The Lighthouse – A Message From the E-Directorate February 2026 – USCG AUXILIARY EAST DISTRICT NORTHERN REGION

February 2026

Shipmates,

Welcome to the February 2026 edition of the Lighthouse Memo! Below are key updates, reminders, and resources from the Public Education Directorate designed to support your work and strengthen our collective outreach. Please review and share this information with your local Public Education (PE) teams.

Elevate Your Skills: 2026 Coast Guard Auxiliary Instructor Workshop

The 2026 Instructor Workshop is now available. While not mandatory, it is strongly recommended for all instructors and instructor candidates.

The workshop is offered in two convenient formats:

Facilitated Instruction:
A PowerPoint presentation with an accompanying PDF that includes speaker notes, suitable for classroom or virtual delivery by a certiﬁed instructor. Attendance via this format requires submission of an ANSC 7039.
Self-Study Option:
Available through the Auxiliary Classroom (Moodle). Completion of the online version automatically uploads to AUXDATA II during the weekly processing cycle.

The PowerPoint and PDF materials can be found on the E-Directorate website under What’s New and Resources (Member Zone login required). The online version requires an enrollment key through the Auxiliary Classroom.

Reminder: Commodore Maxim Award Entries Due February 28

This is a reminder that entries for the Commodore Maxim Award for Excellence in Education are due no later than February 28.

The Commodore Maxim Award recognizes outstanding achievements and innovation in education, honoring instructors who have made a signiﬁcant impact on student learning and success in Public Education and Member Training.

Please ensure all required documentation and supporting materials are submitted by the deadline. This award is an excellent opportunity to showcase the dedication, results, and professionalism of Auxiliary instructors—and to recognize them as the superstars they are.

Submission chain:

Flotilla → District Staff Ofﬁcer-Public Education → District Commodore concurrence → Public Education Director

For details, criteria, submission format, sample packages from prior winners, and suggested award wording, visit the Public Education website: https://wow.uscgaux.info/content.php?unit=E-DEPT&category=awards-recognition

“I’m the FSO-PE—Now What?”

“I’m the Flotilla Staff Ofﬁcer–Public Education, Now What?” is a concise, practical presentation designed for both newly appointed and returning FSO-PEs who want to adopt best practices.

While appointment letters include a basic job description, this presentation goes further—providing detailed guidance on the activities, strategies, and resources needed to be an effective FSO-PE. It is an excellent roadmap for success in this vital leadership role.

The presentation is available in two formats:

PowerPoint with PDF and instructor notes for group delivery
Auxiliary Classroom (Moodle) for self-paced learning

The PowerPoint and PDF versions are available under PE Resources at: https://wow.uscgaux.info/content.php?unit=E-DEPT&category=custom-1

Start your journey with conﬁdence and equip yourself with the tools to excel as an FSO-PE.

Entering Your PE Class Schedule Using ANSC 7023

As we begin a new year, please remember to complete the ANSC 7023 Intent to Teach form.

A step-by-step presentation is available on the Public Education website to guide you through the process and explain the importance of posting your class schedule on the Coast Guard Auxiliary website.

What the Presentation Covers:

How to access and complete the ANSC 7023
Required information and common pitfalls
Tips for smooth, error-free submission
Why posting your schedule online matters

Why Is This Important?

Visibility: Makes your classes easy to ﬁnd for prospective students
Communication: Improves outreach and coordination with the public

The presentation is available in the PE Resources menu at: https://wow.uscgaux.info/content.php?unit=E-DEPT&category=pe-resources

We strongly encourage all Public Education Staff Ofﬁcers to use this resource to ensure timely submission and maximize the visibility of Auxiliary education opportunities.

Public Education Marketing Material

We have developed several templates and advertising aids that FSOs-PE can use to market their local PE courses to the boating public. They are posted on the E-Directorate website in both English and Spanish. The pieces are in PDF format and include ﬁelds to enter your local contact and scheduling data. Have a look at them, try them out, and let us know how the posted items work for you

We need your help in developing marketing material to help you ﬁll your classes. Tell us what else you need. Once your suggestions are ﬁnalized as marketing pieces, we will post them on the E-Directorate website. Together, we will make Auxiliary safe boating programs the best.

Thank you for your continued commitment to excellence in education and for all you do to advance the Coast Guard Auxiliary mission.