FORT WORTH, Texas –
Commander, Navy Reserve Forces Command, Rear Adm. John A. Schommer visited Sailors at Navy Region Southeast Reserve Component Command Fort Worth (CNRSE RCC FTW) and Navy Operational Support Center (NOSC) Fort Worth, Oct. 22.
During his visit, Schommer addressed the staff and praised the region’s global pandemic response efforts as pioneers in streamlining the mobilization process.
“The Full-Time Support Sailors (FTS) of Navy Region Southeast Fort Worth demonstrated their outstanding ability to mobilize hundreds of Sailors earlier this year in response to the COVID-19 pandemic,” said Schommer. “The Navy Reserve is now implementing a Distributed Mobilization model that will leverage multiple existing processing sites to meet mobilization requirements more effectively, expanding our mobilization capacity in response to Great Power Competition (GPC).”
Schommer explained the importance of the Distributed Mobilization model for the Navy Reserve during an era of GPC. He also discussed how the Navy Reserve is continuing to take a hard look at how it maintains warfighting readiness.
“Our core purpose in the Navy Reserve enterprise is to design, generate and maintain a ready, lethal force, providing critical strategic depth to our Navy,” said Schommer. “As Reservists, strategic depth is ours to own, and every minute and every penny of our support to our Selected Reservist (SELRES) Sailors should prepare, enhance and sustain their warfighting readiness in their strategic depth role.”
Staff members expressed gratitude for Schommer’s visit.
“We really appreciate the admiral taking time to communicate important mission updates and answer questions from the staff,” said Yeoman 1
st Class Juanita Armstrong, a Reserve Sailor on definite recall orders to the RCC, who was handpicked to join the Distributed Mobilization team. “The information he provided was very helpful to me in understanding the significance in each of our individual roles as they relate to maintaining readiness.”
“Rear Adm. Schommer’s comments on expanded roles of Reserve Component medical units and their dedicated mission to positively affect medical readiness within the Reserve Force will serve as the cornerstone of future readiness,” said Senior Chief Hospital Corpsman Jared Knogge, CNRSE RCC FTW medical department leading chief petty officer.
NOSC Fort Worth Commanding Officer Capt. Chan H. Shin shared his thoughts on his team’s ability to remain agile in performance of their duties while providing mission support throughout the pandemic.
“I am truly impressed with our FTS staff and SELRES Sailors’ flexibility and commitment as they rapidly adjusted to this new process and successfully mobilized and deployed these Sailors to fight on the frontline of the COVID-19 pandemic,” he said.
CNRSE RCC FTW Commander Capt. Mark A. Hofmann spoke with high regard about the concerted efforts of his region’s RCC and its 20 NOSCs located across seven states.
“I’m proud of all the important coordination being completed by our Sailors and civilians at multiple echelons, because their work will allow us to respond to the kind of rapid-onset crisis that is likely to occur during an era of GPC,” said Hofmann. “The Distributed Mobilization model we used to mobilize for COVID-19 support is something we’re perfecting now with our NOSC staffs in generating mobilization readiness and our RCC staff in refining how to deliver it rapidly, at scale. Our SELRES are laser-focused on warfighting readiness so they’re ready to fight from Day One — and Day One could be tomorrow.”
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