Auxiliary Ramps-up to Support Coast Guard Public Affairs

by Harry M. Jacobs, AUXPA 1

Twenty-six members of the Coast Guard Auxiliary members from ? sStates

completed an intensive two-day 16- hour intensive training Coast Guard Public
Affairs Workshop atWorkshop at Coast Guard Base San Pedro, California, Nov.
14-15, 2015on 14 and 15 November 2015.

Public Affairs Chief Petty Officer Michael A. Anderson and Public Affairs Petty
Officer 1st Class Gina Ruoti, both Coast Guard Reserve public affairs
specialistsD11 Public Affairs, partnered with Commodore Bert Blanchette, District
Commodore of , Coast Guard Auxiliary District 11 Southern Region (D11SR) and
Commodore Harry Jacobs, Director of the Coast Guard Auxiliary , Public Affairs
Directorate, to create this newe training program .

Im truly grateful for the Auxiliary public affairs support during the Manhattan
Beach Incident. Anderson said. The Santa Barbara oil spill was the focus of the
majority of our public affairs resources in the area. Trained auxiliary public affairs
specialists were an amazing force multiplier for the Manhattan Beach Joint
Information Center, and they could be an asset for other Coast Guard responses.

This endorsement stretches from the deck plate level to D11s Helm.

Rear Admiral Joseph Servidio, District 11 Commander, has informed both D11
District Commodores, in District 11, that the Coast Guard may need more support
and augmentation from the auxiliary, if Congress continues to cut the agencys
budget, according to Commodoresaid Blanchette.
Workshop studentsThe students were taught and tested on topics that included
offered training administration of a public affairs program, journalism for Coast
Guard journalismUSCG Public Affairs print media, journalism for USCG Public
Affairs - broadcast media, digital photography, public affairs policy, guidelines for
release of information, the nature of news, principles of journalism, releasing
photos, media relations and interview techniquess, command area of responsibility,
public information and the incident command systemICS, the organization and
operation of the Joint Information Center , media policy, and recognition of
insignia for active duty enlisted and officers.

After successful completing oral quizzes, Following the conclusion of the refresher
workshop, pparticipants were granted personal qualification standardable to obtain
PQS sign-offs for all three levels of public affairs specialist. The next step for the
participants is to schedule their Oral Boards with the Branch Chief, Professional
Standards.

The Boards are organized by Area commands and consists of three senior public
affairs specialists. The Board members ask each candidate questions for about 45
minutes. and Tthen, they take 15 minutes to evaluate the performance of the
candidate for 15 minutes.

All candidates receive immediate feedback on their interviews. Successful

candidates receive e-mail confirmation of their new qualification within 72 hours.
Unsuccessful candidates are invited to reschedule after 30 -days.
The cadre of trained public affairs specialists in District 11 will be substantially
increased when these members have completed the qualification process, said
Commodore Blanchette said.

District 11 plans to continue offering these public affairs workshops. The next
workshop for District 11SR is scheduled for Jan. 8, 2016 8 January 2016 at the
Districts Training Conference (DTRAIN) in Costa Mesa, California. District 11
Northern Region (D11NR) will hold its second workshop on 20 and 21 Feb.ruary
20-21, 2016 at Coast Guard Base Alameda, California, according to Jerry Beard
Edelen, D11NR District Staff Officer for Public Affairs. [Words 475]