Army National Guard's Role as an Operational Force

Abstract

While the United States (U.S.) continues to struggle with government debt and the implications of a balanced budget, the Department of Defense quickly moves towards budgetary cuts and manpower downsizing. Cuts to the military budget will shift the priorities and funding support of the Army National Guard (ARNG). Future allocation of funds should be associated with a unit's Army Force Generation (ARFORGEN). Cost analysis history shows the ARNG could be a less expensive operational force to maintain in a fiscally restrained environment. This paper considers the implications of reduced fiscal funding, historical trends, the impact specific to the ARNG, and possible options for senior leaders to maintain an operational force in the National Guard. A viable, ready, and relevant ARNG capable of deploying operationally based on the units Army Force Generation will help senior military leaders meet the National Security Strategy requirements.

Open PDF

Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Mar 01, 2013
Accession Number
ADA589386

Entities

People

  • Jerry L. Morrison

Organizations

  • United States Army War College

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Biomedical
  • Human Systems
  • Space

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Budgets
  • Contingency Operations (Military)
  • Cost Analysis
  • Costs
  • Department Of Defense
  • Governments
  • Homeland Security
  • Military Budgets
  • Military Science
  • Military Training
  • National Guard
  • National Security
  • Security
  • United States
  • Vietnam War
  • War Colleges
  • Warfare

Readers

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