Since he assumed the watch in May 2022, Master Chief Petty Officer Tim Beard has been out visiting many of the major regions in the Coast Guard, and oftentimes, holding all-hands gatherings that include free shots on goal. Though he covers the gamut, here are a few of the questions he gets on repeat… Q: When will IDT travel be funded? A: This one is always a prime target at an All Hands! So that’s something we’re looking at more closely than I’ve seen in all my years in the Coast Guard. We’re building it out as a line item for future years—think Fiscal Year 2026 or so. Currently, we are developing those business rules for how things would work, based on rates (paygrades), ratings and units, prioritizing the most critical fills first. We’re a long way out, but it’s good to see the needle moving in the right direction! Q: We now have a Reserve Master Chief Advancement Panel for how our E-9s get chosen, and there’s word that the E-8s will soon be selected the same way. Any truth to that? A: I’m working with the folks in the office of the Deputy Commandant for Mission Support. We’re going to charter a working group to look at the senior chief billets and where they’re at, making the billets rating-neutral. That gives us the ability to host a Senior Chief Advancement Panel. Our E-8s are our senior leaders, and they shouldn’t be doing tactical-level work. This gives the organization the ability to fill a role with someone who has those job skills. 76 of the 139 E-8 billets are already rating neutral. The MCAP is doing great, giving the service people who focus on leadership and performance. It would do the same for our E-8s. The second part of the working group is to make sure we have those senior chief billets in the right places. Once they’re rating neutral, we can move them around to ensure they get that strategic-level, organizational-level knowledge. That helps them, as strategic leaders, start learning the processes that support the tactical-level effort the Coast Guard depends on from the Reserve. Q: When will be getting the new Type III blue uniforms? A: Probably not for a year or two. We just got a new vendor to keep making our current Operational Dress Uniforms, so the Type III may not be available for a while. It’s tough to put a timeline on this as we flex with what the service needs and how the contracts are written. I’m looking forward to it, but I don’t see myself wearing the new Type III uniform before next Christmas. I knew that 18,000 uniforms were just sent to the Coast Guard Exchange to be distributed to the field. Q: Can I use my civilian skills for things the Coast Guard needs done? A: I get this question a lot, and it’s a tricky one, because we can’t recall someone involuntarily to use their civilian skills. However, you’re probably starting to see more solicitations not for a certain paygrade or rating, but for certain skillsets. For example. I could tell you we’re bringing a boatswain’s mate on orders, but depending on which BM2 we recall, that person may have a job as a firefighter, a charter captain, a water treatment expert, an architect, or a financial manager. I’ve talked to maritime enforcement specialists who are working at CG FIXIT or on the PCS assist team. Sometimes, yes, we need to recall a yeoman to do standard yeoman work. But let’s say we have an engineer in the Reserve who does coding; when we need a person with a coding skillset, we’ll list that in the solicitation, and the MK can apply. But if I said I needed ITs for a coding job, it would prevent the MK with the coding experience from applying. That’s why we’re listing skillsets now in our solicitations so our reservists with relevant civilian experience can contribute if they’d like to. Q: Are we ever going to get beards? A: So beards have been banned since 1986, and while we know there’s a lot of interest out there to bring them back, it’s important to us to maintain parity with our DoD counterparts on this one. We won’t get out ahead of them, but yes, we’re tracking the interest! Q: What’s happening with the PSUs? Are they moving? A: The mission in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, ending, the reason we could involuntarily recall and send units to GTMO is because we had authority from 9/11. Now that we’re leaving GTMO, that authority and funding goes away. So what do we do? The future of PSUs is still being written, but I foresee a lot of units going on exercises out west on voluntary orders. We have a legislative change proposal working its way through the system for involuntary recall for planned operations. This would give the DHS secretary the authority to recall reservists sooner, rather than seeking presidential authority. Q: Closing thoughts? A: I always close my all hands gatherings by reminding people that this is such a great time to be in the Coast Guard Reserve. The Commandant’s Intent has three tenets, the main one being “transform the total workforce”—total means everyone. Our talent management systems are 70 years old, and they need updating. But we’re seeing that upgrade coming, and that’s going to make life easier for us as reservists. In fact, in my 36 years, I’ve never seen us more aligned with the active duty than we are right now. And it’s because of your dedication and professionalism—you’re the ones who have earned us a great reputation, and I’m proud to serve with each of you. Semper Paratus! A couple minutes with MCPOCGR Tim Beard Issue 2 • 2023 . RESERVIST 19 CELEBRATING CELEBRATING 70 70 YEARS OF THE RESERVIST YEARS OF THE RESERVIST
