The Army Reserve as part of the Operational Force

The Army Reserve as part of the Operational Force

What is it'

The Army Reserve, using the Army Force Generation (ARFORGEN) model of providing forces in a cyclic manner, provides operational forces to the total Army, to meet the nation's military demands. Many of the Army's civil affairs, psychological operations, medical, and transportation capabilities reside predominately within the Army Reserve. Due to mobilization and rapid-deployment demands since September 11, 2001, the Army Reserve has evolved into an operational, expeditionary force replete with streamlined deployable headquarters.

The Army Reserve's ability to mobilize quickly and essential capabilities make it well-suited for meeting the nation's future military requirements as a part of the operational force. Compared to the cost of active component support capabilities, the Army Reserve is able to provide enabler support more cost effectively, in order to meet security requirements at home and abroad. Army Reserve Soldiers will remain a vital part of the total force for meeting the national security challenges of the future.

What has the Army Reserve done'

The Army Reserve continues to be called to address imbalances within the Active Army for many required enabling capabilities, including logistical, engineer, military police, medical and civil affairs support, as well as to fulfill active duty generating force requirements. The Army Reserve is in the process of recasting itself from its part-time "strategic reserve" role, to a fully integrated and critical part of an operational, expeditionary Army. After a century of serving as the nation's strategic federal reserve force the Army Reserve has transformed into a ready operational force postured to effectively and efficiently support the Nation's evolving and challenging security requirements.

What does the Army Reserve have planned for the future'

For now and into the foreseeable future, the Army Reserve will function as an integral member of the total Army's operational force and we will continue to be a positive investment for the nation. Progress is being made to transform the required institutional, policy and systemic resource processes and procedures to ensure a sustainable and ready force.

Why is this important to the Army'

Employing the Army Reserve as part of the operational force provides the nation a "best value" cost-savings option, resulting from the nation only paying the full cost of Army Reserve Soldiers when they are mobilized. The Army Reserve, using the ARFORGEN rotational readiness model, is capable of providing support enablers to the operational force at nearly one-third less cost than maintaining the same capability in the Active Component.

An Army Reserve, as part of the operational force, provides predictability to Soldiers, families, employers, and allows for the synchronization of resources.

Resource:

<a href="http://www.goarmy.com/reserve.html" target="_blank">Army Reserve</a>