Prior Service Personnel. A Potential Constraint on Increasing Reliance on Reserve Forces.
Abstract
This study addresses an important issue in determining the future size of active and reserve military forces. Some future force scenarios place greater reliance on reserve forces by large active force reductions and smaller reserve reductions. Such scenar ios assume that reserve readiness can be adequately maintained regardless of the extent of active reductions compared to reserve size. This study explores a potential constraint on reserve force reliance associated with limits on the availability of experienced active veterans for reserve service. The reserve force inventory of part-time personnel in FY89 used active force veterans (prior service) in about 45 percent of enlisted positions and over 55 percent of officer positions. These prior-active-service personnel fill an even greater proportion of higher-ranking reserve positions and certain critical skills, such as pilots. The current availability of active veterans would be expected to fall markedly with large reductions in the size of the active forces. Replacement with personnel without active service could result in a significantly less-experienced reserve force in those skills where prior active service may be important to reserve readiness. This study projects the future prior-active-service content of the reserve components under alternative active and reserve force size scenarios. This will aid policymakers in determining the possible limits to active force reduction in proportion to reserve force size. The study also begins to explore the ramifications of the potentially reduced supply of prior-service accessions for reserve personnel readiness and develops a research agenda for further study of this question.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Jan 01, 1994
- Accession Number
- ADA288860
Entities
People
- David W. Grissmer
- Jennifer Kawata
- Jerry Sollinger
- Richard Buddin
- Sheila N. Kirby
Organizations
- RAND Corporation