Page 23 - Bravo Zulu - 2017 2nd QT F-17 Newsletter

MEMBERS TRAINING

AUXILIARIST STEWART ATTENDS MEMPHIS TENN. C SCHOOL
TRAINING FOR INFORMATION SERVICES QUALIFICATIONS

Robin Stewart, Information Services Officer in Training Interview

The C-School (Coast Guard Training School) for IS Training was held in Memphis, Tennessee. Robin
indicated that there was a lot of logistical travel paperwork to file and fill out to attend the out of state C
School – both before and after traveling to Memphis. Once that was completed and submitted, there were
pre-class exercises to help familiarize students with using Aux-Data, information on fine-tuning browser
and program settings on the students’ laptops. Robin reflected that after her entire course attendance that
the experience could be improved and streamlined by developing a course PQS for successfully
completing all the steps involved in attending C-School.

Robin stated that her flight from San Francisco to Memphis went well. “We can’t fly in uniforms but we
wore our Tropical Blues while attending class. When I arrived at the hotel, we all met that night in the
lobby to greet, network and get final course details and schedules. The class met in a separate building
down the road from our accommodations. It was a pleasant short walk to the classroom on a quiet road
that crossed a small river. In the evenings, we went out to dinner together and socialized.”

According to Robin, “the class for Information Services was naturally very detailed, both in how to enter
forms correctly, and in matching the various codes to the appropriate missions. The Instructors were very
helpful and gave a great deal of support for each student. At the end of the class we took an open-book
exam which a few students passed but many, including me, did not. There will be a chance to retake it in
a few months.”

Traveling back home to California was a different story and experience. Robin stated, “My travel home
was very challenging since my flight from Memphis to Dallas left too late for me to catch my connecting
flight. I stayed overnight at the Memphis Airport in a Minute Suites “room” which is designed for
travelers to nap and refresh themselves. It was a welcome airport passenger amenity that saved me from
sleeping on the floor.”

After returning home Robin felt strongly that, the final part of the C-School procedure (should be in a
PQS), for submitting the required Travel Voucher and paperwork to send in to DIRAUX. Robin stated,
now that all the steps are complete, “I will need to practice entering forms into a protected area of Aux-
Data. My work will be checked for passing the make-up exam to get formal approval to serve as FSO-IS.
I will then finally be responsible for entering the flotilla’s hours into Aux-Data. I’m actually looking
forward to that important role. As an IS officer the importance of accounting for everyone’s hours
impacts the Coast Guard’s budget; and every successful Auxiliary mission and hours logged frees Coast
Guard resources and personnel to respond rapidly to critical priority missions.”