About the Public Affairs and Publications Department

The Coast Guard Auxiliary Public Affairs (PA) mission is to communicate to various audiences information concerning U.S. Coast Guard (USCG) and the Coast Guard Auxiliary (CGAUX). PA publicizes the aims, purposes, and activities of the USCG and CGAUX in order to develop public understanding and appreciation of their roles.

PA roles include: telling what is going on, acting as salesman or persuader, listening as well as talking, image building, and news management. PA encourages attendance at PE classes, spurs interest in vessel safety checks, increase CGAUX & Coast Guard image with potential for encouraging increased appropriations, help recruit new members and build morale of Coast Guard people.

There are two type of PA – internal and external. Internal Communication's responsibilities include targeted email, websites, newsletters, and even snail mail. Communicating programs within the Auxiliary early in the process helps to obtain input and buy-in to these programs. External communication responsibilities include:

• Communicating the goals and accomplishments of the USCG & Auxiliary,
• Communications with the media
• Public Affairs activities as it relates to the national stage.
• Web sites.
• Liaison and consultant (image and content).
• Liaison and consultant for unit web sites

The Coast Guard Auxiliary public affairs (PA) function is decentralized. Information is developed at four levels within the Auxiliary. The Flotilla PA Staff Officer (FSO-PA) disseminates information to local media. Each Division is required to have a Staff Officer for Public Affairs (SO-PA) with duties similar to the FSO-PA, but on a regional scale. The District Staff Officer for Public Affairs (DSO-PA) coordinates Division and Flotilla Public Affairs staff within the district. The DSO-PA also interacts with the National Public Affairs Department.

The United States Coast Guard Auxiliary has many publications including those in print, public service announcements, and internet publications. Like the Public Affairs Department staff, there are Staff Officers for Publications at the Flotilla (FSO-PB), Division (SO-PB), District (DSO-PB) and National levels (DVC-AP). FSO-PB’s edit Flotilla newsletters. Likewise with SO-PB’s and DSO-PB’s. Local and regional interest items are often picked up and used by District and National levels within the Auxiliary.. The National Public Affairs Department publishes several nationally syndicated newsletters and magazines including The Navigator distributed around the world and SITREP (Situation Report) an E-ZINE.