RESERVIST MAGAZINE THE VIEW FROM THE BRIDGE A s the Deputy Commandant for Operations, one of my highest priorities is to ensure our Commandant and all our operational commanders have a Reserve Component ready to respond to emergencies and threats in the Homeland and abroad. As a former sector, district, and area commander, I well understand the value of maintaining a strong and ready Reserve workforce. I have seen firsthand how, time and time again, our dedicated Reserve Forces have Vice Adm. Scott Buschman Deputy Commandant for Operations answered the call to support critical contingencies such as hurricanes, floods, oil spills, and port security unit deployments. Over the past few years, we have asked you to take on more nontraditional missions to support other agencies within the Department of Homeland Security and across the whole of government. In every instance, you have served with distinction, exemplifying the professionalism and patriotism of our Service. The demand for Reserve support will remain strong. Hurricane Ida is the most recent example of the kind of storms we must continue to be prepared to respond to in the future; larger, more destructive, and sometimes causing flooding and damage in areas we have not seen before. With the support of the Reserve, our Service will be ready. As the Assistant Commandant for Reserve (CG-R) directorate enters its third year, I am excited to see the progress we’ve made. We developed a first-of-its-kind Doctrine for the Coast Guard Reserve; we have made it "Over the past few years, we have asked you to take on more nontraditional missions... In every instance, you have served with distinction, exemplifying the professionalism and patriotism of our Service." 4 RESERVIST � Issue 4 • 2021 easier to join and be a reservist; and we are making enormous strides in setting requirements for the Reserve. In fact, we are well on our way to presenting options to the Commandant that will establish a program of record for the Reserve Component. Much has been accomplished and much more needs to be done. At an individual level, well-articulated competency requirements will help us better allocate training resources across the Coast Guard, ensuring you have the tools you need to gain the skills necessary to perform the missions required of you. Ultimately, each position on the Personnel Allowance List represents a valuable investment in Coast Guard readiness. At the Headquarters level, we are engaged across the enterprise, working with a diverse group of stakeholders to identify and obtain appropriate support for you. None of this is achieved by senior leaders alone. You, the reservists, are the largest catalyst and highest priority for our work. You are amazing force multipliers, adding value to the Coast Guard every day through our unique integrated assignment and augmentation training models. The pages of RESERVIST magazine are full of your stories of perseverance, resiliency, and service. Your accomplishments, your sacrifices, your diverse skill sets and your positive attitudes are truly inspiring. Together, we will move forward with the common goal of maintaining a ready, responsive, and relevant force that can be called upon at any time. I am proud and committed in joining you to sustain and improve the most capable mobilization force in the world. Semper Paratus.
