The Army Reserve and U.S. National Defense Strategy.
Abstract
The study examines the increased requirements placed on the Army Reserve by the national defense strategy and evaluates the Army Reserve's operational capability to support that strategy. It bases the evaluation on an examination of six factors in the Army Reserve's external environment and six features of the Army Reserve's internal workings. By reviewing the positive and negative aspects of the Army Reserve's capabilities, the study arrives at four major operational areas in which the Army Reserve is underdeveloped. The study finds that although the Army has made progress in closing the Reserve operational gaps, the systems needed to support the much enlarged Army Reserve have not been sufficiently developed and the Army is neither resourced nor organized to provide the necessary systems. The study concludes that the U.S. national leaders should either change the national defense strategy or, alternatively, improve the Army Reserve's operational capabilities. Such improvements require not only a commitment by the Army but also, critically, a decision by OSD to support the Reserve portion of the national defense strategy.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Apr 18, 1988
- Accession Number
- ADA194829
Entities
People
- David S. Ritterpusch
Organizations
- United States Army War College