Improving the Marine Corps Reserve Infantry Battalion: Manning, Training, Integration, and Retention

Abstract

Since the terrorist attacks of 11 September 2001 (9/11), the Global War on Terrorism's (GWOT) operational tempo has required a heavier reliance on Marine Corps Reserve Forces to augment and reinforce active duty mission requirements. Recognizing that all Marine Corps reserve infantry battalions have deployed at least once in support of the GWOT, further improvements in the manning, training, integration, and retention within the reserve infantry battalion will greatly enhance the combat readiness of the unit. Assigned identical missions as their active duty counterparts, reserve infantry battalions' combat readiness must be maintained. Current Department of Defense (DoD) policy aims to decrease a deployment-to-dwell ratio from 1:3 to 1:5 for reserve Marines. By implementing manning, training, integration, and retention changes within the reserve infantry battalion, drastic readiness improvements are possible in a short period of time. As the Marine Corps active duty authorized end strength is projected to reach 202,000 by the end of Fiscal Year 2010, the Selected Marine Corps Reserve (SMCR) retains a constant authorized end strength of 39,600. The pressure on active duty accession and retention will create a more difficult recruiting environment for the SMCR in the near future. Therefore, manning the correct number of qualified Marines with the appropriate rank and Primary Military Occupational Specialty (PMOS) within reserve infantry battalions is vitally important. With current Marine Corps retention incentives and programs, cohesive leadership remains another critical vulnerability in the realm of retention within a reserve infantry battalion. Frequent officer billet changes unnecessarily create a more challenging environment. In addition to the current reserve accession and retention being utilized within the Marine Corps, a proposal is for officers to submit obligatory commitments when joining a reserve infantry battalion.

Open PDF

Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Jan 01, 2008
Accession Number
ADA490662

Entities

People

  • Ross A. Parrish

Organizations

  • Marine Corps University

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Human Systems
  • Weapons Technologies

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Combat Operations
  • Combat Readiness
  • Department Of Defense
  • Education
  • Employment
  • Iraqi-War
  • Management Personnel
  • Marine Corps
  • Military Personnel
  • Military Science
  • National Security
  • Organizational Structure
  • Personnel Management
  • Students
  • Training
  • United States
  • Warfare

Readers

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