The following post was sent by Fleet Admiral Les Rickard on December 27, 2006 concerning the deployment of his US Navy Reserve unit in the War on Terror. Several years before, the Fleet Admiral had voluntarily enlisted in the US Navy Reserves.

Please Crosspost As Appropriate

Greetings STARFLEET,
I come to everyone, at the close of this Christmas Season to report that I have recently been informed that I will be spending next Christmas in a much different place. I have received orders to Mobilize in early 2007 for Deployment to the Middle East. This deployment will stretch the length of 2007 and into early 2008. As a reservist this does not come as a surprise to me. I signed aboard to support the United States Navy in whatever capacity is needed.
I immediately informed those closest to me and those that serve with me in STARFLEET. I sought out the advise of close friends in and out of STARFLEET, my Executive Committee and my family. After those discussions and some significant soul searching I have determined that I can continue to serve as your Commander, STARFLEET - regardless of my physical location.
I researched the level of communication I will have at my ultimate duty station. I consulted with my unit sponsor, those sailors and soldiers that have been deployed where I will be and spoke to my unit Command Master Chief. Based on those communications I determined that I will have uninterupted access to electronic, voice and US Mail communication while deployed.
I believe that with a dedicated Staff, an Executive Committee that stands behind me 100% and the understanding of each and every member of STARFLEET I will do all I can to continue to serve as your Commander, STARFLEET.
This decision wasn't easy and it is certainly not binding. I know that once in theater I may discover it is a more challenging endeavor than I thought and require me to stand down as Commander, STARFLEET. That is a decision I am prepared to make, but not before I give it a concerted effort. I felt that I could not step away without, at the very least, making an attempt to fullfill the obligation I took to STARFLEET as well as the one I made to the United States Navy.
In the coming weeks prior to my deployment I will be informing the entire Fleet of necessary changes for me to function while a world away from my home. Some of these changes are a long time in coming and some are short term that have become needed in light of my change in
location.
I felt I should report this to the Fleet without any further delay. But my family and I are still away from home for the holidays and will return home this Friday. Until then I will have sporadic online
access, but will be back online fully at the end of the week.
Thank you for your support. I ask that you please remember all of the Soldiers, Sailors and Marines that are away from thier families, serving in harms way during this Christmas Season.
Onward,
FADM Les Rickard
Commander, STARFLEET
Space Station William D Leahy SFR-101
Flagship of the STARFLEET