ALAUX 039/26 Subj: CHIEF DIRECTOR’S FINAL ACTION ON NATIONAL BOARD RECOMMENDATIONS AT THE 2026 NATIONAL TRAINING EVENT
1. At the 2026 Auxiliary National Training Event (NTE) held in Orlando, Florida in August, four recommendations were placed before the National Board. They are copied below along with the Chief Director’s final actions.
a. Subject: Reduction of National Conferences/Seminars to One Annually (Submitted 29 May 2026 by Commodore Robert Kumpf, CGD-GL-WR)
(1) Recommendation: Reduce the number of in-person national training events/conferences from two (2) annually, to one (1) annually, and reallocate the saved funds to support competency-required members training to better benefit Coast Guard Auxiliary readiness.
(2) Discussion: The Coast Guard Auxiliary is struggling financially. Our members going without required training courses needed to maintain their competencies due to limited funds from the Coast Guard proper. This has a direct impact on our ability to maintain readiness. This proposal recommends that we reduce the number of in-person national training conferences/events from two (2) annually, to one (1) annually, and then reallocate the unspent funding to support competency-required member training to increase readiness across the Auxiliary. The selection of the one (1) in-person meeting would be left up to the National Board & NEXCOM to decide, in consultation with BSX, and any other national board meetings would be held via web-based video conferencing platforms at the discretion of the National Board & NEXCOM.
(3) National Board Action: There was no motion to move this recommendation forward. It was therefore not acted upon.
(4) Chief Director Final Action: No action taken.
b. Subject: Authorize the Permanent Wear of the National Staff Device (Submitted 29 May 2026 by Commodore Robert Kumpf, CGD-GL-WR)
(1) Recommendation: This proposal recommends that the permanent wear of the Coast Guard Auxiliary National Staff Device be authorized for members of the Auxiliary who have completed no less than two (2) full two-year terms (for a total of 4 years of service) as a member of the National Staff.
(2) Discussion: This change is consistent with the regulations pertaining to the permanent wear of staff identification devices issued by both the U.S. Department of Defense/War and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, who authorize the permanent wear of staff identification devices after the completion of one (1) year of active duty assignment or four (4) years of reserve assignment to an issuing staff office. The Coast Guard Auxiliary members who serve on National Staff are required to purchase both versions out of pocket and should be allowed to wear them upon the completion of four (4) years of service to the National Staff.
(3) National Board Action: Approved.
(4) Chief Director Final Action: Concur, approved and effective immediately. Auxiliarists who have completed no less than two full two-year terms (for a total of four years; terms do not have to be consecutive) as a member of national staff are authorized to permanently wear the Auxiliary National Staff Device.
c. Subject: Refining Quorum Calculation Criteria for Auxiliary Units (Submitted 01 June 2026 by Commodore Martin Goodwin, CGD-SE)
(1) Recommendation: That the National Board adopt a standard policy refining objective criteria for determining which members are included in the population used to calculate quorum requirements for Coast Guard Auxiliary units. For quorum calculation purposes only, a member shall be included in the quorum-counting population if the member is current on annual dues; is current in Auxiliary Core Training (AUXCT); has satisfied current annual uniform inspection policy, including a recorded inspection or applicable exemption; and is not under membership suspension or Auxiliary participation restrictions as a result of disciplinary action. Members who do not meet the quorum-counting criteria shall remain members of the Coast Guard Auxiliary. They shall not be included in the number used to determine whether a quorum exists when absent; however, if present in person or virtually, they may vote on unit matters and in unit elections, subject to otherwise applicable rules.
(2) Discussion:
Problem: Roster-based quorum calculations can prevent Auxiliary units from conducting business when inactive or non-current members are counted toward quorum requirements.
Benefits: Objective quorum-counting criteria would make quorum calculations more realistic, improve unit governance, reduce administrative frustration, and preserve voting rights for members who are present in person or virtually.
Implementation Considerations/Risk Controls: National policy and AUXDATA II guidance should clearly define the criteria, emphasize that they apply only to quorum calculations, provide consistent tracking and reporting procedures, and allow automatic restoration when members meet the requirements.
(3) National Board Action: Approved.
(4) Chief Director Final Action: Concur, approved, and effective immediately with the following understandings and conditions:
a. The National Board is commended for applying criteria that are not centered on individual activity levels but rather membership aspects that are universally expected of all Auxiliarists in addition to the allowance for Auxiliarists who do not meet the criteria to still vote if they are present in-person or virtually.
b. The four quorum eligibility criteria that must be met for an Auxiliarist to be counted toward quorum are defined as follows:
1. An Auxiliarist must be current in the payment of their dues. An enrolled Auxiliarist shall be regarded as current in the payment of their dues unless they remain in AUXDATA II at the start of the calendar year pending disenrollment for failure to pay dues for that year. If they have not yet been disenrolled for failure to pay dues in such circumstance, then they do not meet this criterion and shall not be counted toward quorum.
