Is the Army's Reserve Component Imbalanced, Separate and Unequal?

Abstract

This Strategy Research Project argues that the Army's Reserve Component (RC) is imbalanced, separate, and unequal. The Army's RC is the largest Reserve Component within the Department of Defense (DoD), providing 50 percent of the Army's forces and capabilities. Even as the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan draw down and the defense budget is about to undergo a significant reduction, the Army's RC will have to be a relevant, efficient, and effective force provider capable of full-spectrum operations into the 21st century. Do the U.S. Army Reserve (USAR) and the Army National Guard (ARNG) have the composition necessary to give the Army's Active Component and national leaders more flexibility and more capabilities? This paper reviews the USAR's and ARNG's history, mission statement, composition, and current posture as RC force providers. The paper also presents two options for enhancing the capabilities, cost effectiveness, and efficiency of the Army's RC.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Mar 02, 2012
Accession Number
ADA561064

Entities

People

  • Tyrone D. Clifton

Organizations

  • United States Army War College

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Biomedical
  • Human Systems

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Command And Control
  • Contingency Operations (Military)
  • Department Of Defense
  • Governments
  • Homeland Security
  • Humanitarian Assistance
  • Law
  • Military History
  • Military Science
  • National Governments
  • National Guard
  • National Security
  • Students
  • United States Government
  • Vietnam War
  • War Colleges
  • Warfare

Readers

  • Military Mobilization and Reserve Forces Studies.