ALCOAST 099/09
COMDTNOTE 5700
SUBJ: SIXTY-EIGHTH ANNIVERSARY OF THE COAST GUARD RESERVE
1. FEBRUARY 19 MARKS THE SIXTY-EIGHTH ANNIVERSARY OF THE COAST
GUARD RESERVE. I CONGRATULATE THE MEN AND WOMEN OF THE COAST GUARD
RESERVE ON ANOTHER EXCEPTIONAL YEAR OF SERVICE TO OUR COUNTRY.
2. THE COAST GUARD RESERVE WAS CREATED IN 1941 WHEN CONGRESS
AMENDED THE COAST GUARD AUXILIARY AND RESERVE ACT. SINCE THAT TIME,
COAST GUARD RESERVISTS HAVE DILIGENTLY STOOD THE WATCH AT HOME AND
ABROAD READY FOR ALL THREATS AND ALL HAZARDS.
3. AS WE MOVE TOWARD MODERNIZING OUR COAST GUARD, THE RESERVE FORCE
REMAINS VITAL TO OUR SUCCESS. I AM COMMITTED TO IMPROVING THE
READINESS OF THE RESERVE COMPONENT BY CREATING AND SOURCING AN
ORGANIZATIONAL  STRUCTURE THAT ALLOWS US TO ADEQUATELY TRAIN,
ADMINISTRATIVELY SUPPORT AND MOBILIZE RESERVISTS IN SUPPORT OF OUR
DEFENSE AND NATIONAL SECURITY RESPONSIBILITIES.  THE RESERVE FORCE
READINESS SYSTEM (RFRS) WILL REPOSITION FULL TIME SUPPORT BILLETS
AT THE MISSION EXECUTION LEVEL WHERE THEIR PRIMARY RESPONSIBILITY
WILL BE TO MAXIMIZE RESERVE READINESS THROUGH PROPER TRAINING,
ADMINISTRATION, AND MOBILIZATION OF ALL RESERVISTS. RFRS WILL ALLOW
US TO IMPROVE AND CAPITALIZE ON THE READINESS POSTURE THE COAST
GUARD RESERVE PROVIDES AS A DEDICATED, TRAINED WORK FORCE WITH A
UNIQUE BLEND OF CIVILIAN AND MILITARY SKILL SETS.
4. OUR RAPIDLY CHANGING WORLD PRESENTS NEW CHALLENGES FOR OUR
SERVICE AND OUR NATION. THE RESERVE FORCE SERVES A CRITICAL ROLE IN
OUR ABILITY TO MEET THESE CHALLENGES BY PROVIDING AN ENHANCED SURGE
CAPABILITY. THROUGH OUR INFORMED, ACTIVE SUPPORT OF RFRS, WE STAND
UNITED IN OUR SERVICES COMMITMENT TO PROVIDE THE BEST
ORGANIZATIONAL CONSTRUCT TO SUPPORT OUR RESERVE FORCE.
5. I ENCOURAGE ALL TEAM COAST GUARD MEMBERS TO CONGRATULATE YOUR
RESERVE SHIPMATES ON THE OCCASION OF THE RESERVES SIXTY-EIGHTH
ANNIVERSARY.  TO EACH RESERVIST: I AM PROUD OF YOUR SERVICE, YOUR
COMMITMENT AND YOUR CONTRIBUTIONS.
6. SEMPER PARATUS.
7. ADM THAD W. ALLEN, COMMANDANT, SENDS.
8. INTERNET RELEASE AUTHORIZED.