CGR National Awards

Admiral Russell R. Waesche

This award is named after Admiral Russell R. Waesche who, while serving as Commandant, established the Coast Guard Reserve to bolster readiness during World War II. The award is presented to units that are judged to be most supportive of a totally integrated Coast Guard military force as demonstrated by its effective use and support of the Reserve Component during the previous fiscal year.

Category 1: Congratulations to the Fourteenth Coast Guard District

The Fourteenth Coast Guard District are recognized for exhibiting the highest level of commitment to maritime security, national defense, and disaster response across the entire central and western Pacific area of operations and across the United States. District Fourteen’s area of responsibility spans eight time zones and the International Date Line, including a 12.2 million square mile search and rescue region, and is a regional center of gravity in the strategic competition with the People’s Republic of China (PRC). District Fourteen reservists maintain the highest levels of readiness to support contingency and mobilization requirements at local, regional and national levels in a dynamic and culturally diverse area of responsibility.

District Fourteen reservists continue to prove they are totally integrated and embedded into every facet of operations and mission support. Members of District Fourteen reserve were critical in establishing the Coast Guard’s response to Operation Allies Welcome, resettling thousands of Afghan partners and fostering relationships between the Department of Homeland Security, Department of Defense, Department of State, and non-governmental organization partners. District Fourteen reserve members continued their unparalleled support during the COVID-19 global pandemic on both the local and national level, mobilizing 25 percent of Sector Honolulu’s Reserve force under Title 10 to support the dynamic pandemic related requirements throughout fiscal year 2021. Further, seven members deployed under Title 10 across a three-month period to support FEMA’s national distribution of the COVID-19 vaccine in both the Hawaiian Islands and on the mainland across four Coast Guard Districts, 11 Sectors, 12 States and U.S. territories.

District Fourteen reserve members routinely demonstrate the ability to fill active duty roles and are the go-to force for augmenting operations. Reserve members integrated into daily missions and augmented Sector-wide, completing 97 container inspections with the Prevention Department and responding to over 20 pollution cases with the Incident Management Division.

Congratulations to the Fourteenth Coast Guard District!

Category 2: Congratulations to the Seventh Coast Guard District

The Seventh Coast Guard District hosts the second largest Reserve workforce in the Coast Guard with 745 Reservists serving at five Sectors, 18 small boat stations, three Air Stations and one Marine Safety Unit. They are recognized for integrating into every mission area actively serving as coxswains, boat crews, boarding officers, pollution responders, container and facility inspectors, operations and intelligence specialists, contingency planners, and logistics staff positions. District Seven provides the largest qualified Reserve Boat Forces population with 119 reserve coxswains and 172 reserve boat crew members qualified on multiple boat platforms. Exemplifying mission capability is Station Miami Beach, with one of the busiest area of responsibilities in the country, responding to 33 Search and Rescue alarms in fiscal year 2021 resulting in 18 lives saved and 43 lives assisted. The reserve component also accounted for over 200 man-hours in support of Space Operations with active duty and reserve members of Marine Safety Detachment Port Canaveral coordinating interagency efforts at the Launch Emergency Operations Center and the Morrell Operations Center, assisting with 34 successful launches and 115 cancelled launches. Additionally, the Coast Guard Reserve was called on once again to respond to the M/V Golden Ray salvage operation in St. Simon Sound, charged with overseeing and monitoring the work performed to ensure compliance with Oil Pollution Act, National Contingency Plan, and Clean Water Act. This effort included over 300 active and reserve members whom completed the largest wreck salvage operation in U.S. history, performing over three million labor-hours in an extremely dangerous operation and maintaining an unimpeachable safety record.

Leading the Coast Guard Reserve, District Seven has been the role model with their Inactive Duty for Training (IDT) Berthing Management Plan. Collaborating with local Procurement and Contracting and the Shore Infrastructure Logistics Center, they developing a detailed statement of work that led to the award of the first comprehensive 5-year, $3.8 million Reserve Berthing Management contract. This effort resulted in IDT berthing being fully funded across fiscal years and not subject to annual congressional budget approval timelines and most importantly ensured that training and readiness can be optimally focused.

Congratulations to the Seventh Coast Guard District!

Rear Admiral Bennett "Bud" Sparks

This award is named after Rear Admiral Bennett “Bud” Sparks, who championed the integration of reserve and active duty workforces to achieve overall unit readiness. The award is presented to the unit that is judged to be most supportive of an operationally ready Coast Guard Reserve force, as demonstrated by its effective use and support of the Reserve force during the previous fiscal year.

