The Officer - Fall 2016 - 56

SENIOR ENLISTED ADVISORS events at the Navy Operational Support Center in Chattanooga, Tennessee, where four Marines and one sailor lost their lives in an attack on July 16, 2015. Not only did Navy Reserve sailors from the region respond immediately to secure NOSC Chattanooga, but more than 600 sailors, experienced in law enforcement and force protection, volunteered to come on active duty following an order to immediately arm and secure those NOSCs not guarded by base security. It's just another example of sailors living up to our motto, Ready Now. Anytime, Anywhere. Navy Reserve sailors are mature, with professional and technical skills honed in the civilian and corporate sector. Some of these skills are not resident within a Navy skill set and many times are more advanced and more technical than the Navy rating or career field assigned. They bring these additional skills to any Navy assignment as a force multiplier. For more than 15 years, 90 percent of all Global War on Terrorism active duty requirements have been filled with volunteers. But perhaps most importantly, Navy Reserve sailors are advanced resource managers. With work habits and instincts from the private sector, these sailors understand the value of efficient use of time, funds and supplies. The consequences in the civilian world are loss of profit and perhaps loss of employment; military consequences are just as dire, and Navy Reserve sailors understand the importance of responsible budgeting and efficiency. They are enthusiastic and always ready to serve! There is much work to do. The Navy Reserve understands that we must continue to progress. We must continue to improve and sustain readiness. Therefore, we are on the leading edge in technological innovation to enable the service of our Selected Reserve with maximum utilization of available technology, while pursuing modern advances in cloud and mobile application technology. We owe our sailors the best. We must continue to capture and utilize the civilian skill capabilities, learning and certifications to maximize the Navy Reserve as a force multiplier. I have been in this assignment for nearly three years, and the cooperative relationship among Reserve sailors, their families and their employers continues to impress. The families and employers are heroes in their own right and will forever have my gratitude. We continue to pursue collaboration with Active Component counterparts, as Navy Reserve sailors continue to contribute in every corner of the Navy. The future of our Navy is leveraging the Total Force Navy team and on the strategic depth that the Navy Reserve provides in a variety of mission areas, including emerging mission areas such as unmanned systems and littoral combat ships. It is my honor and privilege to serve these amazing Americans. They are twice the citizen, serving at home and abroad as the Navy needs them-Citizen Sailors. These sailors continue a now more than 100-year legacy of service and sacrifice in peace and in war. On their behalf, I am grateful and appreciate the support and advocacy of the ROA organization and all that you do for both the officer and enlisted ranks. Thank you for welcoming enlisted into your ranks. MASTER CHIEF PETTY OFFICER ERIC L. JOHNSON Coast Guard Reserve Over the past 75 years, the men and women of the Coast Guard Reserve have stood a taut watch, both at home and abroad. It is an honor and an absolute pleasure to serve with the finest collection of American patriots. The men and women of the Coast Guard Reserve have varied backgrounds and provide the diversity of thought that creates the flexible and agile response force, capable of achieving success regardless of the complexity of the mission. 56 THE OFFICER / FALL 2016 There are fiscal realities that demanded we as an organization take a long look at what capabilities the 7,000 members of the Coast Guard Reserve should be tasked with providing. The idea of being a smaller version of the Coast Guard is no longer sustainable. We are currently devoting significant effort in force planning to ensure the smaller force is properly located, trained and equipped to provide the operational commanders the requisite skill and talent mix for a number of contingencies. Consistently, policies and procedures have been promulgated that "mirror active duty." Often the differences are too distinct, and a "one-size-fits-all" approach results in the Reservist being

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of The Officer - Fall 2016