering for the past 15 or 20
years? Is he or she a security threat? Maybe it is time to consider the U.S.
Power Squadron and tell the USCGAUX enough is enough! I hear that 60% of the
auxiliarists in my division will not submit to the fingerprinting. That's a lot
of dues paying members dropping out!

"Listen to the live broadcast of 'Nautical Talk Radio' with Captain Lou every
Sunday afternoon from 4 - 5 (Eastern Standard Time) on the web at
www.959watd.com or if you are in Boston or Cape Cod set your radio dial to
95.9FM.

On 13 Jan 2004 15:01:06 GMT, (Capt Lou) wrote:

When the Coast Guard was transfered into the Department of Homeland Security,
so was the Coast Guard Auxiliary. Now all auxiliarists have to be
fingerprinted, and if they want to volunteer as crew or for other jobs, they
have to pass a security background and criminal check.

I don't have a problem with that. If I were a member, I would want to
have a background check and those around me to have the same - it's
not like any idiot with a $100 bucks can't find out anything anyway.

Besides, "Homeland Security" is giong to require more volunteers not
less and that's a good way to provide port security, patrols and what
not.

Later,

Tom
S. Woodstock, CT
----------
"My rod and my reel - they comfort me."

St. Pete, 12 Lb. Test

"Capt Lou" wrote in message
...

I know an auxiliarist
friend of mine who had long hair and was told to cut it.

You're talking about the military. They need more people, so their solution
is to turn away people for stupid reasons. People like to be club members.
It helps them deal with the voids in their lives. Anyone is suspect if they
don't wear the hat and the secret decoder ring. Never mind talent.

I've read that when Intel was a young company, new hires used to walk by
Andy Grove's office, peek in, and scurry off to ask older employees about
that weird guy who did nothing but stare out the window for most of the day.
They were told not to bother him, because although he was a bit odd, every
time he spent a day staring out the window, he came up with an idea that
made the company a ****load of money. But, he looked odd. Not like us.

"Doug Kanter" wrote in message news:KkhNb.519

You're talking about the military. They need more people, so their
solution
snip
disregard ignorant rant.



I've read that when Intel was a young company, new hires used to walk by
Andy Grove's office, peek in, and scurry off to ask older employees about

When Intel was a young company, there weren't any older employees. Their
corporate portrait looked like a cast photo from "Revenge of the Nerds".

"John Gaquin" wrote in message
...

"Doug Kanter" wrote in message
news:KkhNb.519

You're talking about the military. They need more people, so their
solution
snip
disregard ignorant rant.

Ya think? :-)

Five years ago, my neighbor's 18 year old nephew decided that more than
anything, he wanted to graduate from fixing cars, something he can do
blindfolded, to working on sexy fighter jets. But, he's ridiculously
nearsighted, so Air Force recruiters here (Rochester) told him he couldn't
join. He ended up having his congressman investigate, and found there was no
such exclusion for the job the kid was hoping for. The erroneous recruiters
wasted a year of the kid's life before being corrected. When I was 18, I
inquired about flying jets and was told the same thing about eyesight, but
at least that makes sense in the case of a pilot.

"Doug Kanter" wrote in message news:RUuNb.935

......so Air Force recruiters here (Rochester) told him he couldn't
join. He ended up having his congressman investigate, and found there was
no
such exclusion for the job the kid was hoping for.

So what you had was a couple of recruiters who didn't know their stuff in
detail, which was an unfortunate occurrence for your friend's nephew. Your
earlier post made it sound as if such things were established general policy
among all the military services. That's not at all the same thing.

"John Gaquin" wrote in message
...

"Doug Kanter" wrote in message
news:RUuNb.935

......so Air Force recruiters here (Rochester) told him he couldn't
join. He ended up having his congressman investigate, and found there
was
no
such exclusion for the job the kid was hoping for.

So what you had was a couple of recruiters who didn't know their stuff in
detail, which was an unfortunate occurrence for your friend's nephew.
Your
earlier post made it sound as if such things were established general
policy
among all the military services. That's not at all the same thing.



Of course it's not a written policy. But, it's a major source of fodder for
comedians, movie makers and quite a few former soldiers who know that the
military mentality is often centered around nonsensical layers of red tape
and inefficiency.

(Capt Lou) wrote in message ...
When the Coast Guard was transfered into the Department of Homeland Security,
so was the Coast Guard Auxiliary. Now all auxiliarists have to be
fingerprinted, and if they want to volunteer as crew or for other jobs, they
have to pass a security background and criminal check. I know an auxiliarist
friend of mine who had long hair and was told to cut it. Does anyone feel that
the government is going a little overboard for civilian citizen volunteers?
What about the auxiliarist who has been volunteering for the past 15 or 20
years? Is he or she a security threat? Maybe it is time to consider the U.S.
Power Squadron and tell the USCGAUX enough is enough! I hear that 60% of the
auxiliarists in my division will not submit to the fingerprinting. That's a lot
of dues paying members dropping out!


Interesting. The comments at the 01N District meeting were the
opposite. Fewer than expected were opting out of the security check.
It's also hard to claim this is only Homeland Security. Since I
understand this security check to be the same as required by the CAP.

Now many of our members don't need a background check for the work
they actually do. And yes I doubt any of our 15yr plus members are
terrorists. But what about the newer members? And if we require
security checks for new members are you sure all those before XX/XX/XX
are safe? I don't think the National Bridge can answer that question.
Hence to be safe it is extended to all.

As for personal grooming. The AUXMAN has requirements while wearing
the Uniform. If you don't want to comply with the Aux Grooming
requirements then wear the Blue Blazer. Granted I can't make any
statements about the individual case you mention. But I have not
witnessed any actions concerning people who are otherwise neat in
appearance, but not be to the letter of the manual.

On 13 Jan 2004 15:01:06 GMT, (Capt Lou) wrote:

When the Coast Guard was transfered into the Department of Homeland Security,
so was the Coast Guard Auxiliary. Now all auxiliarists have to be
fingerprinted, and if they want to volunteer as crew or for other jobs, they
have to pass a security background and criminal check. I know an auxiliarist
friend of mine who had long hair and was told to cut it. Does anyone feel that
the government is going a little overboard for civilian citizen volunteers?

no one in the auxiliary is told to cut his hair. as to the security
check, we auxiliarists DO have access to secure/secret info. those who
think that, because we've volunteers, we DON'T have access, is kidding
himself.

and the active duty folks are very happy we are doing this. it's
protection for them, too.

What about the auxiliarist who has been volunteering for the past 15 or 20
years? Is he or she a security threat? Maybe it is time to consider the U.S.
Power Squadron and tell the USCGAUX enough is enough!

i agree, quite frankly. if you're gonna bitch and whine and **** your
pants when asked to serve your country, we don't need you. go join the
USPS. it's a fine organization. they simply don't do the work the USCG
does.
---------------------------
to see who "wf3h" is, go to "qrz.com"
and enter 'wf3h' in the field

(Bob)wrote . as to the security check, we auxiliarists DO have
access to secure/secret info. those who think that, because we've
volunteers, we DON'T have access, is kidding himself.

Hey Aux Sparks! You're not doing your shipmates any favors with
statements like that,


and the active duty folks are very happy we are doing this. it's
protection for them, too.

Not any more, UD




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