Empowering YOU through your mobilization cycle

Read the full version of this article, and many others in the Spring 2024 release of The Reservist Magazine. 

As members of the Coast Guard Reserve, there is a high probability that we will be activated for a response at one time or another in our career. Whether it be for hurricanes, fires, oil spills, earthquakes, floods, migrant interdictions, or joint missions that support other agencies, there is always a need for our component.     

As reservists, we, for the most part, volunteer to mobilize, leaving our civilian jobs and families without hesitation. Those of us who continuously activate know all too well that the administrative aspect of mobilizing can make our choice to support significantly harder.    

As a Reserve yeoman, I have 21 years of experience in personally mobilizing and supporting our reservists responding to contingencies. Most recently, I served as administrative support to members responding to the fires in Lahaina, Hawaii. I've seen members struggle through each stage of the mobilization process—I GET IT.  

I'm going to say the phrase you all love hearing most: members’ responsibility! But, don't stress. The more you empower yourself through learning the systems that are in place, the easier the process becomes for you and your network.   

Here is some insight that you can take with you for future activations—all of these tips are the same, whether you volunteer in Direct Access (DA) or are selected and directed to support a mission.   

Before you mobilize:  

• Make sure you are green in your individual medical readiness (IMR). Consult Coast Guard Business Intelligence (CGBI) for your own status.  
• Get a Government Travel Charge Card (GTCC) and have it in good standing. Your unit can help.  

• Make sure you have an E-GOV Travel Service (ETS) profile and that it’s updated. Work with your admin or go to the Pay and Personnel Center (PPC) Topeka website at www.dcms.uscg.mil for ETS help guides.  

Applying:  

• There are many ways to find out about requests and needs for assistance. Outside of DA, start networking through the Reserve for opportunities.   
• DA is the ONLY place to apply for requests.   
• You MUST get supervisor approval to submit a mobilization request! Let them know you responded to a mobilization request so they can go in DA and approve.   

• Supervisors, make sure your member has a GTCC, up to date in CGBI and have the qualifications required.   

*You will get multiple emails from DA through the process— when your request is entered, when your supervisor approves the request, when you are selected and when you’re sourced. Do not plan or deploy based on anything from DA. You will get a selection email from either the Surge Staffing Section, Atlantic Area, Pacific Area or your District Reserve Force Readiness Branch (DXR) that has accounting information and details.*      

Notification:  

• You will get a “Sourced” selection message and email from either the Surge Staffing Section, Atlantic Area, Pacific Area or your District’s DXR with accounting information and any other additional details. 
• This email needs to go to your local admin for processing. DO NOT DEPLOY WITHOUT ORDERS! 
• Reach out to your point of contact (POC) for reporting information. The reporting date may have passed—that’s okay. You need have those conversations with the POC. This is a must! 
• The POC will also provide you information on berthing, rental cars, gear needed etc. Pass this information to your local admins. 
• Ensure that you have or can get any required gear.  

• If you have a laptop that can access your Coast Guard Microsoft365 account, bring it! Computers can be limited. Check out this article for help with Manta. 

Post Notification: 

• You and your local admin will need to get your orders in DA. Each unit has different requirements, so be sure to work with your local admin and Reserve Force Readiness Staff (RFRS). 
• Follow you orders in DA located in your “Airport Terminal” 
• Contact your admin and ensure your GTCC limit is raised. Ask for $9999.00 if lodging is needed. 
• Go into ETS and make your travel reservations and authorizations. You can do before orders are processed. (https://e2.gov.cwtsatotravel.com/)  

• Follow-up and make sure the ETS authorization is approved. 

Reporting/During:   

• Complete your incident check-in if required!!!  
• Complete a CG-2025 and send to your local admin to let them know you arrived. You will get BAH based on your home zip code for orders over 30 days. 
• Complete the request for Family Separation Allowance CG-2035 and send to your admin if your orders are over 30 days. 
• Ask your admin about pay cut— know when you are getting paid. Check your leave and earning statement (LES) in DA to make sure you get paid correctly.  
• Call Tricare once orders are “Enroute”. You will get TRICARE. 
• If you have Tricare Reserve Select, you should not be paying for it during this time.   
• Understand your rights as a civilian employee and let your civilian employer know these rights by referencing the below: 
• The Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act (USERRA). 

• Employer Support of Guard and Reserve (esgr.mil). 

Returning Home/Post Incident: 

• Follow your departing unit’s directions for reporting home requirements. Let the departed unit and your admin know when you’re back home.  
• Verify DA orders are marked “Finished.” 
• Understand what should be in a DD214 (if eligible) using PPC user guides and work with your local admin to complete. 
• Call TRICARE: 
• Understand the Transistional Assistance Management Program (TAMP) and when you get it—TRICARE website lists eligibility. 
• Restart your Tricare Reserve Select if you have it. You will need to pay for two months to restart it.  

• File final travel voucher in ETS and pay your GTCC. 

Read more about insights for your future activations including pre/post mobilization tips and everything in between in the Reservist. 

-USCG- 

Resources: 

• Reservist Magazine (uscg.mil)