NCGMA Newsletter 2021 SUMMER

80
YEARS of the
COAST GUARD
RESERVE
August 4, 2021 marks a special
milestone—80 Coast Guard Days
for the talented and dedicated members
of the Coast Guard Reserve. Of course,
we know that the Reserve’s birthday was
in February, but on the anniversary of the
Service’s founding, we wanted to call out and
congratulate all those who have served our
Nation in the Reserve.
The Coast Guard Reserve was established by
the passage of the Coast Guard Reserve and
Auxiliary Act of February 19, 1941. That act
also established the Coast Guard Auxiliary
under its present name (the Auxiliary had
originally been called the Coast Guard
Reserve). The new Coast Guard Reserve
was modeled after the Naval Reserve as
a military component, composed of two
broad classifications: Regular Reservists
and Temporary Reservists. Regular Reserve
members served on active duty during World
War II “for the duration,” while Temporary
Reserve members consisted of volunteers
and former Auxiliary members whose paid
and unpaid services were still needed in a
military capacity for coastal patrols and port
security work.
Since then, the Reserve has evolved to
include people from all walks of life and
professional backgrounds. Some Coast
Guard members choose to continue their
service through the Reserve at the conclusion
of their time on Active Duty.
The Reserve is the Coast Guard’s only surge
force, contingency-based, trained locally and
deployed globally. Appropriately qualified
personnel meet mission requirements within
the prioritized focus areas of:
• Defense Operations
• Ports, Waterways, and Coastal Security
• Incident Response and Management
• Mission Support
RADM Richard W. Schneider, USCGR (Ret.)
recently joined the Board of Directors under
the leadership of another Reservist, Board
Chair Susan J. Curtin.
Coast Guard Commandant, ADM Karl L.
Schultz certainly understands the importance
of the Reserve to the entire country.
“The demands put on our Coast Guard
Reserve are as complex and diverse today
as they have ever been at any point in our
storied history,” Schultz said in February. “On
behalf of every member of the Coast Guard,
Master Chief Petty Officer of the Coast Guard
Reserve George Williamson and I extend
our warmest regards and gratitude to every
reservist, past and present, for your selfless
and patriotic service.”
We echo the Admiral’s closing to each and
every member of the Reserve: “Bravo Zulu
and Semper Paratus!”
SUMMER 2021
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