86 Proceedings Fall 2025 a partnership with National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, the National Park Service, and state agen- cies that resulted in 10 boardings, five issued citations, and two written warnings—highlighting the collabora- tive efforts among the Coast Guard and other government agencies in the region. Marine Safety and Enforcement in Remote Alaska The Coast Guard’s mission extends far beyond the urban- ized areas of Alaska. Reservists are frequently deployed to remote Western Alaskan and U.S. Arctic communities, where they conduct vessel inspections, oversee pollu- tion prevention measures, and ensure regulatory compliance in areas that are often hard to reach by other means. This also means engagement with dozens of feder- ally recognized Alaskan Native entities. In FY 2023, reservists performed more than 300 vessel examinations and 54 oil storage facility inspections, identify- ing over 130 deficiencies during 46 total days of training and support in remote Alaska. Identifying deficiencies allows community members to apply for grant monies for necessary repairs, reoutfitting, and equipment upgrades they may not otherwise have easy access to. Emergency Management and Response Support In addition to their regular duties, reservists participate in Arctic Marine Safety Task Force operations, contrib- uting to the formation of an Arctic coordination team tasked with enhancing the region’s response capacity. Reservists processed 236 sets of orders and managed more than $800,000 in travel funds for operations, according to inter- nal administrative records. Their cost-saving measures saved the Coast Guard more than $160,000. Their involve- ment extends beyond Alaska as they support nationwide emergency responses, includ- ing those for natural disasters, like hurricanes and wildfires, where their flexibility and rapid deployment capabilities prove invaluable. Nationwide Response: Beyond Alaska Sector Western Alaska and U.S. Arctic reservists are frequently called upon to participate in national disaster response efforts, demonstrating the critical importance of their role in supporting Coast Guard operations far beyond their home regions. In the past few years, they have been mobilized for: Hurricane Response Sector Western Alaska reservists have deployed to assist following major hurricanes in the Gulf of America and along the East Coast. Recently, this has included responses to Hurricanes Helene, Milton, Ida, and Ian in the United States and Typhoon Mawar in the Philippines. Their maritime safety and disaster response expertise has been critical in supporting recovery operations and coordinating relief efforts in the aftermath of devastat- ing storms. Maui Wildfires In the wake of the 2023 Maui wildfires in Hawaii, reserv- ists supported Federal Emergency Management Agency response efforts, coordinating operations to provide search and rescue, environmental response, and human- itarian relief efforts in a region grappling with unprec- edented devastation. Guantanamo Bay Operations As part of the Coast Guard’s global mission, reservists have supported Joint Task Force Guantanamo in Cuba for The Port of Valdez is the United States’ 24th busiest port for total tonnage, handling significant volumes of oil and gas from Alaskan oil fields. In preparation for spill responses, a Sector Western Alaska reservist, right, and state regulators monitor boom deployment during a geographic response strategy exercise. Coast Guard photo by Petty Officer 2nd Class Holly Bernosky
