CAP & CGAux: Cultural Differences

[RiverAux]

When I augment or know I'm going to be around military personnel of any flavor I just wear the member insignia. Problem solved.  I augment monthly at a large CG Airstation and spent several wks assigned to DWH and never had a problem with wearing the member insignia. 

Actually, Auxies are required to wear the member insignia in those situations. 

[The CyBorg is destroyed]

Actually, Auxies are required to wear the member insignia in those situations.

Or as directed by the CG officer/NCO in charge.

I used to keep a pair of the "Member" collar dogs in my pocket just in case.

[PA Guy]

Please, enlighten me.

It's OK for you to denigrate the hard work of our members, but when I call you on it that's a "lecture"?

Spare me your self righteous indignation.  I didn't denigrate anyone.  If you haven't encountered the situation I described you are naive.  Be careful you don't get a nose bleed up there on that high horse.

[PA Guy]

When I augment or know I'm going to be around military personnel of any flavor I just wear the member insignia. Problem solved.  I augment monthly at a large CG Airstation and spent several wks assigned to DWH and never had a problem with wearing the member insignia. 

Actually, Auxies are required to wear the member insignia in those situations.

But I think all too often that is ignored.

[The CyBorg is destroyed]

But I think all too often that is ignored.

Or if the commissioned officer, warrant officer or NCOIC doesn't have a problem with it.

[RiverAux]

When I augment or know I'm going to be around military personnel of any flavor I just wear the member insignia. Problem solved.  I augment monthly at a large CG Airstation and spent several wks assigned to DWH and never had a problem with wearing the member insignia. 

Actually, Auxies are required to wear the member insignia in those situations.

But I think all too often that is ignored.

So, you're saying that it is regular practice in your area for Aux members to wear their office insignia when augmenting and that this has not been authorized by the local CG folks? 

Keep in mind that you're not required to wear member insignia just because you're around the CG.  For example, if you're going to the station for a meeting or something, thats fine.  If CG people come on an Aux facility for a mission you don't have to switch to member insignia either.  The guy I know who was on DWH didn't come across any Auxies with office devices on.    Since so few Auxies actually work with the CG in such a way that this rule would apply to them, it isn't a factor for the vast majority of Auxies. 

[Eclipse]

Please, enlighten me.

It's OK for you to denigrate the hard work of our members, but when I call you on it that's a "lecture"?

Spare me your self righteous indignation.  I didn't denigrate anyone.  If you haven't encountered the situation I described you are naive.  Be careful you don't get a nose bleed up there on that high horse.

Encounter what situation?

[MIKE]

So, you're saying that it is regular practice in your area for Aux members to wear their office insignia when augmenting and that this has not been authorized by the local CG folks? 

Keep in mind that you're not required to wear member insignia just because you're around the CG.  For example, if you're going to the station for a meeting or something, thats fine.  If CG people come on an Aux facility for a mission you don't have to switch to member insignia either.  The guy I know who was on DWH didn't come across any Auxies with office devices on.    Since so few Auxies actually work with the CG in such a way that this rule would apply to them, it isn't a factor for the vast majority of Auxies.

Prior to the current AUXMAN I had heard it both ways... since at the time Member insignia was not expressly required for shore assignments, but some stations required it as a condition of assignment.

[RiverAux]

Hmm, I don't recall any distinction in the old AUXMAN, but its been a while since I looked at that particular factoid.

[O-Rex]

Why are we limiting this discussion to only superficial issues like rank, titles and salutes?  The cultural differences run a bit deeper.

First off, let me say that the Aux is not better or worse than CAP, it's just different.

The Aux has no 'corporate-owned' assets: on a mission, you're riding in someone's personally-owned boat or plane.

The Aux has a much closer relationship to it's patron service, in fact, it is considered a component of the USCG, and for certain functions and activites, Aux members and Coast Guardsmen are interchangealbe, like radio watchstanding, some boat crew positions, and even Admissions Reps for the Coast Guard Academy.  Some training, such as Team Coordination Training is actually joint Active Duty/Auxiliary.

An Auxiliary Commander cannot disenroll (2b) another Aux member, that is done by by a Coast Guard Officer, usually the District Director of Auxiliary (DIRAUX.)

CAP places more emphasis on Professional Development.

Aux Online exams are MUCH tougher.

