The Challenges of Staffing an Operational Reserve with Citizen Soldiers

Abstract

The U.S. has been a nation at war for well over a decade. As it continues to wage the war against terror, it also deals with significant fiscal challenges which help facilitate a change in military strategy. This change in strategy includes the utilization of the National Guard as an operational reserve. The operational reserve concept makes economic and strategic sense for America and the citizen Soldier is perfectly willing and capable to carry out that mission. As a result, future requirements of the National Guard are anticipated to remain high, relative to any peacetime period in recent history. The subsequent operations tempo, deployments, and required training time will create increased challenges for the citizen Soldier and their employers. This paper will examine the history and evolution of the National Guard from a strategic reserve to an operational reserve. It will explore the associated challenges and offer recommendations to assist in overcoming those challenges.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Mar 01, 2013
Accession Number
ADA590214

Entities

People

  • Roger A. Presley Jr.

Organizations

  • United States Army War College

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Biomedical
  • Human Systems

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Deployment
  • Education
  • Employment
  • Families (Human)
  • Homeland Defense
  • Law
  • Military Personnel
  • Military Science
  • Militia
  • National Guard
  • National Security
  • Organizational Structure
  • Personnel Management
  • Students
  • Training
  • United States
  • War Colleges

Readers

  • Military Mobilization and Reserve Forces Studies.
  • Systems Analysis and Design