The Army Reserve Today: A Strong and Ready Force

RallyPoint Shared Content — Sat, 22 Apr 2023 09:02:35 -0400

The United States Army Reserve, also known as the USAR, is a vital component of the US Armed Forces. It was founded on April 23,1908, and since then, it has played a significant role in American history, from the two World Wars to the current Global War on Terror.

The founding of the Army Reserve can be traced back to the passage of the Militia Act of 1903. This act reorganized the state militias, which were the primary means of national defense before the establishment of a standing army. It also created the National Guard, which was designed to be the primary reserve force for the regular army.

World War I required a large and sustained mobilization effort that exceeded the capabilities of the National Guard. As a result, Congress passed the National Defense Act of 1916, which created the Army Reserve. The Reserve supplemented the regular army in times of war and national emergency.

During World War I, the Army Reserve was mobilized and deployed to Europe to fight alongside the regular army. The Reserve provided valuable support to the regular army and played a critical role in the Allied victory. After the war, the Reserve was demobilized, and its members returned to civilian life.

The Army Reserve was again mobilized during World War II. It played a crucial role in the war effort by providing critical support to the regular army in Europe and the Pacific. The Reserve provided troops, supplies, and equipment to the war effort, and its members served in every theater of the war. The Reserve also helped to fill critical skill gaps in the regular army, such as medical and engineering units.

After World War II, the Army Reserve played a critical role in the Cold War. During this period, the Reserve was an essential component of the US military's strategy of deterrence. The Reserve provided a pool of trained and ready troops that could be quickly mobilized in case of a Soviet attack.

During the Korean War, the Army Reserve was again mobilized and deployed to Korea to support the regular army. The Reserve provided essential manpower, including engineering and medical units, and played a key role in the Allied victory.

During the Vietnam War, the Reserve provided a significant number of combat and support troops. The Reserve also played a critical role in the post-war reconstruction effort in Vietnam.

In the post-Vietnam era, the Army Reserve continued to play an essential role in American national security. During the Gulf War in 1991, the Reserve provided over 165,000 troops to the war effort, and its members served with distinction in both combat and support roles.

Since the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, the Army Reserve has heavily involved in the Global War on Terror. The Reserve has been mobilized many times to support operations in Iraq and Afghanistan. The Reserve has provided critical support to the regular army in these conflicts, including transportation, logistics, and engineering units.

Today, the Army Reserve is a vital component of the US military's readiness posture. The Reserve is composed of over 200,000 soldiers who serve in a wide range of roles, from combat troops to medical and engineering units. The Reserve is also a critical part of the US military's strategy of deterrence, providing a pool of trained and ready troops that can be quickly mobilized in case of a national emergency.

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Official site of the U.S. Army Reserve, the federal military reserve forces of the United States.

Response by Maj Kim Patterson made Apr 22 at 2023 9:09 AM

Maj Kim Patterson — Sat, 22 Apr 2023 09:09:57 -0400

The reserve and Guard seem to be fairing bettter than recruitment for active duty

Response by CPT Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 22 at 2023 9:51 AM

CPT Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 22 Apr 2023 09:51:08 -0400

Go USAR! 3/12 notwithstanding.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wUtnycN0LMc

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Response by LTC Stephen C. made Apr 22 at 2023 10:22 AM

LTC Stephen C. — Sat, 22 Apr 2023 10:22:33 -0400

Served actively in the USAR from 1NOV81 to 11MAY98.

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made Apr 22 at 2023 11:08 PM

SGT Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 22 Apr 2023 23:08:14 -0400

thanks for the info.

Response by SrA Ronald Moore made Apr 23 at 2023 6:54 AM

SrA Ronald Moore — Sun, 23 Apr 2023 06:54:34 -0400

Great Work

Response by SFC Joe S. Davis Jr., MSM, DSL made Apr 23 at 2023 12:30 PM

SFC Joe S. Davis Jr., MSM, DSL — Sun, 23 Apr 2023 12:30:40 -0400

thanks for sharing

Response by SGT Ruben Lozada made Apr 23 at 2023 4:02 PM

SGT Ruben Lozada — Sun, 23 Apr 2023 16:02:39 -0400

Good afternoon. Excellent post. Thank You for sharing this.

Response by COL Jon Thompson made Apr 25 at 2023 12:19 PM

COL Jon Thompson — Tue, 25 Apr 2023 12:19:18 -0400

The perception in a lot of ways is that the Army Reserve is a step below the National Guard. Senior USAR leaders need to look inward and see why that is. I say this as a retired Army Reserve officer.

