U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary

What is an Auxiliary Blog?

by Doug Smith, FSO-CS

The blog (social media) format,  is not as popular with the Coast Guard Auxiliary as the static HTML site. The blog, however, is new and growing in popularity. Surprisingly the Coast Guard under Admiral Thad Allen has actually lead the way. Many Coast Guard blogs use the Bloglines service owned by Google – recognized by the favicon B in the URL. This blog is a privately hosted WordPress blog. The official blog of the USCG The Compass,  is also WordPress blog!

WordPress is free and is supported by many free plugins that allow outstanding functionality.  WordPress has a service similar to Google but we elected to host a blog on a private server for functionality and ease of update reasons.

Blogs, of whatever software type, lend themselves to providing a unique “content management system”  for brief news, updates, Coast Guard News Releases, need to know information of a non-operational nature, public  schedules, public notices, and boating safety tips  intended for members and the public. These brief notices sometimes bypass the more formal Press Release method of distributing information. Press Releases primarily distribute FORMAL news information to outside news agencies that may or may not print or publish the news release. You will see official Coast Guard press releases regarding our District reproduced here at DrumPoint.org. Also from time to time we may alert you to an important boating safety story written by our local media.

Each method of distribution serves a useful purpose and has a specific venue. The blog’s newsletter format coexists nicely with other newsletters used by the Auxiliary like our own Division 23, Chesapeake Chatter. The articles in the Chatter are not formally prepared press releases but are and have been released publicly in PDF format.  The DrumPoint blog publishes information that you will find in a publicly-available newsletter. The articles in newsletters have two primary purposes, as I see them:

1. Important  highlights, training information and reminders, personnel achievements, results of elections and appointments, alerts to important policy updates,  sharing of fraternal social functions and fellowship, are all printed to keep members informed.

2. The newsletter serves as an informal public information, education, and promotional tool about the Auxiliary and it’s membership in Southern Maryland. Reading these publications may inspire other persons to join us. And we do want new members!

The concept behind a blog is consistent with the Marketing and Public Affairs section of the Auxiliary Manual: “There is a need to develop public understanding and appreciation of the Auxiliary’s role and a need to help the Coast Guard in maintaining and carrying out the service’s public information program.”

“Auxiliarists participating in the Auxiliary Marketing and Public Affairs Program shall direct their efforts toward publicizing the Auxiliary’s aims, purposes, and activities.” Our blog does just that.

The Blog and OPSEC

Just as you would not find specific and detailed information about pending missions in the newsletters because of Operational Security, (OPSEC) you will not find specific and detailed information about missions in this blog. What you will discover about the blog format is that it does not wait for typing, printing, publishing, collating, and distribution. All contributors to the blog format must therefore keep OPSEC in mind when posting comments or authoring. All contributors follow the guidelines for Internet release of information as written by the Coast Guard. (See our Post Policy page.)

In this writer’s opinion, what we must be careful as an organization, is not be so restrictive that we invent new “unpublished” OPSEC rules and guidelines because of the way we feel. Unpublished rules or personal conclusions do unfortunately become traditions with no documented basis in need or purpose.  Often times when these traditions are challenged in companies or organizations the actual source can either not be traced or traces back to a personal interpretation of a policy.  The end result is of course is an over burdening of the contributors with undocumented confusing regulation. Following tradition is difficult in an organization of our size. This is why we adhere to existing written policy and why we have a chain of management that understands it and applies it.

Our Public Affairs and Internet missions are very well defined. Once each member takes the time to review the specific documents on the subject, the manner, methods, and reasons for compliance are quite clear. This website was based on a checklist in an Auxiliary CS-Guide for the FSO-CS and the Public Affairs staff follow a comprehensive set of policies for the release of official information.

OPSEC in the Coast Guard has specific objectives as OPSEC does in any military organization. The Coast Guard Auxiliary is a civilian Auxiliary of a military organization therefore OPSEC applies particularly with respect to our participation in specific Homeland Security missions with the Coast Guard and as defined in ALLCOAST 128/03 more specifically:

Public Affairs documents, including the blog will not address (from 128/03):

Any speculation about possible threat scenarios.

Details of security measures

Timetables for any adjustments to security levels or what events would cause a change in security levels or procedures.

Any other issue that would compromise operation security, an operational mission or the safety of Coast Guard and/or other law enforcement/emergency response personnel.

