SAN DIEGO –
Enlisted Sailors in the Navy Reserve are stepping up at the Operational Level of War (OLW), bridging the gap between strategy and tactical execution. No longer confined to traditional roles, they bring vital technical expertise to Maritime Operations Centers (MOCs), driving mission planning, coordination, and execution.
Rear Adm. Grant Mager (Ret.), former Reserve Deputy Commander of U.S. Third Fleet and OLW Flag Champion, saw firsthand how enlisted Sailors are reshaping OLW. “The Operational Level of War connects military strategy with tactics,” Mager explained. “It’s the middle echelon across the Joint Force that operationalizes strategy into action.”
While OLW has always been part of the Navy Reserve’s mission, recent shifts in global security priorities have magnified its importance. In 2020, Vice Adm. John B. Mustin (Ret.), the 15th Chief of Navy Reserve, emphasized this in his Fighting Instructions to the Reserve Force, highlighting OLW’s expanding role.
“For twenty years, during the Global War on Terrorism (GWOT), Navy Reserve Individual Augmentees were a backbone to our nation’s OLW manning, particularly in places like Iraq and Afghanistan,” said Navy Reserve Force Master Chief Tracy L. Hunt. “As we shift from GWOT to the new global security environment where international players like China and Russia challenge our way of life, Vice Adm. Mustin recognizes that we can employ that capability and capacity to become the OLW expertise for the Navy.”
OLW takes strategic objectives and turns them into actionable operations. While OLW has traditionally been associated with officers, enlisted Sailors bring critical functional and technical expertise to the planning and execution table.
In OLW units, enlisted Sailors operate at a strategic level that differs from their traditional roles. They apply their expertise in logistics, intelligence, and communications, influencing decisions on ship movements, flight schedules, and overall mission readiness. Their work demands precision and a comprehensive understanding of the Navy’s operational goals.
Master Chief Eileen Dickey, OLW Force Design Senior Enlisted Leader, highlights the impact enlisted Sailors have in these roles. “OLW billets allow you to shape real-world Fleet maneuver warfare,” she explained. “You may be planning what ships and strike groups get underway, when the Navy and Joint Force need aircraft to execute missions, or when amphibious operations will take place. Warfighting-aligned opportunities are available for every Sailor to get after their mob-to-billet training and allow a broader understanding of the Navy.”
The Navy Reserve equips the Navy and the Joint Force with highly skilled, warfighting-ready Sailors who are prepared to step into any MOC worldwide, ready to contribute from day one. Enlisted Sailors in particular are critical to the Navy’s ability to bring the expertise, agility, and depth needed to meet today’s strategic challenges, proving that the Navy Reserve is not just a force in reserve, but a force in action, shaping the Navy’s future at the Operational Level of War.