Reserves Lauded as Force Multipliers
Navy NewsStand
Story Number: NNS090308-02
Release Date: 3/8/2009 8:40:00 AM
By Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class (SW) Michael Starkey, Iwo Jima Expeditionary Strike Group Public Affairs
USS IWO JIMA, At Sea (NNS) -- The Iwo Jima Expeditionary Strike Group (ESG) recognized the Navy Reserve's contributions as part of the Reserve's 94th birthday ceremony aboard the multi-purpose amphibious assault ship USS Iwo Jima (LHD 7) March 3.
"The Navy Reserve has been instrumental to the success of Navy operations since its inception", said Capt. Brian T. Smith, commander, Iwo Jima ESG.
"Part of active-reserve integration is to ensure an ongoing partnership between the Navy's Reserve and active components," said Smith. "It's important to get Sailors, both active and reserve, together to celebrate the birthday of the Navy Reserve, an organization that has contributed so much to the Navy's war fighting capabilities for so many years."
As described in its mission statement, the mission of the Navy Reserve is to provide strategic depth and deliver operational capabilities to the Navy and Marine Corps team and joint forces, during peace or war. Focal areas for the Navy Reserve emphasize the ability to deliver a ready and accessible force, provide valued capabilities and enable the continuum of service.
Smith and Capt. Larry D. Grippin, deputy commander, Iwo Jima ESG, have made Navy history by becoming the first selected Reservists to jointly lead an ESG.
Grippin also shared his thoughts about the Navy Reserve.
"It was important to hold this ceremony today to recognize the significant accomplishments of the Navy Reserve, not only the contributions within the Iwo Jima Expeditionary Strike Group, but collectively throughout the world," said Grippin.
"And as we look to the future, we recognize that today's Navy Reserve is a true force multiplier that is capable of serving across a wide spectrum of operations."
Joining Smith and Grippin to cut the ceremonial cake was Operations Specialist 2nd Class (SW) Jennifer Roe, a Reservist from Navy Operational Support Center (NOSC) Bessemer, Ala.
"The reserves help by integrating with their active-duty counterparts," said Roe. "They contribute a very important role to active-duty Navy and Marines.
"The Navy Reserve contributes with individual augmentees (IA) in Afghanistan and elsewhere in the Middle East, and they fill essential roles when the Navy needs people during natural disasters such as Hurricane Katrina."
Accomplishments such as filling IA billets and Hurricane Katrina relief efforts are two recent examples of the support that the Navy Reserve has provided throughout its history.
"The Navy's Reserve component had its origin in the state naval militias of the late 1800s and, in fact, some states still retain a state naval militia," said Smith. "On March 3, 1915, Congress established the federal Naval Reserve as an augmentation force for the active component. Nearly two million Sailors served during World War II, and 80 percent were members of the Naval Reserve."
Smith also noted that in the 2006 National Defense Authorization Act, Congress re-designated the "Naval Reserve" to the "Navy Reserve" to better reflect the Navy Reserve's role as the United States Navy's reserve component.
"Since 9/11, more than 55,300 Navy Reserve Sailors have served on IAs. Representing less than 20 percent of the Navy's total force, our Reserve component Sailors have filled nearly half the Navy's IA requirements.
"Much of the Navy's contribution to Operations Iraqi Freedom and Enduring Freedom has been supported by the Navy Reserve," concluded Smith. "They have stepped up to the plate and gone on active duty, left their families and jobs, and gone off to fight our nation's wars.
"The Navy's active and Reserve components have never been more integrated and aligned than today, and the Navy simply couldn't perform its missions without its Reserve component. That's a very important thing to remember."
The Iwo Jima ESG is deployed to the U.S. Navy's 5th and 6th Fleet area of operations in support of maritime security operations (MSO). MSO help develop security in the maritime environment. From security arises stability that results in global economic prosperity. MSO complements the counterterrorism and security efforts of regional nations and seeks to disrupt violent extremists' use of the maritime environment as a venue for attack or to transport personnel, weapons or other material
For more news from Iwo Jima Expeditionary Strike Group, visit www.navy.mil/local/iwoesg/.
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