Imediate Past Division Captain, BQ, CR, AV, VE, and IT.
Larry, on the above. Flotilla is the basic unit. Next up is a Division, made up of Flotillas in the same area, then District which is made up of Divisions. Then you get into Pacific area and Atlantic area and National. At District level it is the same district numbering as the USCG. So we(Seattle Portland area) are in District 13.
BQ means basically qualified. Means the member has had a basic boating class like the ABC (now called ABS).
CR means crew certified. qualified to be a crew member on an aux facility or CG boat.
VE is a vessel examiner. Has taken the course and passed on how to give a vessel safety exam.
IT is a person trained and qualified to be an InsTructor.
A member can have his boat equipped and examined yearly to be a Aux Facility. When qualified you get a CGAux number for the vessel and when under patrol or other orders you are considered to be a vessel of the US Gov with liability protection as such. Also the crew are under the same medical coverage as the USCG. Boat fuel as well as an hourly rate for engine wear, etc and a food allowance are paid based on engine hours and length of the patrol.
To be crew qualified you learn basic crew responsibilities,basic first aid, basic fire fighting information, knots, marlinspike seamanship, watchstanding /look-out techniques, basic radio skills, and then pass an on the water QE. Qualifications Exam given by an Aux examiner. You probably know 85% of it now. You do some long towing and side tow evolutions and MOB. For Coxswain you additionally learn more navigation, and leadership skills, as you would be in charge of the crew and the vessel. Once again you take a QE when you are ready to be tested. Chart work, set and drift, time distance speed kinds of problems, changing TB to RB to CS using variation and deviation.
Uniforms are paid for by the member, but Personal Safety equipment is provided. You get a duffle with about $2000 worth of dry suit, mustang suit,, PFD and survival vest. All expenses you incure are tax deductible
At this point after 20 months I am BQ (Basically Qualified), CR Crew Certified, about a month from becoming Coxswain certified, I am FSO-SR (Flotilla Staff Officer-Secretary) VE ( Vessel Examiner) PV Public Visitor, and have passed 3 of the 6 specialty courses to be Certified as Auxiliary Operations. The 6 courses are Patrol, Search and Rescue, Seamanship, Communications, Weather, and Navigation.
You can do as much as you want, and be involved as deeply as you have time and energy for.
