RESERVIST MAGAZINE THE MORE YOU KNOW RCNSC experience spurs creative thinking and networking Story by Cmdr. Mario Fernandez, D13 RJAG At the confluence of the Potomac and Anacostia rivers at Greenleaf Point in Washington, D.C., lies Fort McNair, home of National Defense University. In July, 20 members of the Coast Guard Reserve attended the Reserve Component National Security Course alongside their Department of Defense counterparts, as well as international fellows. The two-week RCNSC provides a foundation for officers and senior enlisted personnel moving on to joint command management and staff responsibilities in a multinational, intergovernmental, or joint national security setting. The curriculum consists of lectures and panel discussions from distinguished speakers from the federal government, academia, and private industry. Students also participate in small seminars to recap and discuss in depth the material presented in earlier sessions. Because the RCNSC fosters a collegial learning environment through the implementation of a nonattribution policy regarding lectures and discussions, students wear civilian business attire in lieu of uniforms, and address fellow students by name without reference to rank. One of the attendees, Cmdr. Phil Stitzinger, is the Reserve Enforcement Division Chief at Sector New York. He said, “The most enjoyable part of the RCNSC was the joint coordination and networking among reservists and Guard members across the military and international community. We learned from each other as much as we learned from the course speakers.” Capitol Hill Day convened at the Reserve Organization of America (formerly the Reserve Officers Association) in Washington, D.C., and included a presentation from Rep. Mike Waltz (R-FL), a combat-decorated Army veteran and Green Beret, who currently serves as a colonel in the Army National Guard. It included a tour of the Capitol Building, and attendees were provided an opportunity to individually schedule meetings with Congressional members from their home districts. Rep. Mike Levin (D-CA), who serves as vice chair of the House Veterans’ Affairs Committee, expressed his appreciation for the Coast Guard during one of the visits. “The men and women who serve in the Coast Guard make incredible sacrifices to keep our country safe and save lives,” said Levin, “and I am deeply grateful for their service.” Students also participated in a simulation exercise involving national security policy and defense resource management, allowing students an opportunity to apply the knowledge and skills developed during the course through a national security exercise with a quickly evolving exercise scenario. “This experience challenged participants with managing real-world national security considerations, referencing content from lectures while considering additional injects that affect the continuous decision-making process,” said Stitzinger. “It certainly challenged our strategic thinking methods and skill sets, which will definitely carry over into our careers.” The course was also a great way to network, learn from, and leverage connections with fellow reservists. “I highly recommend attending the RCNSC at National Defense University,” said Stitzinger. “The experience will enhance your military career and richly supplement your civilian career as well.” � 32 RESERVIST � Issue 3 • 2022
