Currency Maintenance Cycle
The currency maintenance cycle for surface operations is conducted on a three-year cycle, with certain requirements every year during the cycle, and requires the services of a Qualification Examiner (QE). The currency cycle begins on 01 January of the year following initial certification. Currency requirements must be met by 31 December of each year. For example, if a member is certified as a coxswain on 15 July 2005, that member’s first currency year begins on 01 January 2006, and the member must meet all annual currency requirements by the end of 2006 (31 December 2006). The third-year currency requirements must be met by 31 December 2008. Annual currency requirements must be met during the first full calendar year after certification; credit will not be given to hours or tasks completed in the partial year of initial certification. Failure to meet currency requirements in any year of the cycle will cause a member’s certification to lapse.
Crew Member – To maintain currency, a certified crew member must log twelve (12) hours underway as a crew member on orders each calendar year. Additionally, the currency maintenance tasks for this position must be performed every three years with a Qualification Examiner.
Coxswain – To maintain currency, a certified coxswain must log twelve (12) hours underway as a crew member or coxswain on orders each calendar year. Additionally, the currency maintenance tasks for this position must be performed every three years with a Qualification Examiner.
PWC Operator – To maintain currency, a certified PWC Operator must log twelve (12) hours underway as a PWC Operator each year. Additionally, the currency maintenance tasks for this position must be performed every three years with a Qualification Examiner.
Coxswain and PWC Operator – To maintain currency, a member certified both as a coxswain and a PWC Operator must log twelve (12) hours underway as a crew member or coxswain on orders each calendar year and at least six (6) hours underway as a PWC Operator each year. Additionally, the currency maintenance tasks for these positions must be performed every three years with a Qualification Examiner.
Crew member and PWC Operator – To maintain currency, a member certified both as a crew member and a PWC Operator must log twelve (12) hours underway as a PWC Operator on orders each calendar year and at least six (6) hours underway as a crew member each year. Additionally, the currency maintenance tasks for these positions must be performed every three years with a Qualification Examiner.
Additional Fifth (5th) Year Qualifications
Crew Members, Coxswains, and PWC Operators must attend a TCT Class at least every five years, IAW Team Coordination Training, COMDTINST 1541.1 (series).
Coxswains and PWC operators must pass an open book Auxiliary Navigation Rules examination at least every five years [no later than the anniversary date of their previous exam] with a minimum score of 90 percent.
Members failing to complete the open book exam within the five year period are considered lapsed and must retake the exam and achieve a minimum score of 90 percent to regain certification and receive orders.
Note: AUXDATA shows the currency maintenance schedule for all boat Crew Members, Coxswains, and PWC Operators. This report should be reviewed regularly by the respective FSOs-OP to inform their flotilla members of their status.
A member who fails to meet annual currency requirements for the year shall make up the missing hours as a trainee, under the supervision of a certified coxswain the following year. (Example: If the member completes only four (4) hours the previous year they must complete eight (8) hours as a trainee to regain certification.) Once the missing hours are completed the member is no longer a trainee. The member must then complete twelve (12) additional hours to maintain certification. Members who fail to complete the triennial check ride must complete the check ride before being recertified. Members who fail to complete all of the required hours for one to four years must complete twelve (12) hours as a trainee to regain certification and twelve (12) additional hours as a fully qualified member to maintain certification. Members who do not have underway hours for a period of five (5) years or more must re-qualify by completing all required tasks for the desired position.
A member whose certification has lapsed may participate as a designated trainee on an ordered patrol. As a designated trainee, the member may accumulate the required patrol hours in order to be recertified.
Documentation of the required under-way hours will be noted on the paperwork submitted for each patrol. Triennial check rides will be documented and submitted by the Qualification Examiner conducting the check.
A member who is unable to or does not wish to maintain certification as a coxswain may downgrade to the crew member level by meeting the currency requirements for crew members. The member shall notify DIRAUX in writing, through their flotilla leadership of their desire to downgrade. The member may continue to wear the Auxiliary coxswain Insignia even though no longer certified at the coxswain level.
To remain certified, and IT must teach two hours or serve as an assistant IT for four hours each year or by teaching one hour and assisting for two hours. ITs must also attend approved workshops when required.
Failure to satisfy annual requirements will require the Auxiliarist to recertify as an IT. When the hours for teaching/serving as an assistant IT have not been met, the IT must perform the annual certification task(s), as a trainee, under the supervision of a certified IT. The certified IT receives the training (PE or MT) credit for the 2 or 4 hours performed during this recertification process. The candidate must then complete the annual certification requirements to retain certification for the following year.
When any required IT workshop is not attended prior to 31 May (or later date established within the District), recertification will be accomplished by attending the required workshop prior to 30 September. Subsequent to that date, recertification will be required as outlined
Paperwork documenting the completion of the required hours and/or workshop need to be clearly labeled as “requalification” and the member’s name highlighted or noted in comments, and include a note requesting that the REYR or REWK status be removed. Additional IT hours should not be submitted until the REYR or REWK status is removed.
To remain certified, PVs must conduct at least four recreation boating safety visits each year.
In order to regain certification, the PV must perform two practice visits as a trainee under the supervision of a certified PV. Only the certified PV receives credit for the two recertification visits. The Recertified PV must then perform an additional four (4) visits in the year to retain qualification. If more than five (5) years have elapsed since loss of certification the PV must prequalify as a new Program Visitor.
Complete the 7046 Program Visitor Activity form, filling in all required information, listing the REYR PV’s name on Trainee line. In Section III -REMARKS (write-in) “Above trainee(s) has completed the two supervised PVs to retain certification status.”
During the calendar year of initial certification, each Vessel Examiner (VE) must complete five (5) non-paddle craft Vessel Safety Checks (VSCs) to remain certified entering the following calendar year. The required five (5) non-paddle craft may be any combination of mentored and/or un-supervised VSCs accomplished during the initial certification calendar year.
After the initial certification calendar year, each VE must complete at least five (5) VSC’s each calendar year to remain certified entering the following calendar year. These VSCs may be any combination of non-paddle craft and paddle craft VSCs.
If a VE fails to perform the annual certification procedures for five (5) consecutive years that member will have to meet the full initial qualification criteria to regain qualification.
If any qualified VE fails to perform the annual required number of Vessel Safety Checks and complete the VE workshop (in the years when one is required), that Examiner must complete two satisfactory VSCs under the supervision of a certified VE in order to regain their certification. The certifying VE receives the credit for the two recertification VSCs. The Candidate then must perform the regular number of required VSCs, five (5), to retain their VE certification.
Complete the 7038 Activity Vessel Examination form, filling in all required information, listing the REYR VE’s name on Trainee line. In Section III -REMARKS (write-in) “Above trainee(s) has completed the two supervised VSC’s to retain certification status.”
For VE Workshop – Complete the 7039 Workshop Mission form. In the Remarks Section write “Above trainee(s) have completed the VE mandatory workshop to retain VE certification status”.
