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
Focus on Reserve Readiness "Sparks" Station New Orleans Story and photos by PA1 Elizabeth Bordelon, 8th District Public Affairs Congratulations are in order for the crew of Coast Guard Station New Orleans. In a ceremony held late July in Long Beach, Calif., Reserve members from Station New Orleans (STA NOLA) were awarded the 2013 Rear Admiral Bennett "Bud" Sparks Award. Presented annually, this award recognizes the Coast Guard unit judged to be the most effective in building and maintaining Reserve readiness. The award, previously known as the Total Force Award, was renamed in honor of Rear Adm. Sparks, who served in the Coast Guard Reserve from 1942-1989. "The Reserve program that exists today at Station New Orleans began in late 2010," said BMCS James Wood, the Senior Enlisted Reserve Advisor at the station. "The recalled reservists were beginning to trickle back into normal drill status from Deepwater Horizon activation with lapsed qualifications due to the currency maintenance cycle for boat crews. Morale was a concern, as well as the active duty lack of expectation or trust in the Reserve Component. I knew that we needed a vision to get behind. Station New Orleans was no different from many of the other units I have been a part of or visited. They were a diverse, intelligent and capable group of petty officers that were not being utilized to their potential. I sat down with key members and discussed what the future could or should be. At that time the group decided that we wanted to be operationally ready and capable of having the command turn the keys to the station over to us on the weekends and let our crews stand the watch." Wood and his crew began an immediate overhaul of the entire Reserve program at the station. "We established a Reserve chain of command, empowered our members to make decisions, and hold them accountable," said Wood. "We treat our reservists like their active duty counterparts. They know what is expected and they are given the latitude to accomplish the tasks. The result was an empowered and proficient crew that solved problems instead of pointing them out or complaining about them. We had personnel step up and take leadership roles that were above their pay grade and they have done a great job." The strong bond and mutual respect between the active duty and reserve members at Station New Orleans did not happen overnight. It took hard work from both sides to cultivate the current relationship at the unit. "It's been a process and we've gotten to a point where our guys can come in on a Friday afternoon and take over for the whole weekend," said BMCS Ken Kezdi. "The command trusts us to do that and that is huge to get to that point. It's very hard in the Reserve to keep people qualified all the time. We have a great program here that allows our members the opportunity to stay up to date and truly augment the active duty crew." The junior petty officers at the deck plate level have reaped the most reward with the new program in place at Station New Orleans. "The past five years have been a complete turnaround here at the station," said BM2 Jeffrey Farmer. "When you come in for your weekend now, you know you are getting underway. We want to actually get out there and do things—coming in and sitting around doesn't help anybody. We have a lot of reservists here and only two coxswains, but, because of our relationship with the active duty guys, they are willing to volunteer an extra coxswain in for the weekend to help so we can get more crews out. In the long run that benefits everyone." "I'm very proud of the Reserve and active duty at Station New Orleans," said Wood. "I think they have been successful because they have proven that they are not scared of work. Everything they achieve and have been recognized for is because of their strong work ethic and determination. Hard work and dedication is something that is talked about a lot in today's world but for this crew it is action and not words. They are contributing to the Coast Guard missions and they are having fun while doing it." � Crewmembers from Station new orleans adjust the radar while underway.