Coast Guard Sector Upper Mississippi River receives award for reserve program

ST. LOUIS — Coast Guard Sector Upper Mississippi River received the Adm. Bennett Sparks Award, Monday, for having the most successful Military Reserve Integration Program in the Coast Guard for reserve forces of less than 100.

Sector UMR issued more than 160 orders to reservists to respond to flooding on the Red and Missouri rivers, to assist with the Deepwater Horizon oil spill recovery and to assist with maritime security operations.

“The coalescence of active duty and reserve members ensures better mission execution and aligns our personnel and missions with our commanding officer's vision of ensuring we stand fast to the Coast Guard's Core Values of honor, respect and devotion to duty," said Linda Robinson, head of the Reserve Forces Readiness program for Sector UMR.

Sector UMR is the largest Coast Guard sector in the lower 48 states with an area of responsibility comprised of 11 states and 2,000 miles of commercially navigable, waterways which constitute the upper portion of the Mississippi River, the Illinois River, the Missouri River and their tributaries. The waterway systems include over 33 locks and dams, 238 bridges and seven major population centers. The sector is staffed by more than 277 active duty, reserve, and civilian personnel as well as a variety of unique assets including five cutters and three marine safety detachments.

For more information on the award or on Sector UMR's reserve program contact Lt. j.g. Colin Fogarty at (314) 269-2546 or Lt. Timothy Marriot at (314) 269-2541.

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