Greetings from the Seventh Coast Guard District and its 700 reservists! I reported last summer, and it’s already been an incredibly busy year, which is ops normal for the Seventh. What stands out as extraordinary is the resiliency of our Reserve crews; they adapt to change quickly and step up when needed. Not only does the Seventh District host a year- round search-and-rescue season, but we’re home to a very busy hurricane season as well. Our reservists bring their A game every time. This past year District 7 saw Hurricanes Ian, Nicole and Fiona—powerful storms that produced catastrophic damage. Our Senior Reserve Officer, Capt. Paul Rooney, assumed the role of liaison officer to the Florida governor’s office. After Hurricane Fiona, Sector San Juan and Base housing was out of power for over two months. Reservists responded to help repair the infrastructure of both the housing the units themselves, attending to generator repair, HVAC systems and carpentry projects. In the aftermath of Hurricane Ian, Station Fort Myers Beach needed to move into a trailer office at the local boat ramp. Reservists again answered the call, assisting with security at the temporary station and supporting boat operations until the station was reopened, allowing their active duty counterparts to attend to their homes and families. In Florida, we’re used to hurricanes and a high op tempo of search and rescue. But recently, as you’ve probably seen on the news, the uptick in migrant interdictions at sea has brought another level of required support. In response to the humanitarian mission in the Caribbean, District 7 is taking the lead among many agencies who are supporting Operation Vigilant Sentry. This is a unique opportunity for reservists to volunteer—not only to fill the ICS billets managing the day-to-day interagency operations but also to fill the underway billets on the cutters and at small boat stations. Whether it’s using response experience and organizational skills at our incident management teams in Miami or Key West, bringing a calm law enforcement presence to our robust interdiction crews serving underway, or providing strength and support to fellow Coast Guardsmen as part of our resiliency team, our reservists are employed across a litany of roles. Over the winter and spring, the active duty supported the majority of the mission with the reservists filling in any gaps. Due to the manpower gap caused by transfer season that affects every unit, we are looking for reservists to volunteer for longer active duty opportunities to help fill the void. This is a perfect way to gain and employ your ICS qualifications and boat crew experience. There are numerous opportunities for Coast Guard reservists to bring their talent to bear in support of great causes. Operation Vigilant Sentry in Florida, Summer Stock in the Great Lakes, the Parental Leave Program, the Coast Guard Recruiting Command Incident Management Team are just a few examples, and they each offer unique experiences for you. And when you come back, share your Coast Guard stories and experience, because our greatest recruiting tool is YOU. When people ask me why I stayed in the Reserve, I tell them it’s because I still enjoy the mission. Our impactful mission, our high-caliber shipmates, and our solid comradery are what makes the U.S. Coast Guard stand out as an amazing service and a great way to serve your country. We save lives, protect the environment, and defend our nation’s interests. Want to contribute to something great? Join us! Semper Paratus. RESERVIST MAGAZINE DECKPLATE SOUNDINGS Master Chief Petty Officer Ken Waldo Seventh District Reserve Command Master Chief "Our impactful mission, our high- caliber shipmates, and our solid comradery are what makes the U.S. Coast Guard stand out as an amazing service and a great way to serve your country." Issue 2 • 2023 . RESERVIST 9
