The Officer - Fall 2016 - 57

disadvantaged. We have found recruiting, accessing and assigning Reservists is different than it is for our active duty counterparts. Understanding the differences and building systems that complement rather than compete is the clear way ahead. Almost every leadership speech I've ever heard includes a statement such as, "People are our most important asset." Who am I to disagree with this bold and seemingly indisputable statement? So, rather than disagree, I'll just modify it slightly with, "The spirit of our people is our most important asset." The members of the Coast Guard Reserve have the "can-do" attitude that is the lifeblood of the organization; this attitude can't be bottled or reproduced; it comes from a deep love of nation, family and each other. The Coast Guard's core values of honor, respect and devotion to duty have never been more important to mission success, while violations of these values have never been so unacceptable. We recognize that cultural norms have to change, and all of us play a role in making those changes. We are committed to ensuring there are no bystanders when it comes to wrongdoing. It is a "see something, say something" approach. Our members are being empowered and inspired, from the highest levels on a daily basis, to take direct action in driving out core value violations from our Coast Guard. I am thankful to each and every member of the Coast Guard Reserve and their families. They have proven themselves repeatedly, and in every case, they are always ready to answer the call. And to the members of the Reserve Officers Association, thanks for your service and continued support. Semper Paratus! COMMAND CHIEF MASTER SGT. ERICKA KELLY Air Force Reserve It is a pleasure and honor to represent America's Citizen Airmen as the command chief of Air Force Reserve Command. The Air Force Reserve is an integrated, flexible and combat-ready force of nearly 70,000 Citizen Airmen. These men and women are stationed locally and serving globally, ready to provide operational capability, strategic depth and surge capacity when our nation calls. Our Air Force Reserve represents a proud heritage of bold leaders and innovative airmen. This heritage is one that highlights our unique capabilities as individuals and as a force. We must continue to honor our heritage as we embrace and encourage diversity in our force. This diversity is not necessarily in terms of gender, ethnicity and religious backgrounds, although those are important, but rather a diversity of education, background and experiences. As a diverse force, we are able to see obstacles from new vantage points and come up with more creative solutions to the challenges we face today and those we will confront tomorrow. Our heritage and diversity provide the depth and strength we need to continue to defend our nation. While honoring our heritage, we must continue to focus on the development of our airmen, providing opportunities and mentoring to our youngest airmen and to the future senior leaders of our force. We need to make a conscious effort to develop our force; we must empower our airmen to actively manage their own careers and encourage them to pursue opportunities that are right for them and their families. One of the amazing things about the Air Force Reserve is the ability to serve in a variety of statuses throughout our careers. As we develop our airmen, we will be amazed and humbled to see their talents emerge. Finally, we need to be proud of our Air Force, a team that represents three strong Air Force components, a team that leverages the diverse strengths and talents of our airmen in defense of our nation. As we continue to look for opportunities to work together, our focus must not shift away from taking care of our people and accomplishing the mission. Our Air Force is the strongest in the world, and I believe it will only continue to get better. Our enlisted force is the backbone of our Air Force Reserve. My goal as command chief is to create an environment where our airmen are proud of where they are coming from and excited about where they are going. I am proud to be in a position to give back to the force that has given me so much-a team full of talented and strong Citizen Airmen. THE OFFICER / FALL 2016 57

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