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COMMITTEE ON RESERVE FORCES FOR 2010 AND BEYOND
DONALD N. FREDERICKSEN, chair,
Hicks and Associates, McLean, Virginia
JOHN D. CHRISTIE, vice chair,
Logistics Management Institute, McLean, Virginia
BISHNU S. ATAL,
AT&T Laboratories, Florham Park, New Jersey
JAMES R. BLAKER,
Science Applications International Corporation, McLean, Virginia
JOHN R. BRINKERHOFF,
Institute for Defense Analyses, Alexandria, Virginia
MARION R. BRYSON,
North Tree Management, Monterey, California
BEVERLY B. BYRON,
Byron-Butcher Associates, Washington, D.C.
SAMUEL E. EBBESEN,
VITELCO, U.S. Virgin Islands
FREDERICK L. FROSTIC,
Booz-Allen & Hamilton, Inc., McLean, Virginia
WALTER B. LaBERGE,
University of Texas, Austin
RAYMOND P. MARCHI,
TRW Corporation, Inc., Albuquerque, New Mexico
WILLIAM E. RAMSEY, consultant,
Pensacola, Florida
JOHN RUML, consultant,
Cambria, California
BRUCE W. SCHMEISER,
Purdue University, West Lafayette, Indiana
HARRY E. SOYSTER,
MPRI, Alexandria, Virginia
LANGHORNE P. WITHERS, consultant,
Springfield, Virginia
National Research Council Staff
BRUCE A. BRAUN, director,
Division of Military Science and Technology
MARGARET N. NOVACK, study director
JACQUELINE JOHNSON, senior project assistant
NORMAN M. HALLER, technical consultant
MARGO FRANCESCO, publication manager
Liaisons
ANTHONY J. BURSHNICK, consultant,
Springfield, Virginia
RUTH M. DAVIS,
Pymatuning Group, Inc., Alexandria, Virginia
THOMAS L. McNAUGHER,
RAND Corporation, Washington, D.C.
COMMISSION ON ENGINEERING AND TECHNICAL SYSTEMS
W. DALE COMPTON chair,
Purdue University, West Lafayette, Indiana
ELEANOR BAUM,
Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art, New York, New York
RUTH M. DAVIS,
Pymatuning Group, Inc., Alexandria, Virginia
HENRY J. HATCH,
American Society of Civil Engineers, Reston, Virginia
STUART L. KNOOP,
Oudens and Knoop, Architects, PC, Chevy Chase, Maryland
NANCY G. LEVESON,
Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge
CORA B. MARRETT,
University of Massachusetts, Amherst
ROBERT M. NEREM,
Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta
LAWRENCE T. PAPAY,
Bechtel Technology and Consulting, San Francisco, California
BRADFORD W. PARKINSON,
Stanford University, Stanford, California
JERRY SCHUBEL,
New England Aquarium, Boston, Massachusetts
BARRY M. TROST,
Stanford University, Stanford, California
JAMES C. WILLIAMS,
Ohio State University, Columbus
RONALD W. YATES,
U.S. Air Force (retired), Monument, Colorado
Staff
DOUGLAS BAUER, executive director
DENNIS CHAMOT, associate executive director
SYLVIA GILBERT, administrative associate
CARLA MOORE, administrative assistant
SHARON SEGAL, financial officer
CAROL R. ARENBERG, editor
Preface
As the twenty-first century approaches, the number of full-time, active duty personnel in the U.S. military (excluding the Reserves and National Guard) is about 1.4 million, the lowest level since before World War II. Nevertheless, the U.S. military is supposed to be prepared to fight two major-theater wars almost simultaneously while conducting peacekeeping operations and other assignments around the globe. To fulfill this wide range of missions, the U.S. military must continue to rely on the Reserves and National Guard, which are known collectively as the reserve components. The current number of reserve components is almost equal to the number of active duty personnel. In the case of the U.S. Army, the number of reserves is double the number of active personnel.
This study addresses how technology can be used to improve the readiness and effectiveness of the reserve components and their integration with the active components. Many technologies are expected to enhance the capabilities of the U.S. military in the twenty-first century, including precision weapons, high-fidelity sensors, long-range surveillance, enhanced stealth characteristics, and advanced communications and information systems. This study reaffirms the importance of improved communication and information systems, for improving comprehensive training and accelerating the mobilization of reserve components for military missions in the coming decade. Although programs using these technologies are already under way in both the reserve and active components of the military, this study focuses on the effectiveness of reserve components and active-reserve integration.
In this study, the committee develops pilot programs to take advantage of these advanced technologies. Well designed, innovative pilot programs could be very valuable to the U.S. Department of Defense because they could provide a low-cost, low-risk means of exploring new approaches and furnishing data related to the effectiveness and use of reserve and active military components. The pilot programs in this study should be considered both specific suggestions and generic examples of the kinds of programs that should be explored by the Department of Defense.
Pilot programs that could promote the integration of reserve and active components are especially valuable. Remote and distributed learning, advanced simulators, and interactive, distributed exercises could substantially improve the proficiency of reserve personnel. These technologies could also be used to train reserve and active personnel simultaneously, even if they are geographically separated. Pilot programs that experiment with modern communications and information technologies could be used to assess whether U.S.-based reserve components could support commanders and forces engaged in overseas military operations. Other programs address the potential for technology to alleviate the time consuming chores that now accompany the mobilization of reserve forces. Pilot programs may demonstrate that advanced technologies could lessen some of the difficulties of integrating part-time reservists and full-time personnel.
The committee that conducted this study wants to express its appreciation to the many representatives of the Department of Defense and other experts who furnished oral and written information. Their input was vital to the committee's deliberations. Finally, the committee expresses its gratitude to the staff of the National Research Council for its assistance during the study; without their support, this task could not have been completed.
Donald N. Fredericksen, chair
Committee on Reserve Forces for 2010 and Beyond
Acknowledgments
This report has been reviewed by individuals chosen for their diverse perspectives and technical expertise, in accordance with procedures approved by the National Research Council's Report Review Committee. The purpose of this independent review is to provide candid and critical comments that will assist the authors and the NRC in making the published report as sound as possible and to ensure that the report meets institutional standards for objectivity, evidence, and responsiveness to the study charge. The contents of the review comments and draft manuscript remain confidential to protect the integrity of the deliberative process. We wish to thank the following individuals for their participation in the review of this report:
Brian Barr, U.S. Army
Frederic J. Brown, Institute for Defense Analyses
Vinton G. Cerf, MCI Worldcom
Philip R. Clark, GPU Nuclear Corporation (retired)
Gerald P. Dinneen, Honeywell, Inc. (retired)
Robert L. Goldich, Library of Congress
Thomas R. Lalime, RTA Corporation
Larry G. Lehowicz, Quantum Research, International
F. Robert Naka, CERA, Inc.
Alton D. Slay, Slay Enterprises, Inc.
Eugene P. Wilkinson, Institute of Nuclear Power Operation (retired)
John W. Woodmansee, Tactical Rescue Gear, Inc.
While the individuals listed above have provided many constructive comments and suggestions, responsibility for the final content of this report rests solely with the authoring committee and the NRC.
Tables, Figure, and Boxes
TABLES
2-1 |
U.S. Armed Forces: Active and Ready Reserve Strengths as of September 30, 1998 |
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2-2 |
Total Force Strength during and after the Cold War |
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2-3 |
Organization and Strength of the Ready Reserve as of September 30, 1998 |
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2-4 |
Varying Levels of Participation by Reserve Components |
FIGURE
4-1 |
Rankings of pilot programs |
BOXES