ALCOAST 060/22 - FEB 2022 EIGHTY-FIRST ANNIVERSARY OF THE COAST GUARD RESERVE

R 181431Z FEB 22
FM COMDT COGARD WASHINGTON DC
TO ALCOAST
BT
UNCLAS
ALCOAST 060/22
SSIC 5700
SUBJ: EIGHTY-FIRST ANNIVERSARY OF THE COAST GUARD RESERVE
1. From leading efforts at community vaccination centers in the
fight against COVID-19, to providing humanitarian assistance in the
face of devastating hurricanes, to supporting Department of Defense
expeditionary port security requirements, the relevance and
resilience of our Coast Guard Reserve has never been stronger.
2. Fostering a responsive and ready Reserve Force is as important
today as it has been at any point in the 81 years since passage of
the Coast Guard Reserve and Auxiliary Act on February 19, 1941. In
Fiscal Year 2021, we had over 1,400 individual activations for
contingency operations and another 1,500 for non-contingency needs,
including 133 reservists deployed to Coast Guard commands to fill
vacancies as part of our Parental Leave program. This equates to an
effective mobilization rate of 47%.
3. For our Reserve Force to continue to sustain this level of
operational demand, we must build on our efforts to make it easier
to join and serve in the Reserve Component. Capitalizing on the
success of innovative programs like the Flexible PAL (FlexPAL),
which benefitted over 800 members in its first 14 months of
operation, is also all crucial to the long-term health of the
Reserve. We will soon expand this program to provide a greater
degree of geographic stability for our reservists to serve closer
to where they live and work.
4. Ensuring the vitality of this critical component of our
workforce is the responsibility of every member of the Coast Guard.
Unit commanders must lean forward and maximize the availability of
training capacity to increase Reserve assignment opportunities.
Leaders at all levels must proactively encourage all of our highly
trained and skilled active duty members to affiliate and serve in
the Reserve Component at the end of their active duty service
obligations.
5. Last year we deployed Doctrine (Publication R) for the Coast
Guard Reserve to define the purpose of our Reserve Component and
over the next year, we will work to define which missions the
Reserve is designed to support. These and other initiatives and
innovations will position the Reserve for growth, and serve as the
building blocks for a more focused and flexible workforce. As we
look to the future, I have every confidence our Coast Guard Reserve
will maintain its legacy of unmatched professionalism, patriotism,
and preparedness supporting our multi-mission portfolio.
6. Today, every member of the Coast Guard joins me, Rear Admiral
James M. Kelly, and the Master Chief Petty Officer of the Coast
Guard Reserve-George Williamson, in expressing our warmest regards
and sincere gratitude for the steadfast and patriotic service of
every reservist. Bravo Zulu and Semper Paratus.
7. ADM K. L. Schultz, Commandant (CCG), sends.
8. Internet release is authorized.