2. An Auxiliarist must be current in AUXCT (i.e., the AUXCT – CORE TRAINING competency status must show “Certified” in AUXDATA II).
3. An Auxiliarist must be current in their annual uniform assessment (i.e., “Uniform Last Inspected” must be checked in AUXDATA II and contain a date that is within either the current or previous calendar year, or “Uniform Exempt” must be checked).
4. An Auxiliarist must not have any entry in the “Admin Hold” field. That will reflect they are not currently subject to suspension or restriction as a result of investigative or disciplinary action. Additionally, an Auxiliarist whose membership is suspended to any extent due to an ongoing investigation does not meet this criterion and shall not be counted toward quorum.
c. These criteria and provisions are applicable for flotillas only. Determining quorum for the Auxiliary’s division, district, and national-level units remains unchanged.
d. The value of immediate implementation of these provisions must be balanced against the need to program AUXDATA II to permanently facilitate flotilla leaders’ quick determination of quorum for their flotilla meetings and associated flotilla business. Until such programming is completed, confirmation that a flotilla member meets these criteria will depend upon the flotilla leader’s independent check and awareness of such. An AUXDATA II “Member Engagement Report” is expected to become available in the next few weeks that will help a flotilla leader readily identify flotilla members who meet the AUXCT and uniform assessment criteria. Confirmation that a flotilla member meets the dues currency and suspension/restriction criterion will continue to depend upon the flotilla leader’s independent check and awareness of such. Completion of AUXDATA II programming that consolidates all of this is expected no earlier than spring of 2027.
d. Subject: Recommended Elimination of APC Course and Test (Submitted 08 June 2026 by Auxiliarist Faron Petteys, Director of Training)
(1) Recommendation: That the National Board approve the sunset of the Auxiliary Administrative Procedures Course (APC), also known as the Auxiliary Procedures Course, including elimination of the associated examination and removal of APC completion as a requirement for election eligibility.
(2) Discussion: Following a comprehensive review of the Auxiliary Administrative Procedures Course, the T-Directorate recommends that APC be discontinued. The course served an important purpose before implementation of the Basic Qualification Course II, but its core content is now addressed more effectively through BQCII and the Auxiliary Flotilla Leadership Course. The material covered in APC, as well as the knowledge tested through its examination, is substantially incorporated into the current BQCII and AFLC course content and assessments. These newer courses provide a more current, comprehensive, and relevant foundation for members, including those preparing for elected leadership responsibilities. Retaining APC as a separate course and election eligibility requirement creates unnecessary duplication within the Auxiliary training system. It also imposes an additional administrative burden on members and election officials without providing a meaningful training benefit beyond what is already achieved through BQCII and AFLC. Sunsetting APC will simplify election eligibility requirements, reduce redundant training, and align Auxiliary leadership preparation with the organization’s current training structure. Upon approval, appropriate national staff should identify and update any manuals, policies, election guidance, training materials, or qualification references that include APC or its associated examination.
(3) National Board Action: Approved.
(4) Chief Director Final Action: Concur and approved with the following understandings and conditions:
a. Proficiency in basic Auxiliary policy and leadership are both essential elements for Auxiliarists to serve in elected office. As established in ALAUX 013/24 of March 29, 2024, the APC was coupled with either the Auxiliary Flotilla Leadership Course (AFLC) or the Auxiliary Leadership and Management C-School (AUXLAMS) to satisfy this premise for election eligibility beginning at flotilla level.
b. The BQCII now effectively satisfies the need for basic Auxiliary policy proficiency and either the AFLC or AUXLAMS satisfies the need for basic Auxiliary leadership proficiency for the purpose of election eligibility. Therefore, effective immediately, successful completion of BQCII and either AFLC or AUXLAMS satisfies election eligibility requirements.
c. Understanding that the APC had not undergone a significant update in more than 10 years, its legacy value for election eligibility is marginal. Successful completion of APC (instead of BQCII) remains acceptable, in combination with AFLC or AUXLAMS, for election eligibility. However, Auxiliarists who have successful APC completion on record but not BQCII are strongly encouraged to successfully complete the BQCII as part of their preparation for elected office. The APC will no longer be available effective December 31, 2026. Auxiliarists have until that date to complete the APC.
2. Internet release is authorized.