Category 1: Congratulations to U.S. Coast Guard Sector Anchorage

U.S. Coast Guard Sector Anchorage are recognized for demonstrating an outstanding commitment to maintaining readiness, Incident Command System (ICS) training and professional expertise that has enabled them to achieve unprecedented levels of impact at the local, regional, and national level, seamlessly integrating with active duly in challenging operational conditions. They are the epitome of a force multiplier and have stepped up to support the Coast Guard when it needed them the most during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Sector Anchorage’s unrelenting focus to develop and maintain a highly qualified Reserve force resulted in outstanding results despite the challenges of COVID-19. Active management of key metrics resulted in admin readiness of 100% and medical readiness of 98%. Coming out of COVID-19 limited interactions during 2020, Sector Anchorage took action in fiscal year 2021 to prioritize training and Reserve activities, resulting in 100% Active Duty for Training (ADT) participation and 98% Inactive Duty for Training (IDT) participation. Station Valdez reserves totaled 434.3 underway hours and took on 86 days of active duty to assist the station during transfer season. Sector Enforcement reservists conducted 384 hours of law enforcement training and 46 boardings and also drove a multi-agency operation with NOAA, National Park Service and Alaska Wildlife Troopers. Sector Marine Science Technicians (MSTs) augmented the active duty force during the annual Marine Safety Task Force (MSTF), supporting 47 days of Pollution Responder/Facility Inspector duty to backfill for active duty members deployed for MSTF and conducting more than 300 commercial fishing vessel exams and 50 facility inspections.

In addition to supporting Sector Anchorage through IDT and ADT, 12 reservists took on Title 10 orders for a total of 1,940 days. This level of support for not only their local active duty shipmates but also the larger Coast Guard, including Coast Guard Headquarters, Atlantic Area, Pacific Area, and the Seventeenth Coast Guard District, demonstrates their strong devotion and selflessness for the betterment of the service and the country.

Congratulations to U.S. Coast Guard Sector Anchorage!

Category 2: Congratulations to U.S. Coast Guard Sector Long Island Sound

U.S. Coast Guard Sector Long Island Sound (SLIS) are recognized for ongoing efforts to integrate, support, and train its Reserve Component. SLIS optimized peak reserve proficiency and readiness as a result of embracing full integration of their Reserve Component through an exceptionally balanced reserve management program. SLIS reservists played an instrumental role in support of the joint Transportation Security Agency/CG Collaborative Operations by Response Agencies (COBRA) and Ferry Terminal Security (FTS) operations, resulting in 2,392 vehicle and 1,365 passengers screened. Additionally, they provided direct law enforcement and security support to the U.S. Secret Service Presidential Security Operations during President Biden’s keynote speech at the 2021 U.S. Coast Guard Academy Commencement and conducted over 25 recreational vessel boardings ensuring compliance with all applicable safety and security regulations.

Demonstrating highly effective leadership and management, their dedicated commitment to mobilization readiness provided instrumental in support to multiple national emergencies and contingencies. SLIS’s reserve personnel played a significant role in our nation’s homeland security efforts in support of the COVID-19 pandemic and Southwest Border Operations, where they provided critical support in response to the arrival of Afghan refugees to the United States. Additionally, six reserve members volunteered for seven Active Duty for Operational Support-Active Component (ADOS-AC) activations for a total of 1,229 days of augmentation, with significant participation in the Parental Leave Program. Their immediate response and flawless execution of duties ensured the station remained fully mission capable with zero interruption to operations.

Congratulations to U.S. Coast Guard Sector Long Island Sound!

Reserve Outstanding Junior Officer Award

The Reserve Organization of America (ROA) annually presents the Reserve Outstanding Junior Officer Award to the Coast Guard Reserve junior officer judged to exemplify those characteristics expected of an outstanding junior officer during the past fiscal year.

Congratulations to Lieutenant Douglas Schneider, U.S. Coast Guard Intelligence Coordination Center

LT Douglas Schneider excelled in his contributions to the Coast Guard through his leadership, performance of duties, public service, and dedication to lifelong learning.

LT Schneider led the planning and coordination for Fast Response Cutters (FRC) to transit from Florida to Patrol Forces Southwest Asia (PATFORSWA). He provided increased medical capability by training the crews on required transit skill sets, and coordinated with the DoS, USN, and various stakeholders to meet strategic objectives and facilitate diplomatic engagements during the transit.

By identifying a shortfall in training quotas for CG Emergency Medical Technicians (EMT), which would have resulted in decertification of a substantial portion of qualified technicians, LT Schneider worked with the EMT School Chief to develop, coordinate, and implement the CG’s first virtual EMT recertification training. This afforded every expiring EMT certificate holder the opportunity to re-certify before expiration and earned LT Schneider an honorable mention for a CG Ingenuity Award.

Active in his community, LT Schneider served as a member of the Nansemond-Suffolk Volunteer Rescue Squad, the Alexandria Volunteer Fire Department, and dedicated five hours every Saturday to support a local Farmer’s Markey in the Portsmouth, VA.

In 2022, LT Schneider earned his fourth master’s degree in Strategic Intelligence and his second doctoral degree in Homeland Security. His example and advocacy inspired many members to pursue their own education and degrees.

Congratulations, LT Schneider, on your selection as the Reserve Outstanding Junior Officer.

Reserve Outstanding Chief Warrant Officer Award

Presented to the Coast Guard Chief Warrant Officer based on the member’s achievements and dedication to service during the past fiscal year.

There were no submissions for 2022.