ALLCOAST 128/03 also says:

THE COAST GUARD HAS AN OUTSTANDING REPUTATION FOR BEING FRANK AND HONEST WITH THE MEDIA. WE HAVE A GREAT STORY TO TELL AND WILL COOPERATE WITH THE MEDIA WHENEVER POSSIBLE. HOWEVER, WE MUST ENSURE PROPER SECURITY CONTENT AWARENESS AND HEADQUARTERS AND DHS APPROVAL/COORDINATION TO PROPERLY BALANCE OUR RESPONSIBILITY OF INFORMING THE PUBLIC WITH THE RESPONSIBILITY OF SAFEGUARDING OPSEC AND THE SAFETY AND WELL BEING OF THE AMERICAN PUBLIC.

Let’s look at some of the Coast Guard Policy by going to the source, the Coast Guard ALLCOAST:

1. ALLCOAST 548/08.  Social Media – Unofficial Internet Posts

THIS ALCOAST PROVIDES INTERIM DIRECTION FOR COAST GUARD PERSONNEL WHO DESIRE TO MAKE UNOFFICIAL INTERNET POSTS ON COAST GUARD RELATED TOPICS. THE TERM COAST GUARD PERSONNEL IN THIS ALCOAST REFERS TO COAST GUARD ACTIVE DUTY, RESERVE, AND CIVILIAN EMPLOYEES AND AUXILIARY VOLUNTEERS. THE TERM UNOFFICIAL INTERNET POSTS IN THIS ALCOAST REFERS TO COAST GUARD PERSONNEL WHO EXPRESS THEIR COAST GUARD RELATED THOUGHTS, IDEAS, KNOWLEDGE, EXPERIENCE, AND OPINIONS BY POSTING ANY COAST GUARD RELATED INFORMATION TO ANY (COAST GUARD OR OTHER) INTERNET SITE. UNOFFICIAL INTERNET POSTS ARE PERSONAL EXPRESSIONS DEVELOPED AND RELEASED BY A MEMBER IN AN OFF-DUTY STATUS AND ARE NOT INITIATED BY ANY PART OF THE COAST GUARD ORGANIZATION OR REVIEWED WITHIN ANY OFFICIAL COAST GUARD APPROVAL PROCESS.

ARE AUTHORIZED TO MAKE INTERNET POSTS ON COAST GUARD RELATED TOPICS AS OUTLINED IN THIS ALCOAST. THE COAST GUARD PERFORMS VALUABLE SERVICES AROUND THE WORLD EVERY DAY AND THERE IS NOBODY IN A BETTER POSITION TO TELL THIS STORY THAN EACH OF YOU.

The Coast Guard understands we want to share appropriate information with our members and the public we serve in Southern Maryland; however, the Coast Guard reminds us that we must protect the Coast Guard by following guidelines. Unlike unofficial posts on private blogs our posts to DrumPoint.org publicly represent the Coast Guard and the Auxiliary in an official way just as our newsletters do.

Guidelines:

A. IDENTIFYING ONESELF BY COAST GUARD TITLE, POSITION, AUTHORITY, SKILL SET, STATUS (ACTIVE, RESERVE, CIVILIAN, AUXILIARY), RANK/RATE OR PUBLIC OFFICE IS AUTHORIZED. COAST GUARD PERSONNEL ENGAGED IN UNOFFICIAL INTERNET POSTING, HOWEVER, SHALL TAKE STEPS TO AVOID GIVING THE PERCEPTION OF POSTING IN AN OFFICIAL CAPACITY.

B. RELEASE OF COAST GUARD E-MAIL ADDRESSES, TELEPHONE NUMBERS, OR FAX NUMBERS NOT ALREADY PUBLICLY RELEASED, INCLUDING THE POSTERS WORK CONTACT INFORMATION, IS NOT AUTHORIZED.

(DrumPoint members: Members of the Flotilla do not have Coast Guard email addresses; however, the website does not post your private email address UNLESS you specifically authorize posting. Members may request a drumpoint.org email address that can be posted so they do not have to use their private email address. IT IS HIGHLY RECOMMENDED THAT MEMBERS CHOOSE THIS OPTION.

