This report identifies emerging policy lessons regarding the use of, and reforms to, the U.S. Army's Reserve Components (RCs) as an operational reserve derived from analyses of their contributions to Operations Enduring Freedom, Iraqi Freedom, New Dawn, and other recent contingency operations. These lessons can be applied to sustain the readiness of the U.S. Army Reserve and Army National Guard in future contingencies.

Sustaining the Army's Reserve Components as an Operational Force

Christopher M. Schnaubelt, Raphael S. Cohen, Molly Dunigan, Gian Gentile, Jaime L. Hastings, Joshua Klimas, Jefferson P. Marquis, Agnes Gereben Schaefer, Bonnie L. Triezenberg, Michelle D. Ziegler

ResearchPublished Jun 12, 2017

This report identifies emerging policy lessons regarding the use of, and reforms to, the U.S. Army's Reserve Components (RCs) as an operational reserve derived from analyses of their contributions to Operations Enduring Freedom, Iraqi Freedom, New Dawn, and other recent contingency operations. These lessons can be applied to sustain the readiness of the U.S. Army Reserve and Army National Guard in future contingencies.

Using historical and quantitative analyses, combined with in-depth interviews, this report documents the evolution of the policies involved in the development and employment of the operational reserve. It assesses the impact of operational reserve policies on sourcing decisions, examines how these policies affected the readiness of the RCs, and provides recommendations regarding future missions and force generation policy for the Army's RCs.

This report concludes that the Army's current operational reserve concept evolved in response to the demands of overseas contingency operations, resulting in a force that is significantly more ready and capable than the pre–September 11 RCs. The ability to sustain this level of capability is at least as much a matter of the resources the Army can devote as it is a matter of policy.

Key Findings

The Transformation of the RCs During the Iraq and Afghanistan Wars Provides Several Valuable Lessons

  • The RCs became an operational force before they were labeled as such.
  • Two types of policies emerged to support RC use as an operational force — protecting from overuse and increasing readiness.
  • The Iraq and Afghanistan wars reshaped the way the RCs were trained and equipped and also promoted an expeditionary mind set within the RCs.
  • The increased reliance on the RCs was largely due to demand rather than their improved readiness.
  • The RCs' readiness improved during the Iraq and Afghanistan wars.
  • The RCs' readiness benefited from forewarning, fewer logistical constraints, and relatively less complex missions.
  • Sustaining readiness post–Iraq and Afghanistan wars is only partially a policy question: it is also largely a resource issue.

Recommendations

  • If the United States wants to sustain the RCs' readiness, it needs to continue operational employment of the RCs.
  • Because cyclical readiness may not be the best approach in a period of diminished resources, the Army should consider whether the RCs should continue to use Army Force Generation (or its follow-on) versus return to a tiered readiness model.
  • Although the policy was well intentioned and well received at the time, the Army should consider requesting that DoD amend the current policy that caps mobilization periods to one year, especially if most RC soldiers have volunteered for deployment.
  • Although successful in allowing RC units to deploy more quickly after mobilization for OEF and OIF, the Army should reconsider the RCs' emphasis on premobilization training. Going forward, if there is more uncertainty about future operations, such a premobilization focus may no longer be a viable option.
  • If the Army wants to continue to emphasize premobilization training, then it is essential for RC units to have the right equipment at home station and regional training centers to make the most out of training.
  • The RCs should fully embrace roles as nonstandard force package providers rather than insisting on only deploying standard Modified Table of Organization and Equipment units such as full Brigade Combat Teams.
  • The Army should reexamine its medical readiness program for the RC and the return on investment in terms of readiness gained from specific forms of medical care.

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Document Details

  • Copyright: RAND Corporation
  • Availability: Available
  • Year: 2017
  • Print Format: Paperback
  • Paperback Pages: 222
  • Paperback Price: $32.50
  • Paperback ISBN/EAN: 978-0-8330-9636-4
  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.7249/RR1495
  • Document Number: RR-1495-A

Citation

RAND Style Manual
Schnaubelt, Christopher M., Raphael S. Cohen, Molly Dunigan, Gian Gentile, Jaime L. Hastings, Joshua Klimas, Jefferson P. Marquis, Agnes Gereben Schaefer, Bonnie L. Triezenberg, and Michelle D. Ziegler, Sustaining the Army's Reserve Components as an Operational Force, RAND Corporation, RR-1495-A, 2017. As of September 11, 2024: https://www.rand.org/pubs/research_reports/RR1495.html
Chicago Manual of Style
Schnaubelt, Christopher M., Raphael S. Cohen, Molly Dunigan, Gian Gentile, Jaime L. Hastings, Joshua Klimas, Jefferson P. Marquis, Agnes Gereben Schaefer, Bonnie L. Triezenberg, and Michelle D. Ziegler, Sustaining the Army's Reserve Components as an Operational Force. Santa Monica, CA: RAND Corporation, 2017. https://www.rand.org/pubs/research_reports/RR1495.html. Also available in print form.
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This research was sponsored by the Army G-3/5/7 and conducted by the Strategy, Doctrine, and Resources Program within the RAND Arroyo Center.

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