Sustaining the All-Volunteer Force in the Era of the Operational Army National Guard

Abstract

September 11, 2001 marks a significant evolution in the utilization of the Army National Guard (ARNG). Since that time, the ARNG has transitioned from a strategic reserve into an operational force. The ability of the ARNG to function as an operational force relies fundamentally on the ability to maintain the All-Volunteer Force (AVF). However, current trends within the population of the United States such as obesity, drug use, and decreased willingness to serve are decreasing the pool of eligible recruits and threatening the viability of the AVF. This monograph investigates shifts in societal demographics since 2001 and explores the resultant effects in an effort to frame the current recruiting environment. The monograph then examines current ARNG personnel data to understand the challenges facing the recruiting and retention force. Utilizing the analysis of the past seventeen years, the monograph proposes an operational approach to address both the symptoms of the decreasing recruit pool and the underlying root causes.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
May 24, 2018
Accession Number
AD1071070

Entities

People

  • Noah M. Genger

Organizations

  • School of Advanced Military Studies

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Biomedical

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Attention Deficit Disorder
  • Attrition
  • Demography
  • Employment
  • Enlisted Personnel
  • Health Services
  • Medical Personnel
  • Military Families
  • Military Personnel
  • National Guard
  • National Security
  • Psychiatry
  • Public Health
  • Recruiting
  • Recruits
  • United States
  • Urban Areas

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