Reservist Magazine is the award-winning official publication of the United States Coast Guard Reserve. Quarterly issues include news and feature articles about the men and women who comprise America's premier national maritime safety and security
Issue link: https://uscgreservist.epubxp.com/i/386902
Waesche Award Winners: Large District First District Small District Ninth District Sparks Award Winners: Large Unit Sector San Diego Small Unit Station New Orleans The 1st District employs 914 reservists across the full spectrum of Coast Guard missions. During fiscal year 2013, reservists engaged in a variety of training activities that emphasized readiness while managing budget constraints. According to the award nomination, 1st District reservists are a totally integrated military force, a force-multiplier that routinely augments the daily operational capability of units throughout the District across the full spectrum of missions, and has repeatedly proven a reliable surge capacity when contingencies outstrip organic resources. "This award is a direct reflection of the hard work and dedication of our Reserve members, the Sector and the Reserve program," said Lt. Cmdr. Jeton Devereaux, Chief, 1st District Reserve Force Readiness (dxr). "We've hit a sweet spot where the members, active duty, Reserve leadership, DXR and [the] District Commander are in alignment with priorities . . . and are working together." For the third consecutive year the 9th District was the recipient in the District Small category for its implementation of a Reserve planning board for training that included 106 training opportunities. These training opportunities helped to ensure support to the Active Component in which 37 reservists supported 14 units over 3,633 days. The average tour was 98 days and 97 percent of those responding reservists were position certified. The Reserve Component also assisted in 348 search and rescue operations and 1,923 vessel boardings. When asked what part of Reserve training and readiness the 9th District command was most proud, Lt Cmdr. Jim McCown, District (dxr) stated, "It is the ability of both active and Reserve personnel to work together to get the training done, to increase overall readiness, and to work as one team. The Active Component appreciates the hard training and service the reservists perform and provide. Their presence is most welcomed during the high operational tempo of the summer months. Whether involved in the Summerstock program, normal training periods or augmentation of day-to-day missions, everyone understands the significance and importance of their contributions." McCown went on to note that while capturing the award for three straight years is certainly indicative of the dedication of all 9th District reservists, it also spoke volumes to the support and drive provided by active duty personnel across the district. The Rear Admiral Bennett "Bud" Sparks Award, also given in a large and a small category, recognizes a specific Coast Guard unit as being exceptionally effective in building and maintaining Reserve readiness. Station New Orleans won the small category Sparks award for reinventing its Reserve program and empowering highly motivated junior petty officers with duties and responsibilities that mirrored their active duty counterparts. The teamwork between the Active and Reserve Components at Station New Orleans culminated with the establishment of two Reserve duty sections, allowing for an extra boat crew to be utilized for Coast Guard missions on weekends and enabled the unit to conduct 1,811 boardings in 2013 - the most of any Coast Guard unit. (See accompanying story by PA1 Elizabeth Bordelon.) The large unit Sparks award was captured by Sector San Diego where Reserve and active duty personnel are fully integrated across all sector misson sets. This approach has led to the establishment of three fully qualified boarding teams comprised entirely of reservists. These Reserve teams completed more than 1700 underway hours in 2013. The individual awardees included Lt. Cmdr. Christy Curry of Sector Jacksonville, Fla., who was selected (as a lieutenant) to receive the award for Reserve Outstanding Junior Officer, and Chief Warrant Officer Dean Bunk, also of Sector Jacksonville, who was selected as the Reserve Warrant Officer of the Year. (See accompanying story by PA1 Jennifer Johnson.) Curry was awarded for her contribution to her unit as a leader, as well as for "…spearheading an aggressive training program for pollution responder, container inspector and facility inspector, leading to 26 qualifications and four marine safety insignia earned in just 12 months." Curry also created a waterways management representative training college that resulted in a seven-fold increase in waterways management qualifications. Bunk was recognized for being an enthusiastic and inspiring leader, as well as for ensuring the readiness of 12 team members and coordinating their operational and training requirements. Bunk's expertise led to his competitive selection as the Supply Unit Leader and alternate Logistics Section Chief for the Atlantic Area Incident Management Assistance Team in response to Superstorm Sandy. Bunk orchestrated an outreach effort through local marinas and cruise ship terminals to increase marine safety and environmental awareness, according to his award citation. � PAC Al Haraf 9th District Public Affairs and PA2 Jennifer Johnson, 1st District Public Affairs also contributed to this story. HonoR Roll 2013: The Best of the Best 30 RESERVIST � Issue 3 • 2014