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The United States Coast Guard Auxiliary uses rank insignia similar to that used by officers of the United States Coast Guard. Auxiliary insignia differs from USCG insignia in the following ways:


 * 1) Sleeve lace and shoulder boards are silver;
 * 2) The gold Coast Guard shield is replaced by an Auxiliary-specific shield, with a red "A" signifying appointed officers and a silver "A" signifying elected officers;
 * 3) Metal insignia have a colored "A" centered on it, with red signifying an appointed officer and blue signifying an elected officer; and
 * 4) Operational Dress Uniform insignia have a blue "A" centered on it, regardless of whether the officer is elected or appointed.

Below are the insignia used by the Coast Guard Auxiliary, for elected and appointed officers. Note: The insignia for members holding no office is listed with appointed staff officers.

Notes on Auxiliary insignia: -- A Vessel Safety Check (VSC) is a courtesy inspection of a recreational boat by a qualified member of the United States Coast Guard Auxiliary or United States Power Squadron. A VSC takes approximately 30 to 45 minutes and is performed to ensure the vessel being inspected is in compliance with applicable federal and state boating laws. The checks are not official law enforcement actions, and are performed free of charge. The United States Coast Guard administers the Vessel Safety Check program through the Office of Auxiliary and Boating Safety, CG-BSX.
 * 1) The member insignia, shown above in the appointed officers table, is worn by all members who do not, or have not, held any office. This insignia is also required to be worn by any members augmenting an active-duty or reserve United States Coast Guard ("gold side") unit, unless specific permission to wear office insignia is granted by the unit commander.
 * 2) For the National Director and National Deputy Director, the "X" above denotes the letter code of the department they oversee, i.e. R for Response, H for Human Resources, etc.
 * 3) Collar insignia for ODU's has a dark blue "A" regardless of officer status.
 * 4) The Deputy National Commodore-Information Technology and Planning (DNACO-ITP) is appointed by the National Commodore, not elected in the same manner as the other three DNACO's.
 * 5) Members who serve in an officer position are authorized to wear the insignia of the highest office held, provided they served at least half of a regular term of office (6 months for flotilla and division staff, 1 year for district and national staff). Elected officer insignia will take precedence unless the member held an appointed position in a higher echelon.

Items checked in a VSC include the vessel's registration, personal flotation devices (life jackets), distress signals, fire extinguishers, ventilation of engine exhaust and marine fuel fumes, backfire flame control, sound producing devices (horns, etc.), navigation lights, state requirements, and general vessel condition. There are also a number of optional subjects discussed, such as accident reporting, charts, aids to navigation, water survival tips, fueling and fuel management, float plans, weather, and boating safety courses. Inspectors, referred to as vessel examiners (VE's), also sometimes use a VSC as an opportunity to discuss membership in their respective organization. A vessel passing a VSC is awarded a decal that is valid through the end of the calendar year; for a vessel that does not pass, the owner is given a report listing discrepancies and is given an opportunity to correct them. Many times, a reinspection is scheduled before the examiner departs. Because a vessel safety check is voluntary, and is not an official boarding or law enforcement action, a boat failing a VSC is not reported to law enforcement, and is not kept from getting underway.

A VSC can take place anywhere, at any time. VSC's can be conducted dockside, at a boat ramp, or even in a parking lot or driveway. Vessel examination stations are routinely set up at public boat ramps by a local Power Squadron unit or Coast Guard Auxiliary flotilla. On occasion, the two organizations will team up to establish an examination station jointly. --

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