Sea Scouts BSA - Auxiliary Youth Leadership Program Organizational Support
The Sea Scouts BSA - Auxiliary Youth Leadership Program (AUXSCOUT) was rolled out nationally in November of 2019. All districts are now fully conducting the program, including developing working relationships with local Sea Scout units, councils, areas, and regions, as well as pursuing joint public affairs, public education, and vessel examination opportunities. |
National policy guidance
The Auxilary's Youth Programs Division has direct operational responsibility for AUXSCOUT. The division's Chief is Bruce Johnson, DVC-SY. Branch Chiefs for Atlantic East districts (D1N, D1S, D5N, D5S, D7), Atlantic West districts (D8C, D8E, D8W, D9C, D9E, D9W), and Pacific districts (D11N, D11S, D13, D14, D17) are Arnie Geller, BC-SYA, Bart Knapp, BC-SYW, and John-Michael Zimmerle, BC-SYP respectively.
The National Sea Scout Committee's Relationships Subcommittee provides program guidance to Sea Scout leaders working with the Auxiliary and liaison to the Coast Guard Auxiliary. Coordination at the Coast Guard Auxiliary district level is handled by the Territory Sea Scout Commodore. Coordination at the Auxiliary division level is handled by the Council Sea Scout Commodore.
AUXSCOUT All-Hands Staff Forums
Quarterly forums are held to provide up-to-date news for all Youth Programs team members, including national staff and AuxScout staff officers at the district, division, and flotilla levels. Forums are held on the second Sundays of January, April, July, and October unless otherwise announced at 2030 eastern / 1930 central / 1830 mountain / 1730 pacific / 1630 Alaska time. Team members are encouraged to submit questions ahead to Bruce Johnson, Youth Programs Division Chief. Recordings of the forums are posted here.
- April 2020
- July 2020 - PowerPoint only
- October 2020
- January 2021
- April 2021
- July 2021
- October 2021
- 2022 AuxScout Staff Officer workshop
- April 2022
- July 2022
District implementation
Each district must appoint a District AuxScout Staff Officer (DSO-AS). The District AuxScout Staff Officer is responsible for developing and coordinating the District’s Sea Scout programs. This includes identifying and establishing points of contact at each level of the Auxiliary – District, Division and Flotilla – for Sea Scout Areas, Councils, and Ships in the District.
The DSO-AS promotes authorized Sea Scout activities, such as Public Education programs, VSCs for Sea Scout boats and at Scout camps, unit sponsorship, and shoreside and underway training through the Auxiliary POCs at each level. Additionally, the DSO-AS provides after-action reports and articles relating to youth activities for Auxiliary publications, e.g., AuxBWiki.
The DSO-AS also provides support to their District Commodores on other youth programs occurring in their district by:
- Developing articles on youth program activities.
- Holding workshops at District training conferences on youth programs.
District resources
- Job Description - District AuxScout Staff Officer
- Sample Strategic Plan - District AuxScout Staff Officer
- District AuxScout Staff Officer report template
- Job Description - Assistant District AuxScout Staff Officer
- What should my district be doing to get started?
- What training is available?
Division support
In order that AuxScout organizational support be implemented consistently, it is recommended that each division appoint a Division AuxScout Staff Officer (SO-AS).
Division resources
- Job Description - Division AuxScout Staff Officer
- Division AuxScout Staff Officer report template
- What should my division be doing to get started?
- What does my flotilla or division need to do to organize a Sea Scout Ship?
- What training is available?
Flotilla support
All flotillas that have direct, sustained, and constructive engagement with a counterpart Sea Scout Ships should have a Flotilla Staff Officer for the AuxScout program (FSO-AS).