In 2019, I stood before the Reserve Component Leadership Conference and talked about the future direction of our Component. At the time, we had a shiny new Assistant Commandant for Reserve and some lofty ideas derived from many years of toiling at near every level of the Component. For me, it was the culmination of nearly a career’s worth of effort. But as I said then, all we had gotten to was “go.” And go we did. To put this all in perspective, you need to look at the Reserve Component from where we’ve come. When I enlisted in 1980, the Reserve was made up of a lot of very dedicated, but under-supported and somewhat unconventional characters. Things that have become a routine part of our existence, like weigh-ins and urinalysis, didn’t yet exist. We sent messages by poking holes in long strips of yellow tape and running it through a Telex machine. Reserve units drilled alongside active duty units, and we were frequently greeted with somewhat colorful terms of endearment when arriving for a drill weekend. It was a very different world. It’s nothing short of amazing how far we’ve come. Our current-day reservists are valued members of integrated Coast Guard commands. Commanding officers frequently tell me how our reservists are viewed as professional partners and a critical capability needed to execute Coast Guard contingency missions; they’re doing the daily work of the Service while gaining valuable training by supporting local missions. Remarkably, as a Component, we execute around 3,000 sets of orders each year for active duty for work (other than training). That’s an eye-opening amount, considering our current authorized strength is just 7,000. In the 41 years I've been a member of the Component, the last 26 of which are as an RCM, I've never seen a time more conducive to making meaningful change. Senior leadership has embraced the Component as a significant and necessary operational capability of the Coast Guard. Their level of support has been unprecedented—and it’s expected to continue. As a result of the Assistant Commandant for Reserve, we’re on the verge of having new and powerful tools in place, including risk-based requirements for the size and composition of the Reserve and Coast Guard doctrine that cements the DNA of the Reserve Component across the enterprise. If not decided by time of publication, we'll be well on our way to a decision on how to modernize our support of reservists through the Reserve Forces Readiness System (RFRS) 2.0 project. These will be the foundational pieces on which to build the Component of the future. To the future leaders of our Component: recognize what you are being handed. You will have the tools and direction that have been sorely needed to resolve decades-old problems. You'll find a challenging and dynamic environment in which to practice your trade. You'll be challenged—both in terms of examining complex sides to nearly every Component issue and navigating the political waters of the Service. You'll have the message of an Assistant Commandant dedicated to the Component to carry. And if you do it right, you'll have fun in the process. So be bold. Innovate. Look over the horizon, anticipate, and adapt to meet new challenges. Instead of asking why, ask why not? Build bridges and networks both internal and external to your Mess, your Command, the Component, and the Coast Guard. Even though I'm sailing off into the sunset, I'll be cheering for you. You’ve got this. Best of luck as you continue our journey. Semper Paratus. RESERVIST MAGAZINE THE VIEW FROM THE BRIDGE "So be bold. Innovate. Look over the horizon, anticipate, and adapt to meet new challenges. Instead of asking why, ask why not? Build bridges and networks both internal and external to your Mess, your Command, the Component, and the Coast Guard." Captain Bill Csisar Deputy Assistant Commandant for Reserve 4 RESERVIST . . Issue 2 • 2021
