Social justice issues were starting to eclipse the pandemic in terms of everyday conversation. Trying to keep politics out of the military is an endeavor meant to fail. Regardless, I challenged my members to be apolitical at work while exercising their constitutional rights.
Being in command is the most challenging and rewarding tour of a military career. My last US Coast Guard tour was as both Commander, Sector Columbia River and Commanding Officer, Air Station Astoria. I was in command from June 2018 to August 2021 and it was during this tour that the Covid-19 pandemic struck. As we all know it changed our lives in the most fundamental of ways.
While many companies were able to adopt a remote work strategy, the Armed Forces were required to continue to provide in-person response services while moving non-mission critical activities to a remote environment. While we continued to operate in siloed teams, the unit could no longer meet all together, in person. I recognized I would need to find another way to connect with my over 500 unit members.
I would need to find a new way to communicate. Leading without meeting, establishing a connection and creating a common bond with each of the over 500 members, was my new challenge. How was I going to lead without being able to meet in person? I took to the written word to not only communicate professional updates but also to connect with members on a personal level.
These thoughts were on my mind when I wrote the following to my unit.
June 19, 2020: Juneteenth and You
My fellow Americans,
Because that is what we are, fellow Americans. We may have different heritages mixed into our beings which is reflected in how we identify ourselves, but we are all Americans at the core. I confidently say this because we live in the United States of America and we believe in our society’s values. We are Americans who took an oath to the Constitution. We once again find ourselves in new-to-us territory. Together we’ve experienced an unprecedented government shutdown and associated lapse in pay. Then COVID-19 became a pandemic. And now our society is dealing with civil unrest at a scope we haven’t seen in a generation. Now, more than ever, we need to remember who we are as human beings, Coast Guard members, and Americans.
I sent out HATCH Act and social media guidance to help us understand what political activities are afforded to members of the military and civilians in the employ of the US government. It is attached to this email as a fresh and ready reference. Whether exercising your political voice or not, please remain aware of your surroundings and plan your activities accordingly. The CCG and MCPOCG sent out their Commander’s Intent on the subject earlier this month.
As today is Juneteenth, I wanted to take the opportunity to remind you of Sector Columbia River’s approach to not only the current conversation, but how we will conduct ourselves on a daily basis. My command philosophy is clear- Leadership is Doing the right thing, at the right time, for the right reason- especially when you think no one is watching; Partnership is E Pluribus Unum- together WE make the Service better; Encouragement is recognizing the world is a mean enough place and Sector Columbia River won’t add to it.
Every day I see and hear examples of how Coast Guard members are making a difference, on and off duty. Please continue to support each other and to build each other up. We have been in this together and together we will make it to the other side.
Regards,
CAPT Jeremy C. Smith
Commander, Sector Columbia River
Captain of the Port