1. When a Coast Guard active duty member is assigned as a Sector Auxiliary Liaison Officer (AUXLO), there is no training program to prepare them for the position. Additionally, there is no funding directly allocated to a basic indoctrination training and often a poor or non-existant relief process. The Coast Guard Auxiliary has 26,000 members nationwide, 1,800 vessels, and 160 aircraft. The AUXLO is responsible for the safe and legal execution of all Auxiliary missions at their respective Sector. Without proper training and often little to no relief process, the Coast Guard puts itself at risk of improper management of the Auxiliary Program. The AUXLO is also responsible for the oversight of funding, training, and Personal Protective Equipment…show more content… While many Coast Guard Small Boat Stations assist the Coast Guard Auxiliary in maintaining readiness of required PPE, the AUXLO is ultimately responsible for the administration of the program at their Sector. Reference (d) requires specific equipment be issued and maintained in accordance with Maintenance Procedure Cards available through a different system. Few AUXLOs have been previously assigned to a position that required them to oversee such a complex program. For example, in the cold waters of the New England, an improperly fitted or maintained piece of equipment could result in death or serious injury even in the summer months. The Auxiliary trusts the Coast Guard to supply appropriate lifesaving equipment; without requisite knowledge of the requirements for equipment the risk for loss of life is…show more content… The most difficult stage of Kotter’s Eight Steps for Leading Change would likely be to establish urgency. The current state of the Auxiliary program is meeting minimum expectations and operational demands. It is likely that many in leadership positions concur that an AUXLO training program would be beneficial, but would accept the current status quo of performance as adequate. In 2016, reference (e) directed Sector Northern New England (SNNE) to use 300 fewer engine hours when compared to 2015 due to lack of use. In 2016 SNNE fully implemented a new Operational Planning Process Guide to all Auxiliary facilities in the Area of Responsibility. The result was a significant improvement in tracking resources and real-time updates to Auxiliary leadership on the status of remaining engine hours. The Auxiliary was able to project future patrols and adjust their operational commitments to better utilize their resources. In 2017, further improvements in AUXLO and Auxiliary coordination resulted in a projected 89% usage of allocated engine hours. Proper implementation of tools like the Operational Planning Process Guide is a clear and measurable improvement in that is just one example of the need for timely training on management of the
