Tuesday, June 23, 2015
What is it?
The Army Reserve (USAR) established engagement cells (ARECs) at Army service component commands (ASCCs) and smaller teams (ARETs) at both Army corps-level commands and geographic combatant commands (GCCs) to facilitate access to USAR regionally aligned forces (RAF).
AREC/Ts consist of Active Guard Reserve planners from USAR enabling commands that provide supported commands USAR subject matter expertise across the war fighting functions. USAR RAF in conjunction with AREC/Ts as the means to implement it, is the commanding general, U.S. Army Reserve Command’s (USARC) highest operational priority.
What has the Army Reserve done?
A budget-neutral initiative staffed entirely from within existing Army Reserve structure, AREC/Ts help ASCCs and GCCs integrate USAR capabilities into plans, exercises, and operational activities to implement the USAR’s regional alignment of its forces; provide reach-back capability to the “whole” of USARC’s CONUS-based theater enabling commands; and facilitate USAR reception, staging, onward movement, and integration into theater activities and operations.
What continued efforts does the Army Reserve have planned for the future?
USAR will continue to fill the 19 separate AREC/Ts already established at major Army and joint commands, currently employed under initial operational capability, to ensure they are brought to full operational capability no later than first-quarter fiscal 2016.
Why is it important to the Army?
The RAF concept is part of the CSA’s Prevent-Shape-Win Strategy. RAF are drawn from the Total Force and conduct operational missions, military exercises, and theater security cooperation activities. USAR RAF, through the Plan, Prepare, Provide model, affords the combatant commander with tailorable capabilities to shape the environment and respond to a full range of requirements. Integrating the AREC/Ts fosters direct, enduring relationships while the persistent presence of planners from USAR enabling commands provides the USAR with immediate awareness and subsequent faster responsiveness to theater requirements and plans. RAF maintains the USAR’s operational capability, maximizes its inherent cost-efficiency while providing trained, equipped, ready and accessible Soldiers, leaders, and units to the Army and the nation.
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