An Indispensable Force: Investing in America's National Guard and Reserves
Abstract
Though the United States required more and more from its National Guard and Reserves after the Sept. 11 attacks, the U.S. government initially failed to recognize the fundamental changes needed to support Guardsmen and Reservists as they deployed repeatedly abroad and protected the homeland. Then, as use of the Guard and Reserves in Afghanistan and Iraq peaked in 2005, Congress created the Commission on the National Guard and Reserves and directed it to evaluate immediate wartime needs as well as enduring U.S. national security interests. The commission's final January 2008 report, featuring six major conclusions and 95 recommendations, concluded that the U.S. government had "no reasonable alternative?" but to rely increasingly on the Guard and Reserves as an operational force that could participate routinely in ongoing military missions at home and abroad. It urged the U.S. government to train, equip and manage the Guard and Reserves in a manner commensurate with their invaluable role in protecting the nation. Two years later, how much progress has the U.S. government made toward implementing the commission's recommendations? To answer this critical question, the Center for a New American Security (CNAS) partnered with the former commissioners to evaluate continuing challenges and to propose potential solutions. To help advance reform efforts, this report identifies and offers recommendations in five thematic areas where further progress is most urgently needed: roles and missions (including homeland response and civil support), readiness, cost, education and the "continuum of service" concept of flexible personnel management.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Sep 01, 2010
- Accession Number
- ADA529304
Entities
People
- John Nagl
- Travis Sharp
Organizations
- Center for a New American Security