US Coast Guard Reserve News & Announcements

Reserve Family Readiness Award (RFRA): Nomination for RFRA closes November 30, 2009. All units that have deployed in 2009 are eligible. For more information see ALCOAST 544/09. (Posted 18 NOV 09)

Freedom Award Nomination: Nomination will be accepted November 2, 2009 - January 18, 2010. Nominate an employer that provided exceptional support for the Secretary of Defense Employer Support Freedom Award at www.FreedomAward.mil. Other ways to recognize employers can be found at www.ESGR.mil. (Posted 18 NOV 09)

Senior Enlisted Reserve Advisor Update: Here's the SERA positions Phase I update via ALCOAST 652/09. Also, for additional SERA info, see Functional Statements and Position Map. (Posted 13 NOV 09)

Volunteer Bulletin Board: Members who desire to apply for volunteer TDY/ADOS opportunities can do so by using the Mobilization Readiness Tracking Tool Volunteer Bulletin Board. A tutorial is provided, MRTT VBB tutorial to assist members and their commands with the MRTT VBB process. (Posted 27 OCT 09)

Welcome Aboard to New RESERVIST Editor: Mr. Isaac Pacheco is the new Editor at THE RESERVIST magazine. He served eight years in the USMC/USMCR and worked at AMVETS prior to becoming editor of THE RESERVIST. To welcome him aboard and/or to send submissions to THE RESERVIST, send e-mail to: Isaac.D.Pacheco@uscg.mil and/or TheReservist@uscg.mil. (Posted 20 OCT 09)

Enlisted Reserve Advancements: Congratulations to all eligible for advancement or change in rating to fill vacancies in the Selected Reserve as of 1 OCT 2009. To review Enlisted Reserve Advancement Announcement No. 010-09, see ALCGRSV 045/09. (Posted 29 SEP 09) 

Reservists Individual Medical Readiness and Periodic Health Assessments (PHA) : The annual PHA is required for all Coast Guard Active Duty (AD) and Selected Reserve (SELRES) members during their birth month period. To review, see ALCOAST 514/09. (Posted 16 SEP 09) 

Educational Benefits/Programs for Coast Guard Reservists: Here's the latest on Educational benefits/programs for reservists including MGIB-SR (Chapter 1606), REAP (Chapter 1607), and Post 9/11 GI Bill (Chapter 33). To read, click here. Also, for information regarding obligated service for those reservists transferring benefits to dependents, read recently released ALCGRSV 042/09. Also, see ALCOAST 377/09 for Post 9/11 GI Bill information. (Posted 1 SEP 09)

 PS to ME Rating Lateral Process Update: The lateral selection process message for Maritime Enforcement Specialist (ME) rating and Maritime Law Enforcement and Security Specialist (MLES) CWO Specialty has been released. See ALCOAST 445/09 (R 312212Z JUL 09) (please also see ALCOAST 454/09: Correction to Lateral Process. A condensed version of the active duty ME billet map and links to the lateral application are provided on this message. Reserve PS billet locations will not change. PS billets will be reprogrammed as ME billets effective 01 JAN 2010. All active and reserve CWO's and enlisted members making application to MLES and ME shall use the lateral package identified for lateral to ME. All CWO's of the PSS specialty and PS enlisted members that do not intend to lateral to PS but are making request to lateral to another legacy specialty or rating must follow the guidance in this message. A link is provided for you to make application to a legacy specialty or rating you are best trained to lateral to. If you have training in a second legacy specialty or rating you will be asked to select that legacy specialty or rating as a second choice. A selection box is also provided on the applications for reserve members to elect to waive the reasonable commuting distance (RCD) for their assignment to a unit. Reserve Personnel Management (RPM) makes assignment of personnel in pay grades E-7 and above. Currently  district Integrated Support Commands (ISC)'s make assignments for members in pay grades of E-6 and below. The assignments are made in accordance to current policy in the Reserve Policy Manual COMDTINST M1001.28.A . This will provide the member opportunity for career diversity. RPM and ISC's will have greater flexibility to align a member to a drilling /mobilization assignment that is best suitable for their rating. All applicants are encouraged to review their CGPSC PDR for accuracy. Your PDR will be reviewed by the lateral selection panel as part of the lateral process. Members seeking to retire as a PSS or PS must have their retirement letter submitted by 31 DEC 2009. For further information or questions contact; Thomas McCook PS/ME RFMC at Thomas.w.mccook@uscg.mil; 202-372-3044 (office), 202-302-7167 (cell). (Posted 03 AUG 09, Updated 1 SEP 09)