How can the Army's three components work more closely together?

2015-09-08T15:24:21-04:00

This article from Military.com talks about some of the efforts that the National Commission on the Future of the Army is looking at for the future of the Army. Anyone who has served in the Army knows that relationships between the active component, the Army Reserve, and the National Guard are still somewhat fractured. What can each component do to change that culture? Also, what can the reserve components do to respond more quickly in a national emergency? We learned a lot of lessons over the past 14 years so how do we implement those and make sure the Army remain's combat ready even with the drawdown.

http://www.military.com/daily-news/2015/09/08/effort-to-bring-army-national-guard-closer-results-in-redesign.html

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 8 at 2015 3:31 PM

2015-09-08T15:31:50-04:00

I think that we have proven we can work well, after all the RC/NG components have taken a chunk out of the operation of these wars since 2003. We have all been called up numerous times.

Response by CW3 Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 8 at 2015 3:37 PM

2015-09-08T15:37:30-04:00

It's difficult to ease the tensions that are between the components. Not sure why it's there but it is. As for the second half of the post it's not an easy answer but EDRE exercises will do the trick. My old unit always had two units on standby we could get a unit out the door with in 36 hours so it can be done it's just getting started the funding for the training .

Response by LTC Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 8 at 2015 3:44 PM

2015-09-08T15:44:10-04:00

I think the Commission is an idea long overdue. When we began the QDR process we should have formed this committee. Having all three components, the Army Secretariat, and Congress, and other vested partners collaborate and create a dialogue about roles, missions, and standards will go a long way. The Army is completing a sustained period of deployments, and can take this opportunity to craft the Army we'll need to enter the second quarter of this century. There's been a lot of groundwork laid already, especially in terms of DSCA missions, the Dual Status Commander statues, for example, but we can't leave the work half done.

My first question: What is the tasking and authority of this National Commission? Are their findings advisory or binding?

Response by 1SG Michael Blount made Sep 8 at 2015 4:24 PM

2015-09-08T16:24:42-04:00

Somewhat fractured? SOMEWHAT?? How about broke, sir! Commissions like this remind me of elephants mating - lots of noise, little gets done

Response by MAJ Ken Landgren made Sep 8 at 2015 4:47 PM

2015-09-08T16:47:17-04:00

I served with a NG unit for a couple years and noticed the unit was often committed to administrative and mandatory briefs. There was really not much training being conducted.

Response by Sgt Aaron Kennedy, MS made Sep 8 at 2015 4:58 PM

2015-09-08T16:58:59-04:00

A few months ago a few things were mentioned, but one that stuck out to me was:

1) Align every state with a "contingency zone" or region of the world. Train like you'll fight.

2) Everyone becomes Army Reserve or National Guard. No exceptions. You might be on "Reserve orders" or "Active Duty orders" but no more "Regular Army." It's a heck of a lot easier to inflate/deflate reservists than active duty folks. It will also get us back to the Constitutional "intent" of the Army Clause.

3) National Guard is CA, Reserve is CS/CSS.

4) During initial commitment, you are on Active Duty orders (unless you specifically join as a "reservist"). From there on out, you get augmented for the remainder of your career.

Response by LTC Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 8 at 2015 5:31 PM

2015-09-08T17:31:05-04:00

Make annual mandatory training requirements occur every 5 years. Currently there are more hours of mandatory training than available in 40 days of drill/AT. Why are we surprised when readiness falls or it takes forever to train up past team-level skills?

Make all schools the same -- if a box of books or a two-week DL course can make an officer CCC qualified in the Reserves, then why are we wasting funds sending AC officers away for 4+ months? (This is a little tongue in cheek -- I believe the answer is the opposite, and we won't find satisfactory training in this method ... And will need all personnel to attend in residence.)

Acknowledge and ensure all Soldiers understand the purpose of each component and what it is designed to do. When AC folks get in a bunch bc the RC has train up time, they demonstrate lack of understanding for their own organization.

Response by LTC Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 8 at 2015 6:17 PM

2015-09-08T18:17:38-04:00

Sir, there are several efforts to bring all COMPO elements together. Example, 351 CACOM is attached to PACOM AOR. Several real-world and training exercises occur every FY. BNs are aligned with PACOM units. My BN is aligned to the 8TSC. Reserves are imbedded with the GCCs I believe it’s called AREC/T Concept Plan. Planned Partnership Programs Initiative (3Pi) which partners civilian agencies with units. Much like the National Guard has. And for readiness, that’s a commander’s responsibility and with 12304b MOB authority to the GCC, this should be an easy opportunity to stay service connected.

Response by CPT Ahmed Faried made Sep 8 at 2015 7:57 PM

2015-09-08T19:57:52-04:00

Combined annual exercises. Think NTC but with all components represented.