Having a drumpoint.org email address allows members that must maintain regular public contact to send and receive email while maintaining their privacy. Members also have the option to use the many free email services like GMAIL and YAHOO MAIL.The major drawback to the latter two choices are that many spam filters block these email sources.

Some members have elected to put their home telephone numbers on posters and flyers distributed in various marine establishments and publicly available bulletin boards, but have also requested that the telephone number not be posted on the website. Even though these members have publicly released their telephone numbers in posters and newspaper articles their telephone numbers will not be posted UNLESS the member authorizes posting.

There are certain Contact Forms on the website that route messages from the public to members. The email addresses are not displayed and as such are not available to anyone. The website is protected against many of the known spam bots.

Including the name and leadership title of a member in a blog is not a violation of OPSEC.)

C. THE POSTING OR DISCLOSURE OF INTERNAL COAST GUARD DOCUMENTS OR INFORMATION THAT THE COAST GUARD HAS NOT OFFICIALLY RELEASED TO THE PUBLIC IS NOT AUTHORIZED. THIS POLICY APPLIES NO MATTER HOW A POSTER COMES INTO POSSESSION OF A DOCUMENT. EXAMPLES INCLUDE BUT ARE NOT LIMITED TO MEMOS, E-MAILS, MEETING NOTES, MESSAGE TRAFFIC, ARTICLES FOR CG PUBLICATIONS, WHITE PAPERS, PELORUSES, PUBLIC AFFAIRS GUIDANCE, AND ALL PRE-DECISIONAL MATERIALS. ADDITIONALLY, FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY (FOUO) AND PERSONAL IDENTIFIABLE INFORMATION (PII) SHALL NOT BE RELEASED IN UNOFFICIAL INTERNET POSTS.

(DrumPoint members: Based on the current use of names of members used in publicly available newsletters like the Chatter, and other official Coast Guard publications, the mention of a members name and his or her accomplishments e.g. joining, awards etc. is not considered personally identifiable and therefore a violation of policy.  What is considered personally identifiable would be Name, address, City, State, occupation and other personal information unimportant to the posting. Nevertheless, the Auxiliary Manual states that members that want their name with identifiable information released on the web complete a form and submit it to the Flotilla Commander. That form is linked to to the officers page.)

D. COAST GUARD PERSONNEL ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR ADHERING TO COAST GUARD REGULATIONS AND POLICIES CONCERNING OPSEC, INFOSEC, AND THE PRIVACY ACT AS IN ALL OTHER FORUMS OF COMMUNICATION. REF B COVERS THE SPECIFICS OF THE OPSEC PROGRAM. UNAUTHORIZED DISCLOSURE OF PROTECTED INFORMATION MAY RESULT IN ADVERSE DISCIPLINARY ACTION INCLUDING POTENTIAL VIOLATIONS OF THE UCMJ OR CIVILIAN PERSONNEL RULES UNDER REF C.

E. THE RELEASE OF COAST GUARD INFORMATION THAT IS PROHIBITED FROM RELEASE BY REFS D AND E IS NOT AUTHORIZED. AS A GENERAL RULE, RELEASING YOUR PERSONAL OR MEDICAL INFORMATION, ALTHOUGH NOT RECOMMENDED, IS AUTHORIZED, HOWEVER, RELEASING ANOTHER COAST GUARD MEMBERS INFORMATION, AS WELL AS CLASSIFIED, OPERATIONAL, PROPRIETARY, OR INVESTIGATORY INFORMATION, IS NOT AUTHORIZED.

