Posted on May 29, 2017
Why is the Chief, National Guard Bureau a four-star position while the Chief, Army Reserve is only a three-star position?
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Army Reserve Elements
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As others have said, politics is the reason. At one time, the Chief-NGB and CAR were both 2 star positions. CNGB became a 3 star slot in 1979, CAR became a 3 star slot in 2001. The importance of the 3 star slot is that 3 star generals sit on the resourcing board. The Army Reserve had no effective voice for resources at the Army level until this happened. In the Army, the Guard and Reserve compete for resources, so if the boss of one out-ranks the other they have a significant advantage when it comes to training resources, etc.
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Also, the Director of the Army National Guard, a more appropriate comparison with the CAR, is a 3-Star. The real question should be why does the Army Reserve have TWO 3-Stars - CAR and Commander USARC? :-)
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CSM Clifford Fargason
The CAR has been the Commander of USARC since it was stood up. Since the CAR is in DC, his deputy at USARC (2 star position) is sometimes assumed by outsiders to be the commander.
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LTC Stephen B.
CSM Clifford Fargason - Had that discussion here with some others - you are correct. I remember (vaguely) discussions regarding parity during POM cycles 10+ years ago. It was the existence of two 3-Star staffs, OCAR and USARC, as compared to one (Army Guard Directorate of NGB) that was the point of contention. I think I need more covfefe......
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CSM Clifford Fargason
I doubt that we (Guard and Reserve) will ever see eye-to-eye on what fair looks like in the division of resources. Both are critical for and success by the Army and I hope that never changes. I see your point from a Guard perspective, but we had our points as well. For example, since we have a Guard position on the JCS because they contain AF and Army components, maybe we should have a Reserve position on the JCS to represent the Army, Navy, Marine, and Air Force reserves.
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LTC Stephen B.
CSM Clifford Fargason - OSD used to have an Assistant Secretary of Defense for Reserve Affairs, complete with high-level staffs that focused solely on RCs. That went away in the re-org 2 years ago or so. OSD created a Manpower and Reserve Affairs directorate that is more focused on AC manpower than anything RC-centric.
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It may also have to do with size. The reserve is much smaller than the Guard.
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Article 1 Section 8 Clause 15 of the Constitution states that congress has the power To provide for calling forth the Militia to execute the Laws of the Union, suppress Insurrections and repel Invasions; As this is the first use of the word militia in the Constitution, I have always considered militia to be synonymous with National Guard. That being said, there should not be a Federal level National Guard Bureau.
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SFC William Farrell
Thats how I remembered it SFC (Join to see) and when I saw the four stars I questioned it. But based on all the answers I received, I agree with the four star billet.
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My pride says because we're better than the Reserves.
In reality I didn't know the Reserves didn't have a 4 Star, I assumed they did.
My best guess would be size, the Guard is larger than the Reserves, and that most if not all States have a 2 Star as their Adjutant General with at least two 1 Stars below them as the Land Component Commander and Air Component Commander.
What I find interesting is that most States AG is an Air Force 2 Star and that the Chief of the NGB is also an Air Force General. For example my States AG is Air Force.
In reality I didn't know the Reserves didn't have a 4 Star, I assumed they did.
My best guess would be size, the Guard is larger than the Reserves, and that most if not all States have a 2 Star as their Adjutant General with at least two 1 Stars below them as the Land Component Commander and Air Component Commander.
What I find interesting is that most States AG is an Air Force 2 Star and that the Chief of the NGB is also an Air Force General. For example my States AG is Air Force.
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LTC Stephen B.
SFC William Farrell - The Governor can appoint an individual from either the Army or Air National Guard. Not sure if any States out there still elect the TAG...
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SPC (Join to see)
LTC Stephen B. - I thought they were all appointed Sir, didn't know they could be elected
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LTC Stephen B.
SPC (Join to see) - Depends on the State. In Vermont the legislature appoints, not the Governor. I did some quick checking, seems South Carolina, the last State that held elections for TAG, switched to Governor appointment in 2016.
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