Navy Reservists Train for Fleet Crisis Response

The Navy Reserve is the Navy's strategic advantage, with the operational level of war (OLW) enterprise sustaining warfighting readiness through high-impact, low-overhead effects and consistent community management and training.

Through a persistent drive toward holistic, cross-functional integration of the seven joint warfighting functions and shifts, MOC training weaves individual competence into collective, systemwide proficiency.

MAKO Flex provides the critical reps and sets participants need to integrate confidently and seamlessly onto the watch floor when crises strike. While Navy Reserve personnel participate in MAKO Sentry, MAKO Challenge and MAKO Storm events throughout the year, MAKO Flex provides an additional training opportunity that alternates geographically to maximize applicability, accessibility and fleet alignment. This year's bicoastal event took place at Expeditionary Warfare Training Group, Pacific, in San Diego and the Navy Warfare Development Center in Norfolk, Virginia.

"MAKO is more than a training event; it is a deliberate force-generation pipeline for Reserve operational-level warfighters," said Capt. Maggie Dean, Reserve Chief of Staff, U.S. Fleet Forces Command. "MAKO Flex gives Sailors practical exposure to fleet-specific missions and the processes that drive Maritime Operations Centers. Each event strengthens the Navy's ability to generate trained watchstanders at the scale and speed required for sustained maritime operations."

Focused on growth rather than certification, MAKO events operate as a process-driven learning lab. This low-risk, high-reward approach allows new and developing operational warfighters to gain vital exposure to joint warfighting functions without the pressure of a pass-fail qualification check.

During the four-day execution window, watchstanders learn to navigate complex command structures, manage communication flows and synthesize information under pressure. By prioritizing hands-on practice, MAKO Flex transforms theoretical classroom knowledge into muscle memory, ensuring that when watchstanders eventually transition to a live watch floor, they are already familiar with the standard products, processes and pacing.

"MAKO Flex mimics the exact command relationships and communication challenges of a live MOC by training reserve watchstanders in a simulated yet highly realistic environment," said Cmdr. Adam Boland, MAKO Flex deputy lead. "The event builds a deep bench of qualified, lethal and adaptable Sailors who are ready to stand the watch on day one."

Reserve Sailors providing critical MOC support rely on active and reserve collaboration to develop realistic training scenarios for MAKO events. While active-duty personnel manage competition phase operations with longer planning horizons, the transition to crisis and conflict, which includes advanced planning and additional watch stations, depends on reserve integration.

Fleet MOCs depend on Reserve Sailors to provide the operational depth required for sustained, round-the-clock competition, crisis and conflict. Through MAKO's deliberate, multistage training pipeline, the Navy Reserve is building and maintaining a global bench of OLW-qualified watchstanders who can integrate rapidly, reinforce fleet operations and deliver combat-ready capability.