Panther AUP: Developing Maritime Leaders
Florida Tech’s United States Coast Guard Auxiliary University Program, Panther AUP, provides a structured pathway to commissioned service with the U.S. Coast Guard, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Corps and other military services and federal agencies.
Official U.S. Coast Guard Program
Hosted by Florida Tech's Department of Ocean Engineering and Marine Sciences, Panther AUP is both a registered student activity and an official USCG program managed by the United States Coast Guard Auxiliary, the all-volunteer, uniformed civilian component of the USCG. The AUP is supported by active-duty Coast Guard units and recognized by the Coast Guard Recruiting Command. It is not a Reserve Officer Training Corps (ROTC) program.
Your Path to Commissioned Service
Panther AUP prepares students for competitive selection to federal maritime service.
Most students complete the AUP Program of Study and earn “Graduate Status” within two to four years. Earning Graduate Status strengthens a student’s competitiveness for selection to a commission in the USCG or NOAA Corps. Nationally, AUP graduates have achieved commissioning selection rates above 80%.
Real-World Training and Federal Experience
Students enrolled in Panther AUP serve with U.S Coast Guard Auxiliary Flotilla 070-17-02, Division 17’s South Brevard Flotilla in Melbourne-Palm Bay, Florida.
Training includes online, classroom and hands-on instruction across a wide range of USCG and Auxiliary missions. Coursework and practical experience include topics such as seamanship, marine safety and environmental protection, weather assessment and radio communication.
Classes are held bi-weekly in the Link Building and at the Mertens Marine Center in Melbourne Harbor. Offsite training takes place at the Brevard Veterans Memorial Center in Merritt Island and at U.S. Coast Guard Station Port Canaveral.
Operational Patrol Experience
Second-year AUP students may attend Division 17’s Boat Crew Academy, leading to qualification as a Boat Crew Member and participation in operational patrols.
Patrols take place on the Indian River Lagoon, one of the nation’s largest estuaries, where the Intracoastal Waterway runs along Florida’s east coast. AUXAIR patrols operate from Coast Guard Air Stations in Savannah, Georgia; Clearwater, Florida; and Miami.
Leadership and Unit Responsibility
Students may hold leadership positions while a member of the flotilla, such as flotilla staff officer, while earning USCG and Auxiliary qualifications.
Participation develops professionalism and provides students with a hands-on introduction to unit administration, chain-of-command structure and leadership within a federal maritime service environment that supports maritime operations, safety and environmental stewardship.
How to Join Panther AUP
You must be a U.S. citizen and at least 17 years old.
- Apply to become a member of the Coast Guard Auxiliary. The application process may begin prior to starting at Florida Tech.
- Upon acceptance, students begin structured training as part of TEAM COAST GUARD.
Program Contact and Resources
Panther AUP Contact:
Bill Cox, CDR, USNR(ret.)
AUX Liaison, OEMS
wcox@fit.edu | 321.338.5050