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The Telecommunications Division designs and develops program components that focus on telecommunications standards, radio station management and maintenance, continuing education, qualification and currency maintenance for over 8,500 Telecommunications Officer qualified members.
Auxiliary Communications Program is the umbrella under which assets may be strategically combined to meet the requirements of the Coast Guard, the Auxiliary District Commodores, and the recreational boating public.
Auxiliary Communications Program includes:
- AUGCOM (Augmentation Communications) supports the USCG Communications Command (COMMCOM), Sectors, and other Coast Guard commands that require additional coverage of HF/MF Digital Distress frequencies during storms, communications outages, and other disruptive events.
- SHARES, the Department of Homeland Security’s HF radio network which interconnects all federal agencies and critical infrastructures.
- The AUXMON (Auxiliary Monitoring) program gauges the effectiveness and quality of USCG weather broadcasts within the US 200-mile territorial limit. This Auxiliary program is the sole source of quality control to the US Coast Guard.
- HF PROGRAMS to support the Coast Guard’s high frequency radio systems during times of critical use or equipment malfunction.
- VHF PROGRAMS operated by the 16 Auxiliary Districts.
- RESCUE 21 SUPPORT which provide Coast Guard Districts with Auxiliary radio stations to handle distress radio calls should Rescue 21 not be available to them.
The division is composed of four branches having responsibility for Coast Guard Support, Contingency Communications, Qualification and Training,
Inspections & Compliance is responsible for vetting and processing requests for HF station and VHF repeater station authorizations, issue HF International call signs, and recommend their approval to the DVC-RT. They also provide training to radio inspectors and maintain various registries of Auxiliary US government radio stations.
Qualifications & Training creates, updates, and promulgates the telecommunications training programs. Among other qualifications and certifications, the Branch is responsible for the Telecommunications Officer (TCO) PQS.
Support Services provides liaison with the 16 District Communications staff officers (DSO-CMs), maintains the Division’s website, provide support to subscribers of the various Division “products” (FirstNet cellular telephone service and Auxiliary Push-to- Talk), negotiate with manufacturers to maintain a listing of recommended radio equipment and antennas, and work to obtain surplus equipment which will support the
Division’s mission.
Special Services works directly with the Division’s Chief and provides quality oversight and ensures that the Division’s staff is properly engaged to meet the deadlines for its various projects and programs.
Telecommunications
Auxiliary communications are not bound into a rigidly structured operational system but rather consist of fixed land stations, land mobile stations and direction finder stations that have been accepted by the Director of the Auxiliary as radio facilities.
Division Staff Officer Job Descriptions
These are the job descriptions for Division level staff officer positions that support the National Directorate of Response activities.