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NAPLES, Italy – Chief of Navy Reserve Vice Adm. Nancy Lacore’s initial fighting instruction in 2024 directed reservists to focus efforts on preparations and readiness to respond to the call when needed, “We will posture our Force for warfighting by accelerating the pace of organizational development and strengthening our warfighters. The Navy Reserve Force will be READY on DAY ONE!”
A key tenet of Lacore’s push for warfighter readiness, is reserve capacity to support Maritime Operations Centers (MOCs). In the event of a large-scale crisis or conflict, MOCs are where commanders will direct forces at the operational level of war (OLW).
To better support this need, the previously combined U.S. Naval Forces Europe-Africa (CNE-CNA)/Sixth Fleet (C6F) reserve units have realigned under two separate echelons, CNE-CNA (Echelon II) and C6F (Echelon III). This shift will allow Sailors to train on specific needs of their respective higher headquarters. These actions support a realignment of staffs with their active component that started after a surge in operations across the area of responsibility. “The events in the eastern [Mediterranean] were a catalyst for that,” said Capt. Matt Hawkins who led a team in the force design as reserve chief of staff (RCOS) for NR CNE-CNA. “[It’s important] getting the right manpower in place so that when we fill those billets with people, we have a structure in place to train them and optimize our warfighting readiness.”
Over the last few years, the Navy Reserve’s combined CNE-CNA and C6F units took this call to action seriously by delivering on needs and requests from their active-duty counterparts.
The reserve enterprise was then comprised of 13 units with approximately 500 billets and supported around 12 major exercises each year along with support to relief roles spanning a wide area of operations in Europe and Africa. Today, under the force redesign, the CNE-CNA and C6F Reserve Force structure comprises 17 units, with over 650 billets and Reserve members, which will continue to provide functionally aligned support to both Echelon II and III commands.
Since 2022, Sailors contributed to operations such as Eastern Mediterranean Operations (EMED OPS), Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR), the Sudan crisis, multinational naval exercises, and other maritime operations.
“When we got the call to support EMED OPS, we happened to be going through Unit in the Spotlight at our Navy Reserve Center,” said Capt. Kate Walker. “At the time, I served as Reserve Fleet Command Center Director. I wanted to take things further and be able to react to increased operations with greater strategic depth, so I proposed a plan to realign reserve capability for CNE-CNA and C6F. We’ve been fortunate to have had so much involvement and support from both the active and reserve components to move forward with our realignment plan,” added Capt. Walker who now serves as Reserve CNE/CNA Fires and Effects Director.
Walker is one of many Sailors assigned to CNE-CNA and C6F reserve units who quickly activated to support multiple operations from 2022 to now. In her most recent support role, Walker served as the fleet command center (FCC) director in Naples, Italy. Her team successfully turned over an all-active duty watch floor within one week of joining forces. Overall, they provided 227 days of support and over 5,000 hours of watch standing.
“Today’s Navy Reserve force is focused on warfighting readiness and real time support,” said Rear Adm. Larry Watkins, Acting Deputy Commander, U.S. Naval Forces Europe-Africa. “From exercises to real world needs, our Reserve Sailors have demonstrated that they’re capable, ready, and making a difference in this dynamic theater of operations.”
Walker said she believes her role in the FCC demonstrated how Reserve Sailors can complement active duty counterparts, so that when called upon, they are fully trained and qualified to support their “MOB-to-billet" assignment.
Walker said one reason she was able to deploy rapidly was because her family is supportive of her contributing to a mission she cares about. “I felt like I was exactly where I was supposed to be,” said Walker. “I’m fortunate that my family was understanding and supportive.” From maritime operations to multinational maritime exercises, Reserve Sailors advance partnership and interoperability.
Cutlass Express 2025, one of three African regional “Express” series exercises, brings together regional and international Allies and partners throughout East Africa and the Western Indian Ocean to improve combined maritime law enforcement capacity, promote national and regional security. Reservists provided MOC training and guidance to partner nation watchstanders at different locations throughout the exercise.
Overall, enterprise-wide in fiscal year 2024, CNE-CNA and C6F Reserve Sailors completed just over 6,000 days of Active Training, 3,372 days of Active Duty Training. This represents a 26 percent increase in overall training days from the previous fiscal year. “The tasks our units, our Reserve force, has accomplished over the last few years are phenomenal,” said Capt. Suzanne Krauss, commanding officer of NR C6F HQ. “From operations supporting the Joint Forces Maritime Component Command for Ukraine response, Türkiye HADR, Sudan evacuations, to eastern Mediterranean support of United States Naval Forces Central Command for events in Gaza. We’ve asked a lot from our team. Our Nation and our Navy has asked a lot from our team and they continue to deliver!”
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