“Weekly, I emphasize what I want to do to move toward whatever goal I have at the time,” said Hild. “In doing that, I break it down into manageable pieces. It’s usually spread out through the day. When I have ten or twenty minutes here or there, I can do weapons simulation in my basement, or lift sandbags in different ways. I can put on a ruck pack and walk the dogs around the neighborhood with 20 or 30 pounds on my back.” Sounds simple, but it requires extreme discipline. Hild applies the same time-management techniques to accomplish tasks in her civilian and military careers as well, starting every day by planning out the hours. First, she slots the tasks that accomplish goals, second, she slots the tasks that accomplish personal errands. Every hour is earmarked, and goals are accomplished in chunks. Her record at the Tactical Games is proof that the technique works. This past summer, she placed in all three Tactical Games she competed in, where she was in the women’s intermediate division. Her first competition in May was in New Hampshire where she placed second; in June, she placed first at a Games in North Carolina; and most recently, in August, she took first place in West Virginia. Backed by a supportive group of fellow competitors who motivate each other daily, Hild continues to break down challenges. “It doesn’t take a long time—it’s the quality of the time you have,” she said. “You have to give yourself a time frame, and you can get a lot done.” � Speaking both languages Petty Officer 1st Class Melissa Lopez del Castillo, a member of Station Miami Beach, Fla., is a veritable trove of local knowledge for her unit. Born to a Cuban immigrant and a fourth-generation Floridian, she grew up in Miami and developed a love for the sea, perhaps from a grandfather who was a ship captain. She’d been working in a Miami suburb as dispatcher with the Coral Gables Police and Fire Department for four years when she decided to enlist in the Coast Guard Reserve in 2010. She landed at Station Miami Beach after eight weeks of boot camp, and a fellow reservist told her that, given her background in public service and love of law enforcement, she’d be a great boatswain’s mate. “I came back from boot camp, reported that Monday, did my two weeks, and it’s been great ever since,” said Lopez del Castillo, who’s been a member of the station for the last 11 years. Over her decade-plus of history there, she’s become a force multiplier for the unit, earning certifications as a 45-foot response boat-medium coxswain, a 33-foot special purpose craft coxswain, and a boarding team member, and training the newest boat crew members and coxswains. “They say public service attracts the people who love high- energy, and I’m drawn to public service,” said Lopez del Castillo. “I love helping people.” As she gained understanding of the Coast Guard’s roles and responsibilities, she leveraged her experience working at the 911 center, fostered ties to the first-responder community, and passed on her knowledge of the local area of responsibility. When the pandemic hit last year, calls to the 911 center increased, as did the stress level. As the supervisor for the 911 center, she managed the stress of the people inside as much as they were helping the city manage the stress around them. Concurrently, understanding of the transmission and signs of COVID-19 were driving changes to the local laws and regulations, and Lopez del Castillo continued to keep her command informed so boat crews could enforce the correct standards on the water. “It was so helpful, knowing those laws and what was changing on a day-to-day basis,” said Lopez del Castillo. “I already knew the regulations, like, for example, Miami-Dade says you can’t moor up more than two boats together; 10 people on a boat— that’s maximum—that’s Miami-Dade ordinance.” Issue 3 • 2021 � RESERVIST 25 Photos courtesy of Recon Photography and The Tactical Games
