U.S. Coast Guard Petty Officer 3rd Class Schuyler Chervinko (left), Petty Officer 3rd Class Forrest Coltham (center), both aviation maintenance technicians, and Petty Officer 2nd Class Doug Scherer, an avionics electrical technician, are the newest members of the Coast Guard's reserve aviation workforce program and began their reserve duty at Coast Guard Air Station Savannah, Georgia, Oct. 16. Reserve aviation crews arrive at Air Station Savannah Story and photo by Petty Officer 2nd Class Barry Bena, PADET Jacksonville The three newest Reserve enlisted aviation Coast Guardsmen arrived at Coast Guard Air Station Savannah Oct. 16, ready to add their skill and expertise to the unit known as the “Low Country Lifesavers.” Petty Officer 2nd Class Doug Scherer, an avionics electrical technician, and Petty Officers 3rd Class Forrest Coltham and Schuyler Chervinko, both aviation maintenance technicians, joined their active-duty counterparts after serving at non- aviation units since separating from active duty at least a year ago. “We didn’t want to totally part ways with the Coast Guard, so once separating, we were serving wherever the Coast Guard placed us,” said Scherer. “For me, it was Station Panama City doing boat crew qualifications, even though I had over six years of aircrew experience. Chervinko was at Base Charleston for two years working in the engineering department fixing cutter small boats." These experienced aircrew members were told they would have to remain at non-aviation units until their military commitment was fulfilled. If they wanted to remain in the Reserve after that they would be required to change rates. That meant they would all have to go to an A-school to learn a new job and, for Scherer, it would mean a reduction in paygrade to petty officer 3rd class. The Coast Guard saw a need to retain these experienced enlisted aviators [in aviation positions] who were separating but 10 RESERVIST � Issue 1 • 2022 didn’t want to disconnect completely from the Coast Guard. In June 2021, the Office of Aviation Forces and the Assistant Commandant for Reserve deployed the Reserve aviation workforce program. The program started by making 50 enlisted aviation billets throughout the Coast Guard available to E-4 through E-6 members separating from active duty. “(It’s) designed to create an aviation surge and mobilization capability, retain aviation technical expertise, and develop a career path for aviation personnel in the Reserve component,” said Rear Adm. Todd C. Wiemers in a message released in June 2021. Wiemers is the current Assistant Commandant for Capability and, prior to that, was the Assistant Commandant for Reserve. This was the news Scherer, Chervinko and Coltham were waiting for. They were excited they would be able to remain in aviation and not have to retrain. "We did not want to have to relearn a whole new career field,” said Chervinko. “To be honest, I would have completely separated if I had to retrain, knowing I had almost seven years of aircrew and aviation experience, so I was definitely excited once the new program kicked off.” Currently, the program is focused on providing ground-based aircraft and support equipment maintenance, though flight status designation is definitely not off the table and will be up to the unit’s commanding officer. The Office of Aviation Forces and Deputy Commandant for