Response by SSG Warren Swan made Sep 9 at 2015 10:07 AM

2015-09-09T10:07:32-04:00

1. Senior leadership buy in. No matter what comes down, when the troops see their superiors arguing and bickering publicly it undermines whatever policy they could put in place. Make one unified team and run with it. Keep your differences to yourself and away from the congressmen and news reporters.
2. Top down mindset change. Even with a unified front, if those who will put ideals to the pavement (COL-CSM) are still of the old mindset, they'll do it because they have to; not because they want to. We need to make them do it, but make it so they want to do it.
3. Enforce the regulations throughout the service. Too many time I've seen what the AC does gets knocked down because that's not how the NG, RC troops do it, and vice versa. If it's a AR, DA PAM, FM or whatever the AC Army leadership provides, it's the law of the services, and not to be interpreted by the state leadership in any manner that is inconsistent with what Army leadership provides. But in the same breath, the AC leadership needs to understand how the states regulations can affect the desires and directives of AC leadership.
4. This might not be fun to some, but I think promotions should be the same as the AC. No more of the eternal SPC's that are 50 years old and their date of rank was before I was born with no breaks in service. The AC promotion schools should be attended by all components. Same standards, same levels of instruction. The attendee's can test out in certain cases based upon experience, but SGM Academy, First Sergeants School, and officers mandatory schools should be mando attendance. Build the team with one set of schooling that mirrors each other. The time the NG/RC troops are attending these schools could count towards their weekend/AT time, so it could help rather than hinder.
5. Stop using the NG/RC as the dumping grounds for outdated AC equipment. This I've seen personally, and that's not right. If we expect them to fight alongside us on equal terms, how can they do that with M-1's and we're using M-4's? Or using Shermans and we're using Abrams? (example not reality) If the AC cannot use it, there is a reason why. That shouldn't be an instant reason to dump crap equipment on anyone else with upgrading the equipment to serviceable standards or DRMO'ing the equipment.

Response by MAJ Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 9 at 2015 2:57 PM

2015-09-09T14:57:38-04:00

I'd like to combine the ARFORGEN Models with the old War Trace cycle.

Basically USARC ceases to be a commanding unit and their subordinate units fall under an active duty war trace HQ. Each active duty unit will have a Reserve HQ element to provide Command and separate budget from the AC, (those Reserve slots for the Active Brigades + would come from the USARC TDA. The Battalion's and Companies under the Brigades will have either one AC unit or two RC units separated by opposing ARFORGEN cycles. USARC or USARB would plan training for the ARFORGEN 1-3 units while the AC units planning combined training for their AC units and RC ARFORGEN 4-6 units.

The biggest benefit to me is your HQ would actually be interested in the RC units' ability to perform it's mission as currently USARC only cares about mobilization metrics (there is no tracking other than canned USR reports to track CATS performance)

The allocations could be on a tiered system with Tier 1 being complete AC units structured for rapid response like the 82nd, rangers, and rapid deployment units. Tier 2 would be combined AC/RC units with a 3 month mobilization lead time. Then Tier 3 units consisting of all RC used primarily as augmentation forces (medical units, contract support) and units like the National Guard BCT's for wartime emergencies.

The major benefits is you have your designed HQ who would be the same unit you deploy with. The sistered RC units would naturally bolster deployment strengths and could even share equipment in storage.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 9 at 2015 3:10 PM

2015-09-09T15:10:27-04:00

Get the RA and AR as far away from the Guard as possible

Response by SSG Michael Scott made Sep 9 at 2015 8:18 PM

2015-09-09T20:18:15-04:00

The Pentagon and state department needs to have a plan, and to get feedback from all 3 components.

Response by 1LT Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 10 at 2015 2:06 PM

2015-09-10T14:06:31-04:00

Sir, I encourage you to look up Operation Carolina Thunder. It is a joint exercise that has gone on two years now and this last iteration was at Ft Bragg and included the 82nd ABN, Special Operations forces, NCARNG artillery and aviation units, SCARNG aviation units, and Alabama aviation units. I have not seen a better example of common multi-component training to date, and I say that even after a rotation to JRTC in 2014.

Response by 1SG Patrick Sims made Sep 11 at 2015 6:50 PM

2015-09-11T18:50:06-04:00

I experienced this in Desert Storm---Guard and Reserve units activated and used for manual labor or not given assignments at all-----Perhaps someone should remind the active military these people are American citizens---not the enemy---they haven't the same amount of training or experience an active component has--but they shouldn't be excluded from active participation just because their Guard or Reservists. If this is the case --there's no point in activating them at all---the active soldiers will have to carry the load themselves.

Response by MAJ Ken Landgren made Jul 10 at 2019 11:41 AM

2019-07-10T11:41:43-04:00

It really upsets me when AD soldiers treat the RC with contempt. That being said, the RC/NG needs to integrate with ARNORTH the, Combatant Command, for large disasters. The RC/NG needs to integrate with State and Local authorities as well, and work with NORTHCOM for funding. Usually missions conducted by various units is on a reimbursable basis, but if you don't have funds then the units has to ask for funds. I have used DTS to issue orders and funding to the soldiers with DTS. All I had to do was use a Title 10 fund site to accomplish this. I hope this helps.