Vol. 55, Issue 3-2008 - U.S. Coast Guard
Vol. 55, Issue 3-2008 - U.S. Coast Guard
Vol. 55, Issue 3-2008 - U.S. Coast Guard
You also want an ePaper? Increase the reach of your titles
YUMPU automatically turns print PDFs into web optimized ePapers that Google loves.
Reserve Affairs<br />
Family Readiness Award<br />
R A F R A<br />
2007 Family Readiness Award Winner<br />
PSU 308<br />
GULFPORT, Miss. — PSU 308 is the recipient of the<br />
Reserve Affairs Family Readiness Award (RAFRA) for FY2007.<br />
The award was presented to PSU 308 at a ceremony in the<br />
Pentagon’s “Hall of Heroes” Feb. 15.<br />
The Office of the Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense<br />
for Reserve Affairs (OASD-RA) established the RAFRA in 2000<br />
to recognize the top unit in each of the Reserve Components of<br />
the Armed Forces that demonstrates outstanding family<br />
readiness while maintaining superior mission readiness. The<br />
award is open to any <strong>Coast</strong> <strong>Guard</strong> unit with a Reserve<br />
workforce.<br />
Thomas F. Hall, Assistant Secretary of Defense for<br />
Reserve Affairs, presented the award, an engraved<br />
commemorative plaque and a signed certificate of<br />
appreciation. The Military Officers Association of America<br />
(MOAA) president, Vice Adm. Norb Ryan, USN(Ret.),<br />
presented each recipient organization with a $1,000 check and<br />
a certificate.<br />
“We have many ceremonies throughout the year, but this<br />
is by far my favorite because it’s about families,” said Hall. “We<br />
think family readiness, support of our families and support of<br />
the troops are the most important things we do.”<br />
PSU 308 demonstrated exceptional family readiness and<br />
support during their recent deployment to Guantanamo Bay,<br />
Cuba. Reestablishing their ombudsman program, they utilized<br />
two ombudsmen who partnered to provide exceptional service<br />
to the dependents of the 54 members who deployed. The<br />
ombudsmen kept families up to date with their “Shore Ties”<br />
newsletter and by opening lines of communication via phone<br />
and e-mail. Coordinating with family members, they hosted a<br />
homecoming event for the returning members of PSU 308,<br />
complete with gift baskets donated by local residents and<br />
businesses.<br />
“Maintaining communications between deployed<br />
servicemembers and their families is important for morale,”<br />
said Leslie Holland, a family-support coordinator for PSU 308.<br />
Holland maintains a list of phone numbers that can be<br />
used to quickly contact deployed servicemembers’ commands<br />
in case of family emergencies or other contingencies back<br />
home.<br />
“Within a matter of minutes, we can get a message out to<br />
servicemembers at Guantanamo asking them to contact their<br />
families,” said Holland.<br />
ALCOAST 039/07 announced the winning <strong>Coast</strong> <strong>Guard</strong><br />
unit. Congratulations to PSU 308 for their dedication to family<br />
support programs.<br />
In addition to PSU 308, the other Reserve Component<br />
DoD RAFRA winners were: Army National <strong>Guard</strong>, 1st<br />
Battalion, 121st Field Artillery, Milwaukee, Wis.; Army<br />
Reserve, 108th Training Command, Charlotte, N.C.; Navy<br />
Reserve, Naval Air Systems Command (NASC-6066), Naval<br />
Air Station Patuxent River, Md.; Marine Corps Reserve, 2nd<br />
Battalion, 24th Regiment, 4th Marine Division, Chicago, Ill.;<br />
Air National <strong>Guard</strong>, 144th Fighter Wing, Fresno, Calif.; Air<br />
Force Reserve, 944th Mission Support Flight, Luke Air Force<br />
Base, Ariz.<br />
Previous RAFRA winners<br />
2007: PSU 308, Gulfport, Miss.<br />
2006: PSU 312, San Francisco, Calif.<br />
2005: PSU 307, St. Petersburg, Fla.<br />
2004: PSU 307, St. Petersburg, Fla.<br />
2003: PSU 311, San Pedro, Calif.<br />
2002: PSU 307, St. Petersburg, Fla.<br />
2001: PSU 307, St. Petersburg, Fla.<br />
2000: PSU 309, Port Clinton, Ohio<br />
Leslie B. Holland, left, and Pamela K.<br />
Bannon are family-support coordinators for<br />
PSU 308 based in Gulfport, Miss. They were<br />
among seven Reserve component<br />
organizations that received the 2007 DoD<br />
Reserve Affairs Family Readiness Award at<br />
the Pentagon Feb. 15, <strong>2008</strong>.<br />
USCG RESERVIST • <strong>Vol</strong>. <strong>55</strong>/<strong>Issue</strong> 3-08 • 25<br />
Photo by Gerry J. Gilmore.