Army Force Generation
What is it'
In response to the demand for ground forces to meet current worldwide operations, the Army implemented in 2006 a new force generation construct, called Army Force Generation (ARFORGEN). ARFORGEN is the model and process used to achieve progressive levels of readiness with recurring periods of availability as both active and reserve component units progress through three distinct force pools: RESET; Train/Ready; and Available.
The RESET Pool is the initial ARFORGEN force pool and begins when the unit returns from a deployment or other mission. While in RESET, units conduct activities to return personnel and equipment to levels sufficient to begin collective training.
From the RESET Pool, units progress to the Train/Ready Pool, where they continue to receive new personnel, manage and retool equipment, and begin collective training -- ending with a culminating training event.
From Train/Ready, units move to the available pool, where they either deploy as a Deployment Expeditionary Force (DEF) unit for rotational missions such as Iraq and Afghanistan or they remain available for contingency expeditionary force (CEF) missions. A CEF is an AC or RC modular or task organized unit preparing to execute any contingency operation.
What has the Army done'
ARFORGEN originally was developed as a supply-driven construct for generating forces. Operations in Afghanistan and Iraq have become the longest military campaigns in our nation's history, and the first protracted conflicts without conscription. This high demand for Army capabilities resulted in a de facto demand-driven process that put stress on Soldiers and families, introduced cost inefficiencies associated with providing forces quickly and expensively, and left our nation with fewer ground forces to respond to other crises. As Army Chief of Staff General George Casey said, years of high demand for forces caused the Army to become "out of balance."
Why is this important to the Army'
The Army is at a strategic inflection point due to requirements to operate in an environment of prolonged conflict against a hybrid threat.
What is planned for the future'
Transition to stability operations in Iraq-and subsequent added CEF units-has begun to restore balance to the force. As such, the Army has an opportunity to leverage the FY12-17 Program Objective Memorandum (POM) to institutionalize ARFORGEN as a supply-based construct; posturing the force to provide increased operational depth and strategic flexibility; a force best suited to achieve the Quadrennial Defense Review's (QDR) four strategic objectives and to systemically build a "balanced Army for a balanced strategy" that is relevant to the 21st century.
Resources:
<a href="http://www.forscom.army.mil/" target="_blank"> U.S. Army Forces Command </a>
<a href="http://www.army.mil/aps/10" target="_blank"> U.S. Army Posture Statement </a>
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