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/865641
The budget had not been kind to the Reserve program in Alaska, and I have been working closely with the district commander and DXR. We want to find ways to make the program more successful, and attract more people. The first thing we did is find out why people were not being assigned here. The flight and cost was certainly a factor, but more important, what would you do? Consolidating our reservists to two locations, Station Valdez and Sector Anchorage simplified things. If you like to drive a boat, you went to Valdez where we shifted our [boat forces] requirements from the RB-S to the year-round 45-foot RB-M. Now, with a fully-qualified crew, we are rapidly increasing our competencies and providing capability to the station year round. In Sector Anchorage, our MEs and MSTs provide needed response capability in many cases throughout the year, and our officers provide critical ICS competencies during times of emergency and regularly-scheduled exercises. The location on Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson provides great lodging, base amenities and access to a great infrastructure. We have addressed the cost of transportation to Alaska through the scheduling of quarterly drill weekends (QDW). Our members complete four six-day drill periods per year (in addition to their two weeks of active duty). The QDWs, scheduled a year in advance, provide excellent opportunities for planning, and while air fare is the responsibility of the member, the advanced notice reduces personal cost, and berthing is provided. These longer drill periods also ensure more effective training is accomplished during the week and weekend in order to take advantage of all the resources. In any event or emergency, the Coast Guard will be a major provider of support to the state of Alaska, and the reservists assigned here provide key, long term knowledge and expertise. We must be prepared, both for the first 96 hours of a natural disaster, and the long haul in the months afterward. Therefore, it is reasonable to expect that our reservists assigned to Alaska will be mobilized under Title 14 and play a key role in providing support. Our District 17 mission statement is "We serve and safeguard the public, protect the environment and its resources, and defend the Nation's interests in the Alaskan maritime region." Operational excellence through leadership, teamwork and innovation is our vision statement, and we need YOU to be part of our team. To find out more, contact me, the D17 DXR staff at (907) 463-2102, or your detailer! — Submitted by Capt. Alan Tubbs, D17 Senior Reserve Officer Station Valdez's Petty Officer 1st Class Jennifer Stubblefield (coxswain), Petty Officer 2nd Class d anielle Campos and Petty Officer 3rd Class Ronald Payne patrol Prince William Sound in the station's 45-foot response boat - medium in Valdez, Alaska, April 4. Photo by BMC Shane d enny, SERA,Station Valdez. Issue 3 • 2017 � RESERVIST 13