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Coast Guard Auxiliary and Homeland Security
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. |
Coast Guard Auxiliary and Homeland Security
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? If the jobs for which the Auxiliary members are volunteering normally require a person to pass a background and criminal check, there's not really a problem. The Homeland Security Dept would want to make sure that a bad actor didn't get access to places ordinarily secured against public access by volunteering for the USCG Aux. I know an auxiliarist friend of mine who had long hair and was told to cut it. Unless there are personal grooming standards that an auxiliarist agrees to upon joining the organization, that's BS. What were the circumstances of the order to cut hair? By what authority? What about the auxiliarist who has been volunteering for the past 15 or 20 years? Is he or she a security threat? Only if a registered Democrat. :-) 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. Does anyone feel that the government is going a little overboard for civilian citizen volunteers? Reportedly, 60% of your organization does. That should say something, since these are the people closest to the situation who can make the most accurate judgment. |
Coast Guard Auxiliary and Homeland Security
Agree. But how about doing ordinary safety patrols? I am not talking about
entering restricted channels where military ships or secrets might be, and I am not talking about entering channels or buildings where nuclear power plants are located. Just ordinary patrols! My auxiliarist friend was ordered to cut his hair if he was to attend an auxiliarist seminar at the Coast Guard Academy. Otherwise, he was told he would not be welcomed to walk around the campus in uniform with the cadets. "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. |
Coast Guard Auxiliary and Homeland Security
"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 Just remember this is the same CG that let a Cuban Patrol boat tie up in Key West harbor, the people on board with loaded gun went to a bar and had a few beers before finding a cop and turning themselves in. Coast Guard didn't even know they were there. |
Coast Guard Auxiliary and Homeland Security
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. |
Coast Guard Auxiliary and Homeland Security
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Coast Guard Auxiliary and Homeland Security
Capt Lou wrote:
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, not in this particular area. I will say that I've never yet heard of an Auxiliarist being nicked over a haircut. We have Auxiliarists with long hair, and full, shaggy beard. I'm thinking there may be more details to that story. ...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. ... ... What about the auxiliarist who has been volunteering for the past 15 or 20 years? Is he or she a security threat? The role of the Auxiliary has been evolving substantially since about '95 -- long before the precipitating terrorist attacks. The attacks and the resulting war have, naturally, served to accelerate the process, and the CG now wants the Aux to play a larger, more involved role. Those Auxiliarists working directly with the active CG on issues where security may be a concern [operational and security patrols, watchstanding, comm center, crewing on CG vessels, etc.] must be properly cleared. Long term members clearly have been no risk in the past, but all members of the integrated team must work by the same standards. We get the same scrutiny as active duty CG. 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! Maybe so, although 60% sounds suspiciously high to me. Leaving the Auxiliary has always been an open option for Auxiliarists. There is no contract, or "term of enlistment". The CG has anticipated in their planning that a certain number of Auxiliarists will not care to be involved with background checks and other associated security issues for personal reasons. Its an unfortunate side-effect of necessary changes. These Auxiliarists always have the option of directing their efforts to traditional, non-operational CGAux activities such as teaching Public Education courses (which I also do), Vessel Safety Checks, etc. Regards, John Gaquin Flot 0502, 1NR |
Coast Guard Auxiliary and Homeland Security
Hello John,
Most of the Aux members are already in the 60% group. I don't plan any deck crew or coxwain activities anytime soon, as I have several ruptured discs. But I am always happy to do what little I can. I am a VE and working toward an instructor certificate. I also make cupcakes and cookies for the flotilla meetings. I am hoping that surgery will correct my back injuries enough to resume a more active role soon. Greetings from 07-14-08 http://www.uscgaux.org/~0701408/ Capt. Frank, RO,USCG-A www.home.earthlink.net/~aartworks John Gaquin wrote: Capt Lou wrote: 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, not in this particular area. I will say that I've never yet heard of an Auxiliarist being nicked over a haircut. We have Auxiliarists with long hair, and full, shaggy beard. I'm thinking there may be more details to that story. ...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. ... ... What about the auxiliarist who has been volunteering for the past 15 or 20 years? Is he or she a security threat? The role of the Auxiliary has been evolving substantially since about '95 -- long before the precipitating terrorist attacks. The attacks and the resulting war have, naturally, served to accelerate the process, and the CG now wants the Aux to play a larger, more involved role. Those Auxiliarists working directly with the active CG on issues where security may be a concern [operational and security patrols, watchstanding, comm center, crewing on CG vessels, etc.] must be properly cleared. Long term members clearly have been no risk in the past, but all members of the integrated team must work by the same standards. We get the same scrutiny as active duty CG. 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! Maybe so, although 60% sounds suspiciously high to me. Leaving the Auxiliary has always been an open option for Auxiliarists. There is no contract, or "term of enlistment". The CG has anticipated in their planning that a certain number of Auxiliarists will not care to be involved with background checks and other associated security issues for personal reasons. Its an unfortunate side-effect of necessary changes. These Auxiliarists always have the option of directing their efforts to traditional, non-operational CGAux activities such as teaching Public Education courses (which I also do), Vessel Safety Checks, etc. Regards, John Gaquin Flot 0502, 1NR |
Coast Guard Auxiliary and Homeland Security
"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. |
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