F. A PHOTO, VIDEO, OR SOUND RECORDING TAKEN AT A COAST GUARD UNIT BY COAST GUARD PERSONNEL IN ANY DUTY STATUS IS CONSIDERED OFFICIAL COAST GUARD MEDIA, AS WELL AS MEDIA TAKEN BY PERSONNEL ENGAGED IN A MISSION AWAY FROM THE HOME UNIT. ALL MEDIA THAT IS RELEASABLE PER CHAPTER 5 OF REF D MAY BE POSTED UNOFFICIALLY BY COAST GUARD PERSONNEL. NEWSWORTHY MEDIA SHOULD BE RELEASED OFFICIALLY TO NEWS ORGANIZATIONS IN CONJUNCTION WITH OR COPIED TO A UNITS SERVICING PUBLIC AFFAIRS OFFICE BEFORE POSTING UNOFFICIALLY. ALL UNIT COMMAND CADRE ARE REMINDED TO PROHIBIT THE UNOFFICIAL POSTING OF OFFICIAL COAST GUARD MEDIA THAT IS NOT RELEASABLE PER CHAPTER 5 OF REF D, E.G., LAW ENFORCEMENT SENSITIVE, INVESTIGATION RELATED, AND MEDIA THAT IS IN POOR TASTE AND/OR NOT IN KEEPING WITH SECURITY, ACCURACY, POLICY, AND PROPRIETY. COAST GUARD RELATED MEDIA TAKEN WHILE COAST GUARD PERSONNEL ARE IN AN OFF-DUTY STATUS FROM PUBLIC AREAS, E.G., PHOTO OF A CUTTER TAKEN FROM A PUBLIC PIER WHILE ON LIBERTY, IS CONSIDERED PRIVATE IMAGERY AND IS NOT SUBJECT TO THIS POLICY. G. USE OF PROTECTED COAST GUARD WORDS OR SYMBOLS OUTLINED IN CHAPTER 3.E. OF REF D MUST BE APPROVED BY COMDT (CG-09223) WHERE REQUIRED TO PREVENT THE IMPRESSION OF OFFICIAL OR IMPLIED ENDORSEMENTS.

H. USE OF COAST GUARD OFFICE EQUIPMENT WHICH INCLUDES, BUT IS NOT LIMITED TO, GOVERNMENT COMPUTERS, FAX MACHINES, COPIERS, TELEPHONES, E-MAIL SYSTEM, AND INTERNET ACCESS TO MAKE UNOFFICIAL INTERNET POSTS IS AUTHORIZED AS ALLOWED BY THE LIMITED PERSONAL USE OF GOVERNMENT OFFICE EQUIPMENT GUIDELINES IN REF F.

I. POSTING DURING OFFICIAL COAST GUARD WORK PERIODS, I.E., IN AN ON-DUTY STATUS, MAY BE AUTHORIZED FOR COMMAND APPROVED BREAKS IN THE WORK DAY, E.G., LUNCH OR MORNING/AFTERNOON BREAK. POSTING MAY ALSO BE AUTHORIZED AFTER THE WORKDAY WHERE LIBERTY IS CURTAILED DUE TO DUTY OR DEPLOYMENT, HOWEVER, POSTING SHOULD NOT BE ALLOWED WHILE ENGAGED IN OFFICIAL DUTIES SUCH AS STANDING WATCH.

J. AS WITH OTHER FORUMS OF PERSONAL PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT, COAST GUARD PERSONNEL SHALL AVOID OFF DUTY BEHAVIOR THAT NEGATIVELY IMPACTS OR CONFLICTS WITH THEIR ABILITY TO EXECUTE THEIR DUTIES SUCH AS THE PROHIBITED PERSONAL CONDUCT DESCRIBED IN REFS G AND

H. PERSONNEL SHOULD CONSULT THEIR LOCAL LEGAL OFFICE FOR AN ETHICS DETERMINATION PRIOR TO ENGAGING IN INTERNET ACTIVITY THAT COULD VIOLATE THE STANDARDS OF CONDUCT DETAILED IN REFS G AND H. REMEMBER OUR CORE VALUES AND GUARDIAN ETHOS. K. COAST GUARD PERSONNEL SHOULD BE AWARE THAT SOME INDIVIDUALS AND GROUPS USE PUBLIC NETWORKING FORUMS TO GAIN INFORMATION THAT WILL ADVANCE THEIR CAUSES. THE COAST GUARD WILL BE PROTECTED FROM THIS THREAT AS LONG AS UNOFFICIAL POSTING IS CONDUCTED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE GUIDELINES PROVIDED ABOVE AND POLICIES FOR RELEASE OF INFORMATION REFERENCED IN THIS ALCOAST.

Closing

To my knowledge there are no OPSEC violations in the blog and the Flotilla will endeavor to make sure that always remains our policy. Members must always keep this in mind as they author for the blog or comment in any other Coast Guard related social media.

Other Auxiliary Blogs

USCG Auxiliary Pacific Northwest

AUXPA Public Affairs Blog

USCG Auxiliary Spirit of 76 Blog

Twin Ports Flotilla

The Official (also WordPress) Blog of the Coast Guard

The Coast Guard Compass

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