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
Weather History to Future: Climate Regimes & Forecasting Milestones from the Hadean to the AI Age
This presentation by Aaron Poyer discusses the history of Earth's climate, the evolution of weather forecasting, and the diverse career paths within atmospheric sciences.
1. Earth's Climate Evolution
Aaron traced the Earth's climate from the Hadean (Precambrian) period to the present, highlighting how the planet transitioned from a molten state to various "Snowball Earth" glaciations.
• The CO2 Thermostat: Carbon dioxide levels have historically regulated global temperatures; high concentrations align with warm periods, while low levels trigger glaciation.
• Influencing Factors: Tectonic plate movements, the emergence of life, and greenhouse gases have driven major shifts and mass extinction events.
• Modern Era: Since 1970, global warming has accelerated, with CO_{2} reaching 420 ppm and the Arctic warming 3–4 times faster than the global average.
2. The Three Revolutions of Weather Forecasting
The presentation outlined three distinct eras that transformed our ability to predict the weather:
• Instrumentation (17th–19th Century): The birth of scientific measurement.
• Numerical Prediction (Early 20th Century): The shift from simple "persistence-based" forecasting to mathematical theory and numerical models.
• The Modern Age: The integration of satellite data and Artificial Intelligence (AI). • Accuracy gains: Reliability has increased from one-day outlooks to roughly 7–10 days. • Public Safety: Tornado warning lead times have improved to 13–15 minutes.
3. Operational Science and Technology
Aaron detailed the logistical side of how modern weather data is gathered and utilized:
• Data Collection: Information is harvested via NOAA hurricane hunters, sail drones, underwater gliders, and ocean models that track thermoclines.
• Collaboration: Forecasting is a global effort involving the National Weather Service (NWS), emergency managers, private companies (aviation/energy), and international partners like the European Center for Medium Range Weather Forecasting.
• Specific Phenomena: The presentation touched on atmospheric rivers (moisture plumes causing California mudslides) and El Niño/La Niña (Pacific temperature shifts affecting global patterns).
4. Career Paths and Education
The document identifies six major career sectors: research/government, operational forecasting, technology/engineering, applied industry, education, and policy/emergency management.
• Skills Required: Success in this field requires strong STEM foundations, specifically in physics, math, computer science, and data science.
• Certifications: Professional standing is often reinforced by degrees in meteorology and certifications from the American Meteorological Society.
Our Speaker:
Aaron Poyer is a Physical Scientist and Program Manager in NOAA's National Weather Service, Modeling Programs Division. Aaron currently directs the Hurricane Forecast Improvement Program (HFIP) and leads NOAA's response to the Consumer Options for Alternative Systems To Allocate Losses (COASTAL) Act, both of which are cross NOAA line offices. Previously Aaron has served as Acting Deputy Director at the NOAA's Oceanic and Atmospheric Research (OAR) Hurricane Research Division (HRD) at the Atlantic Oceanography and Meteorology Lab (AOML). Prior to his most recent roles, Aaron spent 13 years as Test Director for the NWS Automated Service Observing System and Upper Air national networks, and he contributed to validating NWS operational readiness for GOES-R satellite data products in forecasting use.
Aaron is currently a PhD Candidate in Geography and Environmental Systems at the University of Maryland Baltimore County, holds an M.S. in Environmental Biology from Hood College, a B.S. in Meteorology from SUNY Oswego, and an A.S. from Tompkins Cortland Community College. Additionally, Aaron has obtained a Master's Certificate in Program and Project Management from GWU and completed Federal Acquisition Institute FAC-P/PM Senior Level training. Outside of work Aaron is a USA Hockey Level 5 and Goalie Gold certified coach, and he can often be found tinkering with his collection of old Volvos or even older house.
Youth Programs & DSO-AS Training 20260419
Quarterly training for members of the National Youth Programs division and the District AuxScout Staff Officers—April 2026
Coast Guard Tech Talk: U. S. Coast Guard Rescue Swimmer School
This episode of *Tech Talk* presents an overview of the U.S. Coast Guard Rescue Swimmer School and features guest speakers AST2 Keegan O'Leary and AST1 Gabriel Humphrey, who share their experiences and provide detailed insight into the demanding training pipeline. The speakers explain the multi‑phase process, beginning with initial interest and progressing through boot camp, the MAP (Mentorship and Preparation) program, the prep course, and finally ASTA school, which includes EMT training, the rescue swimmer phase, and aviation survival technician training. They discuss the high attrition rates (50–80%) and the rigorous physical fitness requirements, including specific PFA tests and the more demanding standards of the prep course. The presenters also share memorable rescue stories and offer advice to aspiring rescue swimmers, emphasizing the importance of gradually building physical fitness and developing strong water confidence.
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