R 121810Z JUN 09 

SUBJ: FY08 RADM BENNETT "BUD" SPARKS AWARD SELECTION ANNOUNCEMENT
A. COMDT COGARD WASHINGTON DC 231431Z MAR 09/ALCOAST 171/09
B. COAST GUARD PERSONNEL MANUAL, COMDTINST M1000.6 (SERIES)
1. I AM PLEASED TO ANNOUNCE THAT SECTOR GUAM IS THE FY08
RADM BENNETT "BUD" SPARKS AWARD RECIPIENT. SPONSORED BY THE RESERVE
OFFICERS ASSOCIATION (ROA), THE SPARKS AWARD IS PRESENTED ANNUALLY
TO THE COAST GUARD UNIT JUDGED TO BE THE MOST SUPPORTIVE OF A
TOTALLY INTEGRATED COAST GUARD FORCE, DEMONSTRATED BY ITS EFFECTIVE
USE OF COAST GUARD RESERVISTS. REF A OUTLINED THE CRITERIA FOR THIS
AWARD.
2. SECTOR GUAM DEMONSTRATED EXCEPTIONAL RESERVE MANAGEMENT,
READINESS AND WORK FORCE INTEGRATION BY FOCUSING ON THE OBJECTIVE
MEASURES OUTLINED IN REF A AND CONCENTRATED EFFORTS UNDERTAKEN TO
IMPROVE THEM.  NOTEWORTHY INITIATIVES INCLUDED:
 A. RESERVISTS ARE ASSIGNED TO EVERY UNIT AND DEPARTMENT IN THE
SECTOR AND COMPRISE 30 PERCENT OF THE TOTAL WORK FORCE IN THAT AOR.
AS A RESULT, RESERVISTS ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR OVER 20 PERCENT OF THE
SECTORS WORKLOAD.
 B. RESERVE READINESS METRICS WERE USED TO GAIN A MORE ACCURATE
PICTURE OF EACH RESERVISTS READINESS POSTURE. SECTOR GUAMS ACTIVE
DUTY DEPARTMENT HEADS AND SUPERVISORS KEEP THE SECTOR COMMAND
INFORMED OF THE PROGRESS OF RESERVISTS TRAINING AND QUALIFICATIONS.
 C. SECTOR GUAM PLACES STRONG EMPHASIS ON SYNCHRONIZING RESERVISTS
CAREER PROGRESSION WITH THE SECTORS MISSIONS. SPECIFICALLY,
RESERVE IDPS WERE USED BY SECTOR GUAM ACTIVE DUTY SUPERVISORS TO
DEVELOP WELL STRUCTURED MISSION FOCUSED PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT
TRAINING PLANS.
 D. AS PART OF THE SECTORS FIVE YEAR RESERVE MOBILIZATION PLAN,
ANNUAL SEA BAG INSPECTIONS AND PHYSICAL FITNESS ASSESSMENTS HELP
THE SECTOR TO ENSURE RESERVISTS ARE READY FOR OPS ON SHORT NOTICE.
 E. ALL RESERVISTS AT THE SECTOR HAVE COMPLETED THEIR IDP RESULTING
IN ATTAINING THE HIGHEST LEVEL OF READINESS IN D14.
3. THIS WAS A VERY TOUGH YEAR FOR SELECTION OF THIS PROMINENT
AWARD. AS SUCH, MSU PORT ARTHUR, TX RECEIVES A STRONG HONORABLE
MENTION FOR THEIR FULLY INTEGRATED RESERVE PROGRAM. ADDITIONAL
COMMANDS EXEMPLIFYING THE FINEST QUALITIES OF THE SPARKS AWARD ARE:
 A. PORT SECURITY UNIT 308
 B. MSU SAVANNAH
 C. SECTOR LAKE MICHIGAN
4. THESE INTEGRATED RESERVE PROGRAMS TRULY EMBODY THE TEAM COAST
GUARD CONCEPT AND ARE IN ALIGNMENT WITH THE COMMANDANTS RESERVE
POLICY STATEMENT.
5. THE SPARKS AWARD WILL BE PRESENTED TO REPRESENTATIVES OF SECTOR
GUAM AT A CEREMONY TO BE HELD AT THE ROA NATIONAL CONVENTION IN
ORLANDO, FL, 8-11 JUL 2009. FUNDING FOR UNIT REPRESENTATIVE TRAVEL
IS OUTLINED IN PARA 6 OF REF A.
6. INFORMATION ABOUT THE ROA NATIONAL CONVENTION IS AVAILABLE
ONLINE AT WWW.ROA.ORG. I INVITE ALL RESERVE OFFICERS TO ATTEND.
ALTHOUGH RESERVE TRAINING FUNDS (AFC-90) ARE NOT AUTHORIZED FOR THE
PURPOSE OF ATTENDING THIS EVENT, SELRES MAY REQUEST PERMISSIVE
ORDERS IAW CHAPTER 7.A.10 OF REF B TO ATTEND AT THEIR OWN EXPENSE.
7. POC: CWO GREG HUNTON, COMDT (CG-131), PHONE (202) 475-5461, E-
MAIL GREG.P.HUNTON(AT)USCG.MIL.
8. RDML D. R. MAY, DIRECTOR OF RESERVE AND TRAINING, SENDS.
9. INTERNET RELEASE AUTHORIZED.