Army Reserve Military Intelligence: Time for Change

Abstract

Abstract : This paper will consider the significant changes that make the current structure and operating/mobilizing for United States Army Reserve (USAR) Military Intelligence (MI) units obsolete and propose changes that may better address current and future requirements. MI occupational specialties are unique to the military and the intelligence community. Because these unique skill sets depend on consistent practice to maintain the craft and remain up to date, the current USAR system is inadequate to produce deployment-ready Soldiers who are now part of an operational rather than strategic reserve for the United States. The current system also puts unnecessary burdens on Soldiers, Family Members, and Employers in terms of predictability, stabilization, medical and dental care, transition of benefits, and continuity of service for individual and collective training. The Army should look to the reