Coast Guard Reserve National Awards Honor Outstanding Units and Junior Officers By Petty Officer 3rd Class Brian Zimmerman, D7 Public Affairs The Coast Guard Reserve National Awards are presented in recognition of outstanding contributions to maritime homeland security, national defense and domestic disaster operations. Awards for the fiscal year 2021 carried a special significance in that they recognized Reserve personnel for their unflagging assistance to a range of critical Coast Guard needs—from the ongoing response to COVID-19 and assistance at the Southwestern border to maritime law enforcement and the salvaging of the Golden Ray, the largest wreckage removal in U.S. history. The recipients of these awards reflect the overall readiness and professionalism of today’s Coast Guard Reserve, whose leaders are among the service’s most committed, competent and capable. Recipients will be recognized at an award ceremony in February. Admiral Russell R. Waesche Award Admiral Russell R. Waesche formally established the Coast Guard Reserve to bolster readiness during World War II. The award is presented to units that are judged to be most supportive of a totally integrated Coast Guard military force, as demonstrated by their effective use and support of the Reserve Component during the previous fiscal year. Category 1 Award (units with less than 600 reservists) The Waesche Award was awarded to the 14th Coast Guard District. The district’s reservists maintained a high level of readiness to support mobilization and contingency operations over its 12.2 million square-mile area of responsibility in Hawaii and the Pacific. “Their combination of readiness, talents, and enthusiasm empower the full spectrum of Coast Guard effort, supporting day-to-day operations, filling roles of significant responsibility, and enabling national-level strategic initiatives,” wrote Rear Adm. Matthew W. Sibley, Deputy Commander, Pacific Area, who previously served as D14 commander. Most notably, District 14 reservists were essential to the successful execution of Operation Blue Pacific. Reserve forces played a key role in strengthening maritime law enforcement capabilities in the Exclusive Economic Zones of 11 Pacific island partner nations, exercising bilateral shiprider agreements and conducting high seas boardings and inspections to counter illegal, unreported, and unregulated fishing practices. Outside of their area of responsibility, reservists heeded the call to step up and serve. Members from District 14 also played a critical role in the Coast Guard’s ongoing response to the COVID-19 pandemic, both locally and nationally, with approximately 25 percent of Sector Honolulu’s reservists mobilized under Title 10 orders to support pandemic-related requirements over the past year. Similarly, 25 percent of the Reserve force in Coast Guard Sector Guam remained on Title 10 to help the unit navigate the complex COVID restrictions imposed by the Guam government. Agile, responsive, and well-prepared, the Reserve members of District 14 proved to be an indispensable component of Coast Guard operations in the Pacific and abroad. “Our reservists exhibit the highest level of commitment to maritime security, national defense and disaster response across the entire central and western Pacific area of operations and across the United States,” said Sibley. “When a specific skillset or surge capability is required, D14 can always count on the Reserve component to provide the support to meet mission requirements.” 10 RESERVIST � Issue 3 • 2022 Category 2 Award (units with more than 600 reservists) The Waesche Award was awarded to the Seventh Coast Guard District, representing the Southeastern United States and the Caribbean. Comprising more than 745 members, the reservists of District 7 serve in critical capacities across five sectors, 18 small boat stations, three air stations and one marine safety unit. “Our reservists are integrated into every mission area, actively serving as coxswains, boat crews, boarding officers, pollution responders, container and facility inspectors, operations and intelligence specialists, contingency planners and logistics staff positions,” wrote Rear Adm. Brendan C. McPherson, commander of Coast Guard District Seven. This past year, the district’s Reserve forces proved up for the challenge. Across the district, Reserve members provided the largest qualified reserve boat forces population with 119 reserve coxswains, and 172 reserve boat crew members. The district also relied on 98 reserve qualified boarding officers and 106 reserve boarding team members to execute joint law enforcement, search and rescue, marine safety and security missions in the area. Reserve members from Station Miami Beach responded to 33 search-and-rescue alarms in 2021, saving 18 lives and providing life-supporting assistance for an additional 43. As a testament to their persistence and commitment to the mission, reservists were once again called on to respond to the capsized Golden Ray in St. Simons Sound, the largest salvage operation in U.S. history. The response team, consisting of more than 300 active duty and reserve members, was charged with overseeing and monitoring the work performed to ensure compliance with the Oil Pollution Act, the National Contingency Plan, and the Clean Water Act. The reservists of District 7 showed tenacity and perseverance over the course of the past year. “Our Reserve members train for mobilization, perform operational missions, and stand ready to respond every day,” said McPherson. “Through their achievements, they embody the spirit of the Admiral Russell R. Waesche Award.” Rear Admiral Bennett “Bud” Sparks Award Two additional awards were bestowed upon units that most effectively utilized and supported reservists during the previous fiscal year. These awards are named after Rear Admiral Bennett “Bud” Sparks, who championed the integration of the Reserve and Active Duty workforces to achieve overall unit readiness.
