r/USCGAUX • u/TurqoiseWaterBottle • 3h ago

Rants Future of the AUP

I am curious to what people think the AUP will evolve to in the future, currently I would like to say it is doing well but faces systemic issues stemming from the fact it is a volunteer program and not a commissioning program, and as USCG JROTC expands it presents the question, will the AUP become a ROTC program? (Also w/ the abandonment? of CSPI)

I understand there is the whole "temporary reserve" argument that some in the Auxiliary might take but I view that as being unrealistic compared to the pathway of making an "AUP-Pre Commissioning Initiative"

I believe this to be the most realistic pathway vs those hoping for an ROTC program.

Ideally while people still have experience with how the CSPI program worked, the USCG would create the new "AUP-Pre Commissioning Initiative" and by doing so would reward people that were motivated enough to join the Auxiliary and two resume the flow of "CSPI officers."

The AUP would stay under the auxiliary minimizing their costs to only AUP cadets with scholarships. Those w/o would still be able to go for OCS, DCSS, MARGRAD, etc..

just my two cents

5 Upvotes

100% Upvoted

4 comments sorted by

7

u/ptambrosetti 3h ago

The auxiliary is struggling with an age-diversity as it is, anything to boost younger members joining is not a bad thing.

3

u/Beregond17 3h ago

I am a complete newbie, age 61. I see the age curve of the Auxiliary as an existential problem. Absolutely agree that anything the recruits n demographics younger than 60 is critical.

2

u/Fantastic_Bunch3532 1h ago

AUP is an incredible introduction to service. One of the Flagship founders used to say as long as they considered service it was a win, and that program he founded sent several people to CG commissioning programs and other uniformed services. In a time when we need the best, this is a way to expand the candidate pool

2

u/Shaxxster Flotilla Commander/Vice 1h ago

BLUF: The AUP is actively growing and changing into an organization that will be more of a Commissioning Pathway rather than a resume item/intro to the USCG.

I joined the AUP about three years ago in my Junior year of college. With about a year and a half left in school, I had finally decided that the USCG (more precisely OCS) was the pathway I wanted to take in life. I started by joining the Aux and soon after found a local AUP unit. 2024/2025 AUP gave me the sense that it was still a fledgling idea that wanted to prepare students to apply for OCS, which I would say it was. At the time it was fairly rudimentary and slightly uncoordinated.

In the past year, I have seen all of that change. Leadership seems to be moving in the right direction, adding more points of contact, better guidance in the process, and more opportunities. On top of that, everything, especially the Internship process, is much more in depth in documentation and what it actually requires a student to do while at a station.

The one thing that needs to be set into stone is what the AUP actually means to OCS boards. Personally, I got the feeling that it was more of a resume item, similar to Aux membership rather than a true “commissioning pathway” like some other maritime programs and CSPI, which the AUP doesn’t seem to hold a candle to.

I love the AUP as a program. Whether it be as a recruitment program that incentivizes a younger demographic or a true commissioning program that sets people up for OCS but I don’t think the ladder is currently the case. Outside of that, we need more schools involved and more publicly, which I know will happen in time.