AUP Unit Spotlight: California Maritime and Massachusetts Maritime Academies

By Wyatt Sebourn | AUP Unit California Maritime

College is a unique time in one’s life. It is a time in life that one can come across many opportunities to join groups, participate in interesting activities, and learn about the world outside of the students major. Campus ROTC and other military related programs often offer ways for students to get out and see a world not possible without it. The US Coast Guard Auxiliary University Programs (AUP) is offered at colleges around the United States.

The California State University Maritime Academy and Massachusetts Maritime Academy are the largest and most successful units in the USCG Auxiliary University Programs, both offering AUP to all attending cadets. The program is similar to ROTC in the sense that the program teaches students about the Coast Guard, builds professionalism and leadership qualities, and presents opportunities to interact with both enlisted and officer Coast Guardsmen while gaining hands on experience. The most significant of all details is that students can join AUP with no obligation to join the military. Students who have no desire to enlist can still gain hands on experience and learn proficient leadership qualities through a structured program. AUP is very beneficial to both academies not only because of the academies' strategic locations near many Coast Guard Stations but also because many of the cadets who continue directly into the maritime industry will interact with the Coast Guard at points in their life. Participating in AUP provides cadets the means to learn effective communication, safe boating, marine safety, incident management, and much more.

While cadets to have an academic obligation in AUP, they are often provided hands on experiences through direct Coast Guard Interaction. Here are just a few ways that cadets both academies have interacted with the Coast Guard.

Cal Maritime - USCG Cutter Waesche:

CMA Cadets spent several nights aboard the Coast Guard Cutter Waesche where they stood four hours on, eight hours off of engine and bridge watches among the crew, participated in firefighting training, navigation briefings, and law enforcement equipment demonstrations. Cutter departed from Coast Guard Island and went north to a shipyard in Portland, Oregon.

Cal Maritime - Station San Francisco Tour

Cadets took a day trip over to Station San Francisco for a bay tour aboard a 45. Cadets were able to talk to the crew about their jobs day to day and learn what it takes to respond to SAR cases and emergency rescues.

Cal Maritime - Airbase Sacramento & C-130 Training Flight

More recently, the cadets had an amazing experience with the crew from Airbase Sacramento. Cadets were able to partake in a training flight aboard a C-130 Hercules. The cadets were able to get a stunning view of the bay area from the aircrafts flight deck. The crew performed a few “touch-n-go” maneuvers before flying out to the pacific. The crew allowed two cadets two wear a harness and stand on the cargo ramp while flying 500 feet above the ocean. The experience was a one-of-a-kind considering that C-130's are being phased out of use and replaced by J-27 aircraft.

Mass Maritime - Cadet Internship - East Providence Rhode Island

Massachusetts Maritime Academy’s long winter break allows cadets to venture out and explore what the Coast Guard has to offer. Cadet 2/c Collin Batchelor, MMA AUP’s Unit Leader, had the unique experience to intern with the Marine Safety Office based out of East Providence, Rhode Island. 2/c Batchelor assisted as an Auxiliarist and aided active duty Coast Guard Marine Inspectors on facility and vessel compliance with domestic and international regulations. 

Mass Maritime - Sector Key West Tour - Key West, Florida

Massachusetts Maritime Academy’s annual training cruise brings cadets to places far warmer for a brief respite during New England’s winter. Sea Term 2015 culminated with a port-of-call in Key West, Florida. Cadets took this as an opportunity to tour the facility. Cadets toured USCGC Kathleen Moore (WPC-1109), USCGC Thetis (WMEC-910), and the Sector Key West operations center including a Q&A session with Command leadership on the Coast Guard's Prevention community as well as paths to Commissioning.

Mass Maritime - Museum Work - Barnstable, Massachusetts

The Massachusetts Maritime unit is looking to foster a relationship with the Coast Guard Heritage Museum located in Barnstable, Massachusetts. The unit hopes to create a bond with the museum through volunteerism by giving tours, helping to organize artifacts, and promoting the museum through social media.

These are just a few examples of things that the USCG Auxiliary University Programs has to offer students. AUP is a one of a kind opportunity and an indispensable resource for students to gain leadership skills and hands-on experience through interaction with members of the USCG.