How did your reserve experience prior to IPS prepare you for working here? “My reserve experience prior to IPS was primarily with small marine safety units, which parallel the close-knit communities of Coast Guard units in the Caribbean, which we engage with frequently, both on an individual basis and as a group within the Organization of American States. There are not a lot of people, resources, or extra time, it seems, at places like these, especially if the maritime community is vibrant. However, the upside is that people rely on each other to do their part in remaining vigilant and well-trained for the most pressing needs and vulnerabilities. The degree of accountability is higher as everyone is actively involved. The scale of the local Coast Guard contingent is often relatable to me.” Scott Wolland There is also another hidden reserve gem in the IPS Program—Scott Wolland. He serves as the chief of the Capacity Building Section for IPS, but Wolland is also a reserve commander and the executive officer at CGRU Joint Staff South. As a section chief for IPS, he coordinates the Coast Guard’s global port security capacity-building and technical assistance program for U.S. maritime trading partner nations. He has led security assessments in over 60 countries as a head of delegation. As an experienced reservist himself, he mentors his reservists in their professional development while carefully balancing their drills and active duty with a demanding overseas travel schedule. What was your most salient experience in the last year? “In IPS, we are fortunate to have some amazing experiences such as last year when my temporary duty mission to Egypt allowed me to visit the Great Pyramids of Giza and the Sphinx. But the most challenging and rewarding experience last year was my trip to Bangladesh. Unfortunately, our schedule didn’t allow the opportunity for any sight-seeing or other cultural experiences but working closely with their team of dedicated maritime security professionals and being able to partner at a high level with government officials and port authority personnel was something I won’t soon forget. Working in the international arena and in a cross-cultural context is often just rewarding in and of itself, but it’s a real honor and privilege to represent the country and the Coast Guard as we collaborate overseas.” How did your reserve experience prior to IPS prepare you for working here? “There really is not much that can prepare you for the truly unique challenges and opportunities of the IPS Program. At least from a technical perspective, I had been working the domestic port security problem set for a while so that was not new. Fortunately, I also had the opportunity for an active duty tour at HQ when the program was first created before I transitioned into my civilian position with the program here at LANTAREA. Being flexible and adaptive is the best quality you can have doing this job." � Strengthening the OSC path Officer specialty codes (OSCs) demonstrate expertise in a Coast Guard career track. They are specific to each officer and are dependent on their Coast Guard training and experience. Reserve officers have a more limited range of OSCs they can qualify for, but in the IPS Program, those choices are even more limited due to the nature of the IPS Program’s international mission. Last April, Lt. Cmdr. John Garr, a reservist with 23 years of Coast Guard experience and new member of IPS, realized that the two OSCs required for IPS reserve and active billets [(CG-OAP14 (Port and Facility Safety and Security) and/or CG-OAP10 (Operations Ashore – Prevention)] didn't have a pathway for attainment within the IPS Program. The reason for this was that the port safety and security OSC did not account for the international facilities inspection experience gained while assigned to the IPS program—an oversight that was making it hard to attract qualified candidates. In addition, the lack of opportunity to attain these OSCs made it more difficult for officers to compete for promotion into significant jobs, like sector inspections division chief or chief of prevention. “Many IPS staff have expressed appreciation and already started to pursue the new OSC opportunities,” said Garr. Garr worked with numerous IPS Interested in joining the IPS Program as a reservist? From time to time, there are active duty opportunities in the IPS Program. Message solicitations are posted at https://www.dcms.uscg.mil/General- Messages/ALCGOFF/. Reservists should submit a mobilization e-resume in Direct Access. For more information on the IPS Program, visit https://www.dco.uscg.mil/ Our-Organization/Assistant-Commandant-for-Prevention-Policy-CG-5P/ International-Domestic-Port-Assessment/. shipmates to propose new prerequisites for the port safety and security OSC, advocating for change and collaborating with senior leadership within the overseas commands IPS interacts with, as well as Atlantic Area and the Officer Evaluations Branch at Coast Guard Headquarters. These senior commands voiced their support for the change. "Our reserve officers do an outstanding job conducting foreign port security assessments" said Cmdr. Kevin Morgan, deputy of the IPS Program. "This change was a priority because it gives our IPS officers a chance for continued professional growth." � Issue 2 • 2020 � RESERVIST 17
