To the men and women of the United States Coast Guard Reserve, I could not be prouder of this remarkable team. In our 80th year, we have so much to be proud of after an extremely difficult time, to include 30 named storms amid a global pandemic. From its establishment during World War II, the Reserve Component has been an integral part of the organizational success of the Coast Guard and eight decades of extraordinary service to our nation. As Admiral Karl L. Schultz expressed in his State of the Coast Guard Address, our Reserve force is ready, resilient and continues to answer the call providing critical support to both surge capacity and force augmentation. In recent months, you remained adaptable to an ever-changing course. As a team, you rose to the challenge in a very difficult environment and proved once again you are a dedicated and resilient force. The U.S. Coast Guard has deployed 20 reservists in NYC alone, with more heading to New Jersey, in support of the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s national goals for COVID-19 vaccine distribution efforts. In addition, more than 700 reservists mobilized for support efforts related to the pandemic, including supporting Permanent Change of Station teams working to assist members and families navigating moves amid these challenging times. As we continue to overcome recent obstacles facing our service and nation, I am certain your dedication and diligence in meeting Coast Guard commitments will remain strong. As a Coast Guard reservist, you bring unique perspectives and ideas to the service and use that innovation to change the way we do business and train for contingencies. In an unprecedented time, we had to adapt, overcome, and think outside the box. We took advantage of technology that allowed us to meet virtually and drill from home. We supported teammates as they navigated childcare, family, and their civilian careers, all while we looked out for each other, our families, and our communities. Adding to the ever-ready role of reservists, you have also been called to support active duty members taking parental leave. In 2020, Coast Guard Surge Staffing assigned Reserve Component Volunteers to cover for 123 such active duty leave situations. Because of the highly skilled and adaptable workforce, the Coast Guard can meet the requirements of varied operations and simultaneously excel at steady-state missions. We continue to focus on capabilities and remain a ready and relevant force who could mobilize at any moment. Our Reserve members represent the best the nation has to offer; they embody the Coast Guard core values. We recognize the significant commitment members make to serve, to include mobilizations, time away from family, and long travel time to drill sites. It has not been lost on senior leadership that we must continue to grow our Reserve Component, while maintaining our retention. We are focused on supporting geographic stability with the FlexPAL initiative, which allows reservists to train closer to where they live. The Coast Guard is also creating billets around hubs where our Reserve men and women can rotate through different unit types within a geographical region. We remain dedicated to ensuring we have the right skill set in place to efficiently and effectively respond in all situations. We are a great team of agile, dedicated professionals, and are looking forward to growing our current strength of 7,000 members. We are the United States Coast Guard Reserve, and I could not be prouder to serve beside each and every one of you. . Innovation and Dedication in Unprecedented Times By Master Chief Petty Officer of the Coast Guard Reserve George M. Williamson Issue 2 • 2021 . RESERVIST 27