Response by Maj Kim Patterson made May 3 at 2023 3:37 PM

Maj Kim Patterson — Wed, 03 May 2023 15:37:57 -0400

RallyPoint Shared Content the article I just skimmed said the Army is having a hard time meeting its goals for the second year. There are several reasons for this problem,

Response by LTC Joe Anderson made Jun 30 at 2023 4:58 PM

LTC Joe Anderson — Fri, 30 Jun 2023 16:58:26 -0400

Unfortunately, the decision in 1990 through 1993 to make the Army Reserve a strictly Service Support formation, put the Army Reserve in a subservient role to the Army and Army National Guard. With the Army National Guard providing reserve component combat formations and related combat support units, the Army Reserve was configured to provide combat support, combat service support, peacekeeping, nation-building and civil support capability. With the Reserves losing all it infantry unit except the 100th BN, 442th INF out of Hawaii, Samoa, and Guam. This action/decision placed a greater emphasis on the combat role of the Army National Guard over the Army Reserve.

Originally, both commands (Guard and Reserve) were lead by three star commanders. But with politics and the bulk of combat formations being in the National Guard, the States and Guard lobbied to become a 4 Star Command. Then in 2008 the Guard received its first 4 star commanders and later in 2011 the Guard gained a seat at the Joint Chiefs table.

In order for the reserves to gain back its posture as equal to the Guard it would also require a four-star command and seat at the Joint Chiefs table. But that would literally require an act of Congress and a desire for the Army to put combat units back into the Army Reserve. Unfortunately, I don't see that happening. As someone who served in the Reserve, Guard, and on active duty. I wish the reserves did have more clout and bigger combat role. But unfortunately this is not the case. I think quite a few RP members can remember the times when the Army Reserve had combat units. Those were good days for the Army Reserve and overall strength and readiness of our military.

In order to become more viable the reserve leadership should Lobby to become the actual backups/reserve, war trace for individual Army units. For example; there should be a reserve BN or BDE for every active duty combat unit. IE, the 101st or 82nd should have a reserve BN or BDE to be there war trace and backfill, 10th Mountain, 22 ACR... should all have there perspective Reserve Units to ensure there Readiness and backfill for expected and/or unexpected combat losses. Then in time of War or during OPTEMO shortage these reserve units would be plugged right in their parent units as ready, trained, and capable fighters. Vastly decreasing the need to rely on new recruits just out of basic filling unit shortage. Allowing time to better training recruits and place them were they are better suited rather than absolutely needed. This would be a better use of an Army Reserve forces and new recruits. This Reserve force would still be a part-time unit training and preparing for war or other operations (Peace Keeping...) in peace time. During peace time vacancies would still be filled on active duty by recruits out of basic or transfers from the Reverse to active duty as they always have. But during combat/time of war this role would change to the Army Reserve backfilling their war trace units. While recruits are sent to where their talents would be a better suited. Which could also possibly mean backfilling active and Reserve combat units. But also filling needed support roles as well. This is the only way the Army Reserve could argue for a greater role and possible seat at the Joint Chiefs table. This would be an ideal roll and use of the Army Reserve. Unfortunately due cost, the current idea of the proper military size, and beliefs of the roll of the Army Reserve. I don't ever see this happening. But man if it did.

Some on here being a former Reserve Infantryman and Army Reservist even if you don't 100% agree with this, you definitely can understand the sentiment and agree with parts of it. I think you can also remember the days where it didn't quite work as I explained above. But the Reserve did provide a viable backfill for certain war tracing units. As a PSYOPer in 2003 I did see this work well. Since our various PYOP units were war traced to the active units we were directly back filling active BNs out of Fort Bragg. It worked much better than waiting for new recruits out of basic and AIT to be trained and sent to backfill active PSYOP units. Our Reserve units had been deployed in the past and came with a vast amount of Civilian and Military expertise that helped in the success of their backfill duties. And yes my beliefs for this as a whole solution for the Army Reserve are definitely just a pipe dream and a bit idealistic. But if it were to happen it would be great for our Readiness, Soldiers, and country in time of need.

Note: this in no way means I believe that the Army National Guard and Army should have a lesser role in providing Combat formations... It means, I think the Army Reserve should have a stronger/larger role in providing combat units in order to increase our Readiness and overall military strength. The Army National Guard is critical to our National Defense and the support it provides to the Army. However due to its dual roll (Federal and State) it cannot always provide the exact needs the Army has to fill. Needs a dedicated Army Reserve, reserve units could fill.