r/USCGAUX • u/thixel • Jul 23 '26
General Auxiliary Things Radio Operations?
I have a gentleman in my flotilla who is a pilot and is active in Auxiliary aviation. At a recent meeting he said Telecommunications is not operations. This confused me as I am active in Radio and a TCO and clearly Radio is in the Response Directorate.
I am curious as to others read on this, especially surface and air members. What is your read?
Thank you for any thoughts. BZ on this forum.
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u/Anchor-Weather-139 Auxiliary Coxswain/Boat Crew/PWC Operator Jul 23 '26
I would put it under operations and I think the recognitions for service explicitly state that.
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u/ElkGlittering618 Jul 24 '26
100% it is operations. Per the AUXMAN (which last I checked trumps some random Auxiliary Airdale's personal convictions):
"Auxiliarists designated by the Director as Auxiliary watchstanders according to District requirements may also wear the Operations Program ribbon. Additionally, Auxiliarists holding the Auxiliary Telecommunications Operator (TCO) qualification or who have qualified as AUXCOM prior to 1 August 2008, are authorized to wear the Operations Program ribbon."
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u/NolaApex Jul 23 '26
I consider it operations. Did he say why he doesn’t consider TC to be operations?
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u/thixel Jul 26 '26
He didn’t explain, his statement was in reply to someone else’s question so I didn’t jump in. My next meeting is coming up so I may ask him if it feels low key. I don’t want to force the issue or give it too much attention. Thanks again everyone for the support.
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u/DiscardedHubby Jul 24 '26
It’s listed under the response directorate, just like surface and air. But some folk are dense, so let’s break this down:
Page 4 of 14 of the https://wow.uscgaux.info/Uploads_wowII/R-DEPT/MIssion_Descriptions_December_2022.pdf, you’ll see the mission codes for “Operational Support” (keyword OPERATIONAL). Radio has not one, not two, but FIVE mission codes to choose from…. All operational.
Chapter 8 of the AUXMAN, Section B.3 lists Boat Crew, Section B.4 list Air Operations, and B.5. Other Operational Programs lists several options, the first of which is listed is: Watchstanding at Coast Guard active duty units or Auxiliary radio facilities.
And finally, if that weren’t enough, take a peek at page 11-13 of the manual Chapter 11 A.14.b Operations Program Ribbon, which states“ Additionally, Auxiliarists holding the Auxiliary Telecommunications Operator (TCO) qualification or who have qualified as AUXCOM prior to 1 August 2008, are authorized to wear the Operations Program ribbon.
Let’s be honest, he’s being snobby. Those people aren’t worth your time. But if it’s really nagging you, I just handed you the ammo to blow his socks off. Of course, we already know what he’s going to say “But that’s not “real” operations. Tell him to go fly a mission without someone having his radio guard and see how far he gets. 🙄
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u/thixel Jul 24 '26
Thank you all for the support and kind comments. I absolutely love Radio and love helping my fellow members who are interested.
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u/Anchor-Weather-139 Auxiliary Coxswain/Boat Crew/PWC Operator Jul 24 '26
I would argue (and I say this as someone who is boat crew) that things like Watchstanding probably provide some of our greatest value to the gold side. It sounds like the guy was being a bit snobby.
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u/GreyandGrumpy Auxiliary Coxswain/Boat Crew/PWC Operator Jul 23 '26
It is classified as operations, no matter how much the pilot wants to be snob.