The Challenges of an Operationalized National Guard and a Militia Alternative
Abstract
The National Guard contributes nearly half of the total combat forces currently employed in both Operations Enduring Freedom and Iraqi Freedom and a majority of Operation Noble Eagle. The Department of Defense must acknowledge this increasingly unsustainable pace and toll of domestic and overseas tasking for the National Guard as the Guard attempts to fulfill its statutory requirements under Titles 10 and 32 of United States Code. The thesis of this paper is that the National Guard can not adequately support the dual status requirements of the states and the nation as an operationalized reserve engaged in the War on Terror and that reconstituting a traditional militia construct would provide the nation an affordable, legal, adequately trained and equipped citizenry which is relevant to the state governors and USNORTHCOM for employment in domestic and defensive crises. A dedicated and properly resourced traditional militia would permit the continued employment of the Air and Army National Guard as vital operational reserve forces to the active duty forces supporting the Geographic Combatant Commands overseas military combat and contingency operations. Such an institution would give members of the All Volunteer Force several new enlistment options in their decision to serve the nation.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Jun 13, 2008
- Accession Number
- ADA487297
Entities
People
- D. E. Gelinas
Organizations
- National Defense University