Port safety and security comprised 26 percent while marine environmental protection accounted for 13 percent. Other operational programs, including law enforcement, aids to navigation, merchant vessel inspection, defense operations, boating safety and vessel traffic services, made up the balance of routine augmentation activities. During September 1999, operational commanders requested and received authority to involuntarily recall up to 350 reservists in anticipation of rescue and recovery operations following Hurricane Floyd. During the past decade, Coast Guard Reservists have responded to 33 emergencies, local and regional disasters, and military contingencies. In all, reservists provided over 250,000 workdays of surge support.
Reservists provide non-crisis surge support, too.
For instance, the Coast Guard relies heavily on reservists to help run its many seasonal units, including small boat stations. Operation Summerstock recently completed its 27th consecutive year with reservists from throughout the nation helping to operate 14 stations on the Great Lakes during the busy summer months. Activities in support of defense contingencies comprised over 45 percent of contingency and surge operations in FY 1999. Reservists from the Joint Reserve Unit at the U.S. Transportation Command at Scott Air Force Base, Ill. supported NATO combat operations in Kosovo. The above examples demonstrate the Reserve Component's relevancy to today's Coast Guard.