Aux has only TWO distinctive uniforms: Blazer combo, and Operational Polo/Shorts uniform (the latter is never worn when interfacing with the actual Coast Guard.)

Commanders and Vice Commanders at all levels are elected by the membership.

The Aux has no Cadet component.

Internal safety program is managed and administered by the Coast Guard.

Commanding a Flotilla is not as administratively cumbersome as commanding a Squadron.

If you have an IG issue in the Aux, you better be serious about it because it actually goes to the Coast Guard IG.

In my opinion, there is more of a 'thank you for your service' feel from both the Aux and the Coast Guard.

All that said and done, the Aux has its gate-keepers, good old boy cliques, and machiavellian types just like CAP does.  Regarless of the costume, people are people, good and bad.

[GroundHawg]

Here is my handy dandy solution to this issue. I am an USCG Aux member as well.

I have the sewn on member insignia on my ODU collars. Looks good, is safer, and you never have to change them out.

I then have two covers, one silver thread USCG Aux hat with my "rank/grade" on it that I wear to Aux only functions. I also have a gold thread MSD hat of the unit I augment with the member insignia device that is worn when working directly with the USCG.

[PhoenixRisen]

Here is my handy dandy solution to this issue. I am an USCG Aux member as well.

I have the sewn on member insignia on my ODU collars. Looks good, is safer, and you never have to change them out.

I then have two covers, one silver thread USCG Aux hat with my "rank/grade" on it that I wear to Aux only functions. I also have a gold thread MSD hat of the unit I augment with the member insignia device that is worn when working directly with the USCG.

Coming from someone completely unfamiliar with the USCG AUX, if you had the member insignia in one place, but actual "rank" in the other at the same time, wouldn't that be against regs from a uniformity standpoint?  (...assuming the hat you have your rank / grade on is worn with your ODU.)  I'd tend to think it would be either all member devices, or all rank... 

[RiverAux]

Not sure it is spelled out that they must match, but it makes sense. 

[SARDOC]

Not sure it is spelled out that they must match, but it makes sense.

The "Sense" factor should not be brought up in uniform discussions.   Thank you for your cooperation.

[RiverAux]

O-Rex brings up a lot of differences between the two organizations, but I'm not sure I would call most of the "cultural" differences.   I see cultural differences in describing more general characteristics of the the organizations and the people in them rather than specific details of how they do things. 

One big cultural difference: 
CAP has a much more top-down approach to things than CG Aux.  There is a reason we call them Wing Kings/Queens.  The CAP Wing Commander has more actual authority than any Aux elected or staff officer.  The only thing that comes close is the Coast Guard officer that is the Director of Auxiliary in each CG District.  Your Wing Commander can have significant impact on your CAP life, but nothing like that exists in the Aux. 

I think in general that Auxies focus much more on accomplishing the mission rather than the minutia of running the organization.  Much more focused on external matters rather than internal issues. This is probably because there are always missions to do and they are not as stuck as CAP is waiting for a SAR or disaster to happen before they can do much. 

[Eclipse]

I think in general that Auxies focus much more on accomplishing the mission rather than the minutia of running the organization.  Much more focused on external matters rather than internal issues. This is probably because there are always missions to do and they are not as stuck as CAP is waiting for a SAR or disaster to happen before they can do much.

Isn't this also because they are primarily operators with a single, external mission?

CAP would be a different world if we didn't have to run things ourselves and could just come and play.

[RiverAux]

No, each unit still has to take care of the nuts and bolts of finances, collecting dues, holding meetings, pushing paperwork to get people qualified, arranging for meeting places (many have set locations like many CAP squadrons, so have associated bills).  The big administrative difference is that the CG makes the final decision on a lot of things like awards, but its still up to the Auxies to do the paperwork to get that stuff in the CG hands.

Well, CAP actually has a major external mission (AE) in which it has as an incredible amount of flexibility in terms of how it is carried out.  CAP just doesn't really consider it a major mission like boating safety is in the Aux.  To some extent with the elementary school program that is changing a bit in CAP. 

True, CG-Aux doesn't have an inward focused cadet program like CAP, but the CG operational progams have a lot of similarities.  The main difference is that CG Aux operational missions are more focused on showing the flag and being present in case an emergency happens rather than in response like CAP is in general regarding SAR and disaster relief (though there are even some overlaps there). 

To some extent the fact that CG Aux has turned its primary mission of recreational boating safety into a multitude of different programs (boating safety classes of many types, boating safety inspections, putting boating safety info racks out at stores, etc., etc.) makes it seem like the Aux has many more missions than CAPs single AE mission.  But, if CAP wanted to they could do something similar with AE.  However, without the life safety aspect no one is really going to get that motivated.

Now, if CAP had an overall mission of recreational flying safety, it would open up a lot more potential missions. 

[Eclipse]

I agree on the outreach stuff, neither side of the table is going to have a lot of success with pamphlets and seminars at the local library.

What else does the CGAux do besides boating safety-related operations?

Safety and Security Patrols
Search and Rescue
Mass Causality or Disasters
Pollution Response & Patrols
Homeland Security
Recreational Boating Safety
Commerical Fishing and Vessel Exams
Platforms for Boarding Parties
Recruit for all service in the Coast Guard

But to an outsider looking in it all looks like boating / water stuff (besides the squishy HLS reference), so no water, no play.

[RRLE]

Aux has only TWO distinctive uniforms: Blazer combo, and Operational Polo/Shorts uniform (the latter is never worn when interfacing with the actual Coast Guard.)

The  Aux has more then 2 distinctive unis, although some of them are rarely worn by the average Auxies, aka Bilge Mice.

Blue Blazer - can be worn in place of almost any uni except the work unis in some situations. Popularity varies all over the ballpark. In some areas it is never seen, it others it is the uniform of choice.

Dinner Dress Blue Jacket - very uncommon except for the Grandees.
Dinner Dress White Jacket - same as above

Dinner Dress Blue  - a less formal version of the above 2, more formal then the next 2. It is a more gussied up version of Service Dress Blue. Mostly the same useage as the above 2.

Service Dress White  - very uncommon, probably due to the problem and cost of keeping it clean. Rarely seen in photos or 'live'.

Service Dress Blue  - official Uniform of the Day. Common in northern realms, especially in the winter. Becomes uncommon the further south you go.

Winter Dress Blue - a less formal version of the above. Same useage pattern.

Tropical Blue aka Trops - another official Uniform of the Day. Very common year round in the southern realm, common in the north in the summer.

Undress Blue – Summer (Alpha) - obsolete as of 31 Dec 2012. A once common uniform that was a bit less formal then Trops.

Undress Blue – Summer (Bravo) - a working version of the one above. Also going extinct on the same date.

Working Blue, aka WB - the one time standard and popular work uniform. Also going the way of the dodo.

Operational Dress Uniform (ODU) - The work uniform that replaced the Working Blue. Comes in an old but still wearable tucked and the new untucked version. Extremely common. Probably is only rivaled by the Hot Weather Uniform for wear. The uniform most likely to be worn when augmenting.

Hot Weather Uniform - This is the shorts uniform and it has a polo shirt option. Very, very common uni in the south year round. Common in the north in the summer.

Flight Suit - still available to the chargrin of some in the original and good looking blue or the current drab olive drab. Although authorized only for flight ops, it is worn by some wannabees to meetings.

Auxiliary Chef (AUXCHEF) Uniform - Obviously a very specialized uniform and you have to earn the right to wear it.

All of the above are descirbed in the AuxMan. There is one last, very specialized, uniform that Auxies may wear. It is described in the CG Uni Regs. The uniform may only be worn by members (Auxies, Coasties etc) who are members of an authorized USCG Pipe Band. The uniform is the USCG Tartan.

[RADIOMAN015]

Worked with them as project officer for a joint CAP USCG aux a few years back (on a river they patrol).  I was impressed with many of them, overall in talking with them it's much easier for them to get reimbursement for authorized activities than in CAP (they have an on line system the members can access) and also it seems they have more "scheduled" type activities supporting the USCG such as watch standing and also the prime support for the light house in Boston harbor area.     HOWEVER, it seemed to me that at least the inland groups, unless it was scheduled it might be difficult to get any assistance.  For example last year, the USCG notified us about a week before the "Wreaths Across America" ceremony, that they would be unable to provide a representative.  We requested assistance from the local group and they couldn't find anyone to volunteer ---  that was VERY surprising to us
RM