R 052117Z NOV 10
ALCOAST 545/10
COMDTNOTE 1001
SUBJ: DEEPWATER HORIZON OIL SPILL RESERVE MOBILIZATION AND RESERVE
PROGRAM DIRECTION
A. COMDT COGARD WASHINGTON DC 281823Z OCT 10/ALCOAST 524/10
1. THE ONGOING DEEPWATER HORIZON OIL SPILL RESPONSE OCCASIONED THE
LARGEST RECALL OF THE COAST GUARD SELECTED RESERVE SINCE 9/11. SIX
MONTHS INTO THIS OPERATION, MORE THAN 2500 RESERVISTS HAVE BEEN
MOBILIZED, MORE THAN 440 HAVE ACCEPTED VOLUNTARY ADOS ORDERS, AND
MORE THAN 300 REMAIN MOBILIZED TODAY. THIS CHALLENGING OPERATION HAS
AFFIRMED THE VALUE OF THE COAST GUARD RESERVE AND VERIFIED THE
NECESSITY OF MOVING FORWARD WITH IMPORTANT PROGRAM IMPROVEMENTS.
2. CONGRATULATIONS AND THANKS TO EVERYONE WHO HELPED AND CONTINUES TO
HELP THE RESERVE FORCE PROVIDE SUCH EXTENSIVE SUPPORT TO OUR
OPERATIONAL COMMANDERS: THE COAST GUARD RESERVISTS WHO MAINTAINED
PERSONAL READINESS AND ANSWERED THE CALL, THE COMMANDERS, COMMANDING
OFFICERS, AND OFFICERS IN CHARGE WHO HELPED READY THOSE RESERVISTS,
THE FAMILY MEMBERS WHO PROVIDED EMOTIONAL STRENGTH WHILE ENDURING
SEPARATIONS, AND THE EMPLOYERS WHO SUPPORTED MOBILIZED RESERVISTS. I
ENCOURAGE RESERVISTS TO NOMINATE EXCEPTIONALLY SUPPORTIVE EMPLOYERS
FOR THE VARIOUS EMPLOYER SUPPORT OF THE GUARD AND RESERVE AWARD
PROGRAMS DESCRIBED AT WWW.ESGR.MIL AND WWW.FREEDOMAWARD.MIL. BRAVO
ZULU TO ALL.
3. PROGRAM DIRECTION. IN REF A ADMIRAL PAPP ANNOUNCED HIS NEW RESERVE
POLICY STATEMENT (AVAILABLE AT WWW.USCG.MIL/SENIORLEADERSHIP IN THE
POLICY STATEMENTS TAB), WHICH DIRECTS STRATEGIC ACTION TO ENSURE THE
COAST GUARD RESERVE REMAINS A FLEXIBLE, RESPONSIVE OPERATIONAL FORCE
THAT CAN MOBILIZE PERSONNEL WITH CRITICAL COMPETENCIES TO SUPPORT THE
ROLES OF MARITIME HOMELAND SECURITY, NATIONAL DEFENSE, AND DOMESTIC
DISASTER OPERATIONS. THE RESERVE PROGRAM IS DEVELOPING A "RESERVE
FORCE 2020" STRATEGIC PLAN INTENDED TO STEADY THE RESERVE FORCE AS WE
LEARN AND MOVE FORWARD AFTER THE CHALLENGES OF DEEPWATER HORIZON.
AMONG THE ELEMENTS OF OUR MANAGEMENT PLAN MOST RELEVANT TO RESERVISTS
IN THE FIELD ARE:
A. GROWTH. DURING DEEPWATER HORIZON, DEMAND FOR RESERVE
PERSONNEL STRAINED THE AVAILABLE FORCE. THIS STRAIN IS MOSTLY ATTRIBUTABLE TO
THE FACT THAT ONLY ABOUT 40 PERCENT OF RESERVISTS ARE AVAILABLE FOR
DOMESTIC MOBILIZATION AT ANY GIVEN TIME BECAUSE OF OVERSEAS
CONTINGENCY OPERATIONS, IADT, LONG TERM ADOS, DWELL TIME
REQUIREMENTS, AND OTHER CONSTRAINTS. TO EASE THIS STRAIN FOR FUTURE
OPERATIONS, THE RESERVE PROGRAM IS WORKING TO RESTORE THE RESERVE
FORCE BACK TO ITS FUNDED STRENGTH OF 8,100 PERSONNEL AND TO ESTABLISH
FUTURE STAFFING LEVELS BASED ON FORCE REQUIREMENTS DEFINED BY THE
DEPUTY COMMANDANTS FOR OPERATIONS AND MISSION SUPPORT.
B. CONCEPT OF EMPLOYMENT. THE RESERVE PROGRAM IS DEVELOPING
GUIDANCE THAT WILL ENABLE RESERVISTS AND THEIR COMMANDS TO UNDERSTAND
WHAT SKILLS AND COMPETENCIES THEY ARE EXPECTED TO ATTAIN, HOW TO
ATTAIN THEM THROUGH STANDARDIZED TRAINING AND AUGMENTATION, AND HOW
THEY MAY EXPECT TO BE EMPLOYED WHEN MOBILIZED FOR SPECIFIC
CONTINGENCIES.
C. MOBILIZATION AND DE-MOBILIZATION PROCESSES. AS THE FIRST
LARGE-SCALE MOBILIZATION SINCE THE COAST GUARD'S RECENT MODERNIZATION
RE-ORGANIZATION, DEEPWATER HORIZON REVEALED THE NEED FOR MORE CLEARLY
DEFINED MOBILIZATION PROCESSES AND RESPONSIBILITIES. THE RESERVE
PROGRAM IS ESTABLISHING A WORKING GROUP TO ADDRESS THIS NEED AND
ENSURE TRAINED TEAMS ARE READY TO EXECUTE VALIDATED MOBILIZATION
PLANS IN FUTURE CONTINGENCIES.
D. RESERVE FORCE READINESS SYSTEM (RFRS). BECAUSE SELRES
PERSONNEL ARE INTEGRATED INTO ACTIVE COMPONENT UNITS, THE CHALLENGE
OF MAINTAINING PROFICIENCY AND READINESS THROUGH A COMBINATION OF
TRAINING AND AUGMENTATION IS AN ESSENTIAL COMMAND RESPONSIBILITY.
DEEPWATER HORIZON CONFIRMED THE VALUE OF HAVING FULL-TIME RESERVE
PROGRAM EXPERTISE EMBEDDED IN DISTRICTS AND SECTORS TO FULFILL THIS
RESPONSIBILITY. THE RESERVE PROGRAM REMAINS COMMITTED TO SUSTAINING
AND MATURING THE RFRS CONCEPT.
4. DEEPWATER HORIZON SHOWCASED THE STRENGTH AND VALUE OF THE RESERVE
FORCE AND ALSO PROVIDED VISIBILITY OF AREAS WHERE WE HAVE OPPORTUNITY
TO IMPROVE. THIS IS AN ALL HANDS ON DECK TOTAL FORCE EFFORT FROM
COMMANDS DOWN TO INDIVIDUAL RESERVISTS. NOW IS THE TIME FOR US TO
UNIFY OUR EFFORTS AND STEADY OUR COURSE TOWARD DEVELOPING THE RESERVE
FORCE THAT WILL BE READY TO MEET ALL FUTURE DEMANDS. SEMPER PARATUS.
5. RDML S. L. STOSZ, DIRECTOR OF RESERVE AND LEADERSHIP, SENDS.
6. INTERNET RELEASE AUTHORIZED.
