• AuxHome
• Join Us Now!
  • Find A Flotilla
• Leadership
  • Chief Director of Auxiliary
  • National Commodore
  • Vice National Commodore
  • Deputy Commodores
  • Assoc. Commodores
  • NACON Awards
• Aux Members
  • Job Aids & Resources
  • What's New!
  • 7029 Webform
  • Forms Warehouse
  • Auxiliary Manuals
  • Auxiliary Directory
  • Auxiliary Safety Program
  • AUXdata II
  • Auxiliary Testing Center
  • National Help Wanted
  • ANSC CATALOG
• Directorates
  • Administrative Investigations
  • Chaplain Support
  • Chief Counsel
  • Cybersecurity
  • Document & Administrative
  • Human Resources
  • Emergency Management
  • Information Technology
  • International Affairs
  • Student Programs
  • Prevention
  • Public Affairs
  • Public Education
  • RBS Outreach
  • Response
  • Training
  • Vessel Exams & RBS
• Units
  • Information on all Units
  • District 1 Northern
  • District 1 Southern
  • District 5 Northern
  • District 5 Southern
  • District 7
  • District 8 Coastal
  • District 8 Eastern
  • District 8 Western
  • District 9 Central
  • District 9 Eastern
  • District 9 Western
  • District 11 Northern
  • District 11 Southern
  • District 13
  • District 14
  • District 17
• Aux Assoc.
  • Aux Association
  • Auxiliary Member Store
• Coast Guard

From Mary Kirkwood, National Commodore

21 March 2025

I have been receiving many emails and calls through the chain of leadership and management regarding recent changes in the way of Presidential Directives. Coast Guard Headquarters has a new group, known as the Presidential Directives Implementation Team or PDIT, who is working to evaluate and ensure appropriate action is taken on these orders. Some of these orders affect the CG Auxiliary and have triggered questions from membership on what and how we are addressing these directives. Our program office representatives at the Chief Director Of Auxiliary office are working closely with National Staff to address these Directives. It is my goal to keep this page updated with questions and answers as we receive them. If you have additional questions that you don't see addressed here, please pass those up through your leadership and I will do my best to get them addressed.

Gender Ideology:

On January 20, 2025 President Trump Executive Order 14168 to Defend Women from Gender Ideology

Question: Does this affect the Auxiliary?

Answer: Yes, we have made some changes and there may be more changes as we identify other locations or policy documents that contain reference to gender rather than sex.

• Elimination of the word "gender" on Auxiliary websites (2/4/25) - in most cases, the word was substituted with "sex"
• Proposed changes to the Auxiliary Enrollment form and the Change in Membership Status form including replacement of the word gender with sex. These changes will soon undergo review by PDIT.

Diversity, Equality and Inclusion:

On January 22, 2025 President Trump signed Executive Order 14151 ending Diversity, Equality and Inclusion Programs and Preferencing.

Question: What has been the impact for the CG Auxiliary?

Answer:

• Diversity Staff Officer positions were eliminated (January 23, 2025)
  NOTE: Those losing their Diversity Staff Officer position are still allowed to wear the Staff Officer insignia (with the Past Officer device if appropriate) but not the National Staff badge unless they hold another National Staff position
• The National Commodore's watchwords were revised to remove the word "Inclusion" and add the word "Engagement"
• The National Strategic Plan was revised to eliminate all references to Diversity, Equality and/or Inclusion
• The Auxiliary Manual (AUXMAN) was redacted to eliminate all references to Diversity, Equality and/or Inclusion. The AUXMAN was unavailable for a short period while this action was completed
• Auxiliary websites at all levels were reviewed and eliminated all references to Diversity, Equality and Inclusion (1/25/25)
• Removal of Diversity Streamers on unit flags (2/7/5)
• Removal of Anti-Discrimination/Anti-Harassment policy (2/7/25)

For more information about the Executive Order eliminating Diversity, Equality and Inclusion, see ALAUX #06-25 to all members regarding the Executive Order on the Auxiliary at: https://wow.uscgaux.info/Uploads_wowII/BX-GROUP/006_25_CANCEL_DEIA_PROGRAMS_AND_ACTIVITIES.pdf

Question:How has the ending of Diversity, Equality and Inclusion affected Core Training?

Answer: Two Core Training courses have been temporarily suspended for BQ status and for continuing 5-year competencies.

