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  ![](media/image1.jpeg){width="1.875in"      2100 Second Street, S.W.\
  height="0.6722222222222223in"}Commandant\   Washington, DC 20593-0001\
  United States Coast Guard                   Staff Symbol: G-ICA\
                                              Phone: (202) 366-4280\
                                              FAX: (202) 366-7124

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**DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY**

**U. S. COAST GUARD**

**STATEMENT OF**

**CHIEF PETTY OFFICER DOUGLAS GILMER**

**ON HIS EXPERIENCES AS A MOBILIZED**

**COAST GUARD RESERVIST**

**BEFORE THE**

**COMMISSION ON THE NATIONAL GUARD AND RESERVES**

**JULY 19, 2006**

Good afternoon, Mr. Chairman and distinguished members of the
Commission. It is a pleasure to appear before you today.

You have already heard from the senior leadership of the Coast Guard,
including Admirals Venuto and Acton, and Master Chief Smith. I believe
their testimony summed up quite well where the Coast Guard Reserve is
headed as the Coast Guard's ready surge force for Maritime Homeland
Security, National Defense and domestic disaster response and recovery.
Today, I wish to share my perspectives as an enlisted Coast Guard
Reservist mobilized in the wake of the terrorist attacks on America.

Let me begin my introducing myself. I am Douglas G. Gilmer, Chief Port
Security Specialist, U. S. Coast Guard Reserve, currently assigned to
Coast Guard Sector Baltimore. I joined the Coast Guard Reserve in 1998,
a few years after ending my service as an Infantryman in the Virginia
Army National Guard. In civilian life, I am a Senior Special Agent for
the Department of Homeland Security, U.S. Customs and Immigration
Enforcement.

Like other Americans, I watched the terrorist assault unfold on the
morning of September 11, 2001. That day, I received a telephone call
notifying me that I would be mobilized for homeland security operations.
The next day, I reported to Coast Guard Marine Safety Office Wilmington,
North Carolina, where I spent six months directly involved in Maritime
Homeland Security duties, both ashore and at sea conducting security
boardings on foreign merchant vessels inbound to the United States. I am
one of the thousands of Coast Guard Reservists called up under Title 10
of the United States Code since 9/11. Many, like me, served in the
United States and were separated from our families by a few hours.
Others were geographically more distant, including those who have served
in the Middle East, or stood watch at Guantanamo Bay. All of us
volunteered to be Reservists, and most of us, I'm sure, are quite proud
to have had the opportunity to serve our country when it needed us most.

Like other Reservists, I want to know that my civilian job is protected
when I am called away from it to serve my country. I'm happy to report
that I have had no reemployment problems resulting from my mobilization.
But I believe this is a concern for everyone, regardless of whether they
work in federal, state or local government, or in the private sector.
Reemployment rights, job and financial security make it easier for
dedicated citizen-soldiers, sailors, Marines, Airmen and Coast Guardsmen
to make the other sacrifices military service places upon them during
times like these. Reservists, regardless of branch of service, need to
know that their civilian jobs and financial security are protected while
deployed. More than one Reservist has commented to me on the irony of
serving to secure the homeland at the cost of losing a home. Yet,
despite financial hardships, all of them were glad to serve.

Like other Reserve and Guard members recalled since 9/11, I sincerely
appreciate efforts by Congress to improve fairness and parity with our
active-duty counterparts by passing new laws establishing improved
benefits and entitlements for those who have been mobilized. The
implementation of such benefits and entitlements is a tangible reminder
to those who serve that their country does care and that their service
does matter. But as you have heard from others regarding these new,
proposed or recently enhanced benefits, simplification would be much
appreciated. When individuals must sort out which of myriad entitlements
they or their dependents have earned based on mobilization authority,
duration of service, duty status, or other factors, the risk that a
benefit will go unused greatly increases. This only serves to place
unneeded stress on service members and their families at a time when so
many other stressful events are unfolding in their lives.

> The events following 9/11 resulted in an immediate transformation of
> the Guard and Reserve forces. Some individuals found themselves
> performing jobs for which they may or may not have been trained or, in
> some cases, jobs they were not well equipped to perform. In my own
> experience, we were faced with not having enough qualified law
> enforcement personnel, or sufficient boats and cutters needed to
> perform our mission were in short supply, or sometimes non-existent. I
> don't mention this to begrudge my own service, and I believe the
> situation has significantly improved, but inadequate training and
> equipment can render a tremendous blow to the morale of individuals
> who want to do a good job, but are hindered in doing so. Training and
> equipment resources must be available and relevant to our Reserve
> forces, and the implementation of training and equipment must keep
> pace with our missions, as well as expected operations tempo and
> contingency requirements.

The reasons each of us joined in the first place probably vary widely.
For some, it may have been direct financial incentives such as
enlistment and affiliation bonuses, or extra pay for accepting orders to
high-priority units. For others, benefits such as the Montgomery GI Bill
and Tuition Assistance attracted us to serve in the Coast Guard Reserve.
For all of us, patriotism is a common denominator in our decision to put
on the uniform -- and to keep putting it on. In my own case, I am
particularly attracted to how my job in the Coast Guard Reserve, which
directly impacts our Maritime Homeland Security, fits well with my very
similar civilian role as a law-enforcement officer within the Department
of Homeland Security. Right now, I help train active-duty and Reserve
Coast Guard members in performing Maritime Homeland Security duties. I'm
proud of what I do, and I look forward to many more years of Coast Guard
service. In fact, my current enlistment expires in December, and I
intend to reenlist in the Coast Guard Reserve. I plan to continue my
unique role as both a part-time and full-time employee of the
Department. If the call comes again to mobilize, I'm ready. Semper
Paratus!

In closing, I'm honored to have the privilege and the opportunity today
to represent ordinary Coast Guard Reserve enlisted members before this
Commission. I salute each of you for your willingness to serve on this
important Commission, and I once again wish to thank you for inviting me
to share my thoughts and observations. I will be happy to answer any
questions you may have.