Operational Excellence, Setting and Achieving Goals!

Homecoming

While I will not go into detail about our most recent large-scale deployment, I will mention that the men and women of MSST 91103 performed admirably and got the job done! While timing could not have been worse for many of our families, you should feel proud that our team answered the call, completed their mission professionally, and all came home safe and sound. There is nothing else I could ask for. I am proud of each and everyone for their efforts and to the families for taking care of things at home so our folks could focus on their task at hand. As you can hopefully see from the pic above our folks were being taken care of while away from home over the holidays. A special thanks to LCDR Robinson (MSST Honolulu CO) and Ombudsman for putting together some goodie packages for our folks Christmas Eve!

Advancements

Congrats to Senior Chief Carr (pictured above) for advancing to MECS. Congratulations to Chief Smith for advancing to ETC (last picture listed below). Congrats to PO Haldeman and PO Graziano for advancing to BM1. Congrats to PO Angcaya and PO Torres for advancing to ME1. Congrats to PO Sylvester for advancing to YN1. Congrats to PO Olvera for advancing to ME2 (pictured directly below).

Congrats to PO Hooker for his recent Achievement Medal (picture below). PO Hooker's efforts as one of our lead Reserve LE Instructors, CDO Watchstander, and Reserve Liaison has been nothing short of exemplary. Bravo Zulu!

Congrats to PO Antis and Ryder (pictured below) for their recent TSA Re-Certification in Las Vegas. As one of the Coast Guard's first K9 teams to graduate from the TSA's Certification Process, these guys performed admirably and represented the Coast Guard and unit as true professionals! Great job!

Congrats to Chief Petty Officer Smith, picture below with several of our Support Staff. Congrats Chief!

Qualifications/Certifications/Guardian of the Quarter

PO Sparhawk - BO Certification

PO Standiford - Boat Forces Insignia (Pewter Tone)

PO Shelton - VI Team Mbr Certification

PO Rodriguez - Hook & Climb In-Water Survival Course Instructor

PO Knee - Hook & Climb In-Water Survival Course Instructor

PO Velasquez - Reserve Guardian of the Quarter - Bravo Zulu for your efforts and contributions to the unit this past quarter!!!

Arrivals

Welcome aboard to PO Smith who will be joining our Reserve Forces!

Reserve Family Readiness Award!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Aside from the successful deployment, we learned of another significant accolade that reflects the caliber of people that have served and currently serve at MSST 91103. We recently learned that MSST 91103 was selected as the winning Coast Guard unit to receive the DOD Reserve Family Readiness Award! This prestigious, national-level award is presented to one reserve unit representing each of the Services for their success with family readiness throughout the year. 2010 brought about many opportunities for MSST 91103 to shine through challenging deployments such as GITMO and DeepWater Horizon. The success of these deployments was a tribute to the incredible team efforts of our active duty and reserve forces and of course through the hardwork of the unit's Ombudsman and mbrs in garrison. This award will be presented to a few mbrs of the unit later this month by the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Reserve Affairs Dennis M. McCarthy at the Pentagon. Future pics will be posted - Congrats MSST 91103!!!

Final Thoughts...

It is hard to believe that the first 6 months as Commanding Officer of MSST 91103 has zoomed by so quickly and it has been quite an amazing journey thus far. I can honestly say I've been surrounded by some of the most incredible Coasties a CO could ever want so Thank You! As you can tell from the subject of this blog and from the above pics MSST 91103 has most certainly achieved operational excellence as a unit and many of our folks have achieved some incredible personal and professional goals. Keep up the great work - Goodnight!

v/r

T. Margita