• Sexual Assault Prevention, Response, and Recovery (SAPRR)
• Civil Rights (CR)

If these courses become available again by 30 September 2025, members due to complete their Core Training in 2025 will need to complete them by the end of the year. If not available by 30 September 2025, members will have until 2026 to complete them. For more information, please see ALAUX #08-25 2/7/25 @ https://wow.uscgaux.info/Uploads_wowII/BX-GROUP/008_25_TEMPORARY_UPDATE_TO_AUXILIARY_CORE_TRAINING.pdf

AUX Travel:

Question: Is the Auxiliary allowed to travel?

Answer: Yes, but travel must be validated to ensure it is mission-critical/mission-essential and there are some new requirements that must be followed.

• Auxiliary or personally funded travel (excluding CG appropriated funds) does not need CG travel approval.
• Local travel (less than 50 miles from home) is also exempt from the new travel requirements.

Question: Who needs to approve travel for an Auxiliarist?

Answer: ALCOAST 068/25 (not internet releasable) specifies approval authority which is dependent on rank. As an Auxiliarist it is important to understand that things have changed, but that your Coast Guard Order Issuing Authority (OIA) or District Director of Auxiliary (DIRAUX) will help assist with travel approvals and mission-critical/mission-essential determinations.

• The Chief Director of Auxiliary (CHDIRAUX) is routing a memo to lessen the approval to a lower level. Currently, DCO's, DCOS's, and DCAPT's need mission-critical/mission-essential determinations from Vice Commandant or your District Commander (Flag Officer). This is being routed but in the interim follow work through your OIA or DIRAUX to follow ALCOAST 068/25.

Question: What is the travel situation for D-TRAINs?

Answer: Answer: For now, DTRAINs may continue.

• Despite the recent DHS conference ban… the Coast guard Office of Resources, Organizational Analysis, and Workforce Management (CG-81) has indicated that DTRAINs ma continue. There may be changes in the future, or there may be a need to re-evaluate, but for not these are still considered mission-critical/mission-essential training events and our conference exemption memo has not been revoked.
• All contracts for DTRAINs must contain a provision that allows for reimbursement in cases where there is a government funding hiatus or other disaster.

Speaking Engagements:

Question: Can I attend a public engagement if I am asked to be a speaker?

Answer: You may attend if you have approval through your Chain of Leadership and Management via your OIA or DIRAUX.

• A speech performed at a flotilla or division meeting, change of watch, NTRAIN, DTRAIN, NACON, or any comparable Coast Guard event (e.g., change of command, Sector Commanders Conference, Coast Guard Academy Operational Spotlight venue) that is internal to the Auxiliary or the Coast Guard would not be a "Speaking Engagement" that requires approval unless there is an audience that is non-Auxiliary, non-stakeholder.
• Teaching boating safety classes, boater outreach at boat shows, conducting Vessel Safety Checks and RBS program visits, performing surface patrols, assisting facility inspections, and other Auxiliary activities involving interaction with the public are also not speaking engagements.
• Any other speaking engagements that don't fall within these criteria need approval. Please submit your request through your Chain of Leadership and Management via your OIA or DIRAUX and they will seek approval from the Coast Guard Director of governmental & Public Affairs (CG-092) approval from Director of Governmental & Public Affairs (CG-092)
• Using personal or Auxiliary funds to give a speech does not exempt the speaker from obtaining approval.

Question: What is "stakeholder engagement" and how does that affect speaking engagements?

Answer: Anything meeting the definition of stakeholder engagement does not require speaker approval.

• Interaction or discussions with stakeholders (ie. Bass Pro Shops, West Marine, and other like entities) are exempt and can continue provided they are limited to the stakeholders themselves.
• Similarly, an Auxiliary State Liaison Officer who routinely meets with State Boating Law Administrators and other boating safety entities as part of their authorized activity in that assignment would not require approval nor would Auxiliarists who engage with members of other boating safety organizations pursuant to their authorized activities like the Sea Scouts, Naval Sea Cadet Corps, and US Power Squadrons. If you have questions about specific cases, the member should utilize their Chain of Leadership and Management through their DIRAUX. The CHDIRAUX will be the POC for those National staff members.

Social media:

Question: Are any specific actions needed for Auxiliary social media accounts?

Answer:

• Actions taken thus far for Auxiliary websites and manuals are applicable for Auxiliary social media accounts. For example, Auxiliary social media accounts must be reviewed for removal of references to Diversity, Equality and Inclusion as well as application of the word "gender".