Team Coordination Training

    Six members from 88, 8WR, were selected  to attend the USCG Training Center in Petaluma, California.  The six were Penelope J. Clay--Flotilla Staff Officer for Information Systems--and Dr. Luis Clay Mendez--Division Vice-Captain, Daniel Ramsey--Flotilla Staff Officer for Aids to Navigation--, Paul Ramsey--Flotilla Staff Officer for Marine Safety--, Suzy Waddell--Flotilla Staff Officer for Public Affairs--and Tim Waddell--Flotilla Staff Officer for Operations.  Our orders required traveling on 24 and 30 January, respectively.  The remaining days were spent stationed at the TRACEN.

    Team Coordination Training began at 0800 on 25 January, and continued until 1400 on 29 January.  Classes usually ran from 0730 or 0800 until noon, and reconvened from 1300 until 1700.  There were 15 trainees from various points of the continental United States and two from Guam.  All instructors were active duty Coast Guard personnel, as well as four of the trainees. The purpose of TCT was to train the group to teach risk management to members of Team Coast Guard.  The concept focuses on effective leadership, sound decision making practices and the understanding of how stress can and does affect both.  This instructional initiative on the part of the US Coast Guard is designed to minimize personal injuries and fatalities in the performance of duty, especially during Search and Rescue and Law Enforcement operations.

    The first day of instruction consisted of an introduction to sound instructional methodology, and all trainees were given a TCT handbook, a set of transparencies, videos and books on effective teaching models and strategies.  Subsequent days were dedicated to the actual teaching of the TCT modules.  To achieve this, the group was divided into teaching teams, and each team was entrusted with the teaching of a module of its own choosing.  Groups were encouraged to implement the teaching techniques and utilize the materials that were distributed earlier.  Each team then made presentations to the entire group, choosing their own case studies, videos, transparencies, flip charts and other initiatives.  After each presentation, either the primary TRACEN instructor or trainees provided the presenters with positive feedback.  After all seven skills (modules) were taught, new teams were formed, and the modules were again presented.  However, despite the repetition of the subject matter, the overall team renditions were remarkably different, owing to individual approaches and creativity.

    In summary, the TCT training was both grueling and exhilarating.  Many lessons were learned from the experiences and opportunities afforded, and a very evident bond was formed among the participants and between the Coast Guard personnel and the Auxiliarists.  Whereas the original intent of the TCT training was to prepare facilitators to promote and foster the "Risk Management" message, each one of us gained new respect for the other, predicated on a better understanding of what "team Coast Guard" truly means.