The diversity in both ratings and pay grades of mobilized reservists demonstrates the array of skills and experience they bring to support the Service through these unique organizational challenges. Plotts and Ottway are both professional firefighters in their civilian careers and bring with them a plethora of experience, credentials, and certifications. Brooks and Tomaselli had both been stationed at the TRACEN CGFD when they were active duty and were able to use their prior knowledge of operations to fill all gaps left by personnel shortages and regain full certification. By January, Petty Officer 3rd Class Daniel Gordon of Station Cape May and Petty Officer 2nd Class Ed Sides of Station Atlantic City remained on active duty orders supporting the unit. As a group, these nine reservists demonstrated their value and their adaptability to meet a new Coast Guard challenge. They seamlessly integrated with their active duty firefighting shipmates, ensuring the continued safety of the TRACEN. . . As a civilian, the author, Lt. Doug Schneider, is a New York City paramedic. He was among the reserve first responders who staffed the TRACEN ambulance and responded to emergency requests for assistance over a two-month period. Guiding the next generation The stress of getting through recruit training is something most Coast Guardsmen are familiar with. Most people who’ve been through Training Center Cape May can remember back to stepping into the TRACEN’s clinic, out of sight of their company commanders’ watchful gaze, feeling the tension ease, just a bit, even if only for an hour or two. And even in the dentist’s chair. Overnight visits are an extension of that temporary peace. Chief Warrant Officer John Shaw said when recruits have to stay overnight—be it for dental, foot injuries, or other rest requirements—that’s when the flow of questions starts. “How often will my ship come into port?” “Will we have internet underway?” “What’s the fastest way to advance?” “Will I be able to have a pet?” “What kind of duty do we stand underway?” He laughed, remembering how the recruits, too new to the Coast Guard to know the difference, would refer to him as “Chief” rather than “sir.” He was glad to have the knowledge to be able to help. As a member who’s served on active duty, in the Reserve, on ships, at stations, overseas, and at deployable specialized forces units, Shaw had a lot of answers. But in Shaw’s experience, the answers only prompt more questions. Keeping them focused on completing their training and maximizing the next four years of their lives was a key theme. In his scrubs, on the TRACEN’s Nurse Rose Gray ward for recruits, Shaw could be mistaken for a health services technician. In reality, he’s a reserve maritime law enforcement specialist warrant officer, but as an emergency room nurse at his civilian job in New Jersey, he was unusually equipped to help the TRACEN through a nursing shortage last fall. The recruit ward is typically staffed by civilian nurses, and with the staffing shortage, the Coast Guard needed to bring HSs from daily clinic duties to assign them to the ward. Doing that would slow down recruit processing during the day, so Shaw was able to help patch the staffing gap, working 12-hour night shifts. He was glad to be able to call on his civilian skills to support the Service, and he’s hoping the Coast Guard can find a way to integrate the nurses and EMTs in the Reserve to fill these short-term contracts. He said those night time conversations where the recruits could relax and ask their questions were his favorite part of the job. “It’s nice to guide the next generation,” said Shaw, who, over four months, became an inadvertent short-term mentor to hundreds of recruits. “The best decision I ever made was joining the Coast Guard at 18, and, you know, you want to see these guys get access to the same opportunities I had.” . Front row from left: Reservists backfilled TRACEN Cape May’s fire department, working with active duty members to keep operations rolling. Petty Officer 1st Class Adam Carignan stands with reservists Lt. Doug Schneider, Chief Petty Officer George Plotts, and Petty Officer 1st Class Rich Addesso. Back row, active duty members Petty Officer 2nd Class Shane Conroy, Petty Officer 3rd Class Drew Cummings, and Petty Officer 2nd Class Dan Moore. Issue 1 • 2023 . ReseRvist 23 CELEBRATING CELEBRATING 70 70 YEARS OF THE RESERVIST YEARS OF THE RESERVIST
