Ready, Reliable, and Relevant: The Army Reserve Component as an Operational Reserve

Abstract

The Army Reserve Component (RC) has a major role in America's Global War on Terror (GWOT). Over the past decade and a half, the Army National Guard (ARNG) and the United States Army Reserve (USAR) have mobilized hundreds of thousands of Soldiers in support of contingency operations in Iraq and Afghanistan, as well as to numerous other missions worldwide and throughout the Continental United States (CONUS). They have proven their capabilities and exceeded operational expectations, successfully transitioning from the strategic reserve force of the Cold War era to a well-trained and experienced operational reserve force of the GWOT era. The problem facing the Department of Defense (DOD), is determining the future utilization of RC forces, specifically their operational role, their implementation, and the development of a suitable mobilization authority that will support a broad spectrum of future operational requirements. This monograph presents two primary arguments. First, the Army RC should continue its role as an operational reserve in support of future operational requirements. Second, continuing the use of the Army RC as an operational reserve requires the implementation of a new mobilization authority, one that will be more lasting, functional, and suitable for the current operating environment. This monograph presents two key proposals including the sustainment of the RC as an operational reserve, and a comprehensive plan for the implementation of a new mobilization authority. The action plan for these proposals includes a recommended framework and guidelines for a new mobilization authority that will achieve the goals of maintaining the use of RC forces as an operational reserve while modernizing the mobilization process to meet the demands of the current operating environment.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
May 21, 2015
Accession Number
AD1001799

Entities

People

  • Kurt A. Rorvik

Organizations

  • School of Advanced Military Studies

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Biomedical
  • Human Systems

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Cold War
  • Contingency Operations (Military)
  • Department Of Defense
  • Employment
  • Governments
  • Humanitarian Assistance
  • Law
  • Military History
  • Military Operations
  • Military Reserves
  • Military Science
  • National Guard
  • National Security
  • Personnel Management
  • Systems Engineering
  • United States
  • Warfare

Readers

  • Joint Military Operations and Doctrine.
  • Maritime Combat Support and Expeditionary Logistics.
  • Military Mobilization and Reserve Forces Studies.