District Policies

TO: All Hands
EFF: 4 February 2011

District Commodore Administrative Memorandum (DCAM) 11-02 dated 4 February 2011 canceled DCO Memorandum “Uniforms” dated 31 December 2009, and provided guidance for the uniform of the day for public events. This DCAM provides additional uniform guidance for other non-operational situations.

The Tropical Blue Uniform or Service Dress Blue Uniform will be the Uniform of the Day at District, Division and Flotilla meetings. Consistent with the Auxiliary Manual, the Winter Dress Blue Uniform is an acceptable alternative for the Service Dress Blue Uniform from 1 November through 30 April of the Coast Guard Fiscal Year. There will no longer be a requirement that everyone at a District, Division, or Flotilla meeting be in the same uniform, however, the only choices available are those listed above.

The Uniform of the Day for Division Changes of Watch shall remain the choice of the Division Commander. The Uniform of the Day for D-Train [formerly known as the District Conference] will be the choice of the District Commodore.

D11SR Members may no longer use the logos of the United States Coast Guard or the Department of Homeland Security on their personal, business, or United States Coast Guard Auxiliary e-mails or letters. Only the authorized logo of the United States Coast Guard Auxiliary is authorized for use on Coast Guard Auxiliary e-mails or letters.

Chapter 5, Sections A, B, C, and D, pages 5-3 to 5-14, of the Auxiliary Manual, COMDINST M-16790.1F, describes the policy for use of the words “Coast Guard” and titles, in connection with communication with the public.   Specifically, Section D.2.c addresses the proper use of an official title.   All of these regulations are designed to assist the Members of the Auxiliary in properly representing the Coast Guard and the Coast Guard Auxiliary.

Recently, there have been several noticeable violations of these regulations by Members in this District. The Director, District Chief of Staff, and I believe that these violations have been unintentional and reflect a need for guidance on the subject of the appropriate use of signature blocks in an e-mail being sent within and outside of the Auxiliary.  Therefore, effective this date, only the exemplar standardized signature blocks printed below are to appear on e-mail sent within and outside of the Coast Guard Auxiliary District 11SR:

Colleen Jones
Member – Flotilla 08-03
Eleventh District Southern Region
Phone #

Paul Smith
FSO-MT – Flotilla 08-03
Eleventh District Southern Region
Phone #

Barry National
DCDR – Division 8
Eleventh District Southern Region
Phone #

Below is in precedence order.

1. In situations/events governed by an Incident Action Plan (IAP), uniform shall be prescribed, including policy on wearing of boots/boat shoes and headgear (caps).
2. The OIA may prescribe the uniform of the day for patrols, regattas, events, etc. as a condition of employment.
3. When augmenting/working on a military base, uniforms shall comply with local policies for wear which includes boots, shoes and headgear. For example, the typical uniform of the day at Sector LA/LB is ODU (sleeves rolled up), boots, and ball cap. At Sector San Diego, the typical uniform of the day is Tropical Blue Long with garrison. The examples are just examples. Auxiliary members shall recognize that the uniform of the day for people augmenting a Coast Guard command can change from day to day and they need to comply with the command’s directive. This will keep the appearance of a uniformed service consistent when Auxiliarists are working side by side Active Duty and Reserve members.
4. In all other situations, uniforms shall be worn in accordance with the Auxiliary Manual, COMDTINST M16790.1G.

The performance of dive operations by Auxiliarists operating in an Auxiliarist capacity has not been approved by the Commandant. In a memorandum dated 5 December 2011, Chief Director of the Auxiliary, CAPT Mark Rizzo reiterates this position, and directs all DIRAUX and Operations Training Officers (OTO) to “…take action as appropriate to ensure that Auxiliarists comply with this policy.”

For the sake of this policy, we are advised by the CHDIRAUX that “dive operations” means “a part of the dive team”, whether or not actually entering the water, including observing, tending, coordinating, or any other activity in support of an actual dive.

Auxiliary members may, however, be a resource (Dive Casualty Investigation Team) for a dive investigation that the Coast Guard might be involved with, but they absolutely need to stay dry.

The Chief Director’s memorandum may be viewed or downloaded from the resource below.