Commission on the National Guard and Reserves
Abstract
As we undertake our assignment, the Commission is mindful of the long and honored history of the National Guard and Reserves. More than a hundred years before the birth of the United States military, the concept of the reserves was adopted in the American colonies. Then, as now, citizen-patriots were called on to provide for the common defense and to secure the homeland in time of need. America s founding fathers recognized the importance to our young nation of a wellregulated militia composed of citizens trained in military skills, and they enshrined this doctrine in the United States Constitution. Yet they disagreed over the policies governing these pioneer reservists, including the issues of control, funding, roles, and preparedness. Many of those questions have remained unresolved over the life of our Republic, persisting to this day. Throughout these debates, however, one constant has remained. Americans have always answered the nation s call. In times of war and peace, at home and abroad, they have remained faithful guardians of the country s freedoms, safety, and security. As Senator John Warner told the Commission, They took up arms when they were most desperately needed, and returned to civilian life to imbue our society with a greater sense of patriotism, service to others, and self-sacrifice. 1 That storied tradition of service and sacrifice continues today. In the words of Congressman Duncan Hunter, America s citizen-soldiers serving in the National Guard and Reserves are the heart and soul of our country . . . good Americans who come together for the purpose of helping the country. And shaping the Guard and Reserve is something that is now increasingly critical to our national security future. 2 Ours is a time of unprecedented challenge for the reserve components.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Jun 05, 2006
- Accession Number
- ADA476472