The Academy Introduction Mission (AIM)
The USCGC EAGLE Soars
New SOP Issued
Coast Guard Tech Talk: Systems Engineering and Technology Management
Coast Guard Tech Talk: Overview of the United States Weather Balloon Program
Coast Guard Tech Talk: Understanding Electronic Nautical Charts and Their Uses
Coast Guard Tech Talk – 08/27: Lessons Learned from Boating Accidents
Coast Guard Tech Talk – 7/23: US Coast Guard Helicopters
Coast Guard Tech Talk – 6/25: Satellites and Weather
Coast Guard Tech Talk – 5/28: AUXPAD—Paddle Safe: Evidence Based Padding Safety from the American Canoe Association, Part 2
Welcome!
Sea Scouting is the Coast Guard Auxiliary’s official youth program and is a Scouting America’s program for young men and women, ages 14 (or 13 years of age and completed eighth grade) through 20. Sea Scouts provide a program for religious, fraternal, educational, and other community organizations to use for effective character, citizenship, and mental and personal fitness training for youth. As part of this training, Sea Scouts are expected to develop personal religious values, learn the principles of American heritage and government, and acquire skills that will prepare them to become successful adults.
The advancement scheme for Sea Scouts places an initial emphasis on nautical skills before encouraging the youth to take a major role in planning activities in the unit. Young men and women ages fourteen through twenty who are willing to abide by the requirements of BSA membership, including agreeing to live by the ideals expressed in the Scout Oath and Law and Sea Promise are eligible to join a Sea Scout Ship. Ships are administered by volunteers with the assistance and support of some paid professional staff.
Any Sea Scout who is at least 17 years old or Sea Scout leader may also choose to become full members of the U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary by following the normal application process.
We also participate in a program to recognize all BSA Eagle Scouts, Venturing Summit Award recipients and Sea Scout Quartermasters as well as Girl Scout Gold Award holders. See their respective pages for more information.
The national Auxiliary-Sea Scout Youth Development (AUXSCOUT) Program Standard Operating Procedures (revised 22 APR 25) outlines how Auxiliarists are to work with Sea Scout youth and adult members, whether or not they are also Coast Guard Auxiliarists. National program oversight is provided by the Auxiliary’s Youth Programs Division. All Auxiliary Districts have District Staff Officers – AuxScout (DSO-AS), most divisions have Staff Officers – AuxScout (SO-AS), and flotillas that have direct, sustained, and constructive engagement with a counterpart Sea Scout Ship have Flotilla Staff Officers for the AuxScout Program (FSO-AS). Organization support details and job descriptions for AuxScout are available on our Resource page.
Answers to Frequently Asked Questions are available HERE. Any questions not answered on this website or the SOP may be directed as follows:
* Questions from District Commodores and District Chiefs of Staff should be directed to Ron Blaisdell, Youth Programs Division Chief, DVC-SY
* Questions from all others in Northeast District – Northern Region, Northeast District-Southern Region, Eastern District – Northern Division, Eastern District – Southern Division, and Southeast District (D1N, D1S, D5N, D5S, D7) should be directed to Holly Johnson, BC-SYA. Be sure to copy your DSO-AS and DCOS on your email.
* Questions from all others in Heartland District – Coastal Region, Heartland District – Eastern Region, Heartland District – Western Rivers Region, Great Lakes District – Central Region, Great Lakes District – Eastern Region, and Great Lakes District – Western Region (D8C, D8E, D8W, D9C, D9E, D9WR) should be directed to Paul Fernandez, BC-SYW. Be sure to copy your DSO-AS and DCOS on your email.
* Questions from all others in the Southwest District – Southern Region, Southwest District – Northern Division, Northwest District, Oceana District, and Artic District (D11N, D11S, D13, D14, D17) should be directed to Bruce Williams, BC-SYP. Be sure to copy your DSO-AS and DCOS on your email.
* Questions about starting a Sea Scout Ship should be directed to Rob Landquist. BA-SYSA.
Coast Guard Auxiliary Youth Programs
YouTube Channel
Systems Engineering and Technology Management
Technology is evolving faster than the tools to manage it. Over the last 40 years, three new disciplines have evolved to meet this challenge of managing the concepts, development, sale, management, and life cycle of technology services, systems, infrastructures, and enterprises. Systems Engineering is the concept, building, testing, and presenting new technology to market. Technology Management is the maintenance, repair, and operations of products and services taken from the market. Engineering Management is the oversight to assure that the products and services built and sold meet the needs of the customers that purchase them. This triumvirate of disciplines act as checks and balance ensuring quality products of advancing technology of the highest quality to continue to raise the standards of living for the world.
Our speaker is Dr. Thomas J. Day. Dr. Thomas J. Day has been an Engineering Manager, managing technology programs and projects, both Federal and in private industry, for over 37 years. Starting his career as a day laborer, he worked full time while going to school, eventually becoming the first Ph.D. in Engineering Management ever conferred at the Stevens Institute of Technology, Hoboken, NJ. He has over 70 peer reviewed published technical papers and three textbooks, was a Fellow at the Water Research Center of the UK and the Water Environment Federation of the USA, also receiving the Bronze Award from the US Department of Commerce for Excellence in Acquisition twice, and for Organizational Excellence twice. He is currently the Senior Government Relations Advisor for Campbell Scientific, Inc in Logan, UT.
Feb 2026 AUXScout All-Hands Training
Overview of the United States Weather Balloon Program
Weather balloons are a long-standing technology that remains an indispensable tool for meteorologists worldwide, even with the widespread use of weather satellites and ground-based radar systems. These devices are high-altitude balloons designed to carry a small, sophisticated instrument package high into the atmosphere. Their primary function is to collect temperature, humidity, winds and pressure data, which is foundational for understanding current weather conditions and predicting future patterns
Coast Guard Tech Talk – NAYLE
This month’s Tech Talk guest is Ms. Laurie Stefani, the National Coordinator for the National Advanced Youth Leadership Experience (NAYLE) at Philmont Scout Ranch.
NAYLE is the highest level of Youth Leadership Training in Scouting America, and it aligns perfectly with our mission — it’s designed exclusively for youth ages 14–20, the same core age range served by Sea Scouts, Venturing, and Exploring programs.
November 2025 AUXSCOUT All Hands Training
Coast Guard Tech Talk: Good Mate Program – Promoting Responsible Boating and Waterway Protection
Coast Guard Tech Talk: What is Ham Radio?
The Coast Guard Academy and the Importance of STEM proficiency as part of the admissions process
Our speaker, Mr. Timothy J. Kessell LT, USCG (ret.) is the Associate Director of Volunteer Programs at the U.S. Coast Guard Academy.
Recorded on 23 September 2024
Coast Guard Tech Talk: Protected Species at NOAA
Our speaker is Briana Gibb. Briana is the Mid-Atlantic Large Whale Ship Strike Reduction Liaison at NOAA's Greater Atlantic Regional Fisheries Office. She holds her Master of Science in Fisheries Management from the University of Miami Rosenstiel School of Marine and Atmospheric Science, and a Bachelor of Science in Ecology and Evolution from the University of California Santa Barbara. Briana's passion for science is expressed through outreach and education, using science communication to make science accessible to everyone. She has worked with many different types of marine life including fish, seals and sea lions, turtles, penguins, and whales.
Brought to you by the Coast Guard Auxiliary and the National Sea Scout Committee
Originally Recorded 27 May 2025