Army Reserve: An Integral Part of the 21st Century Operational Force
Abstract
This paper examines the Army and Army Reserve future force plans, senior leader vision, Army Reserve history, structure, transformation, modernization, deployment and employment, and funding. It attempts to make some judgments about relevant policies and strategies and make actionable recommendations on the future of the Army Reserve. Culminating the first 100 years of its unique history, the Army Reserve has experienced an unprecedented and profound mobilization, operational tempo (OPTEMPO), and transformation while supporting the Army in the Global War on Terrorism (GWOT). Over six years of continuous deployments and sustained combat operations have severely stretched and stressed the nation's ground forces, including the Army Reserve. When the 2008 election ends the political landscape will change again, and the Army Reserve, while now in the midst of transforming itself into an operational force, will undoubtedly find itself existing and functioning within the context of altered, if not new, policy and strategies that will affect how the Army continues to prosecute "the long war" -- and perhaps with a severely constrained budget. Moreover, after military operations in Iraq and Afghanistan eventually end and military forces are subsequently withdrawn, the Army Reserve will need to be put back together along with the rest of the Army. The question remains, will we place the Army Reserve back on the proverbial shelf to become a strategic reserve of last resort again, or continue using it as a valued and effective operational force for the next 100 years?
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Mar 18, 2008
- Accession Number
- ADA493823
Entities
People
- David W. Spence
Organizations
- University of Texas at Austin