The Army National Guard and Transformation: Relevance for Ongoing and Future Missions

Abstract

Increasingly, since the end of Desert Storm, the Army National Guard (ARNG) has conducted more overseas missions with fewer resources. In operations since the events of 9/11, mobilizations are at their highest levels since World War II. The ARNG has done this using a "Cold War" force structure and mobilization process to "call-up" units and individuals "as needed" while simultaneously supporting domestic missions. Most agree that the ARNG must change to meet the expectation that it is now required as an operational force vice a strategic reserve. The primary question this monograph seeks to answer is as follows: How should the ARNG change to meet this new role? Some advocate a return to a strategic reserve role or specializing portions of the ARNG to meet specific needs in Stability and Civil Support Operations. The Army is suggesting transforming the ARNG through three initiatives that will provide a capabilities-based solution vice specializing force structure for specific missions. The ARNG transformation approach appears to provide the best solution for operating in the new environment. However, for this transformation to be functional, the Army and the ARNG must overcome traditional issues based on their relationship that dates back to the early 20th Century. The ARNG fills a dual role and has an expectation to respond to domestic as well as foreign contingencies. The operational nature of the ARNG now requires that domestic mission planning receive the priority that overseas contingencies receive to allow alignment of resources with tasks across the spectrum of operations. Further, the Army must resource the ARNG to its full level of requirements vice the previous method of tiered funding. Addressing these two issues allows the transforming ARNG to function properly as an operational force as required for national security.

Open PDF

Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
May 25, 2006
Accession Number
ADA450634

Entities

People

  • Charles B. Tierney

Organizations

  • United States Army Command and General Staff College

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Biomedical
  • C4I
  • Human Systems
  • Weapons Technologies

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Cold War
  • Command And Control
  • Deployment
  • Disasters
  • Force Structure
  • Governments
  • Homeland Defense
  • Homeland Security
  • Humanitarian Assistance
  • Law
  • Military Organizations
  • National Guard
  • National Security
  • Personnel Management
  • Security
  • United States
  • Warfare

Readers

  • Military Mobilization and Reserve Forces Studies.
  • Strategic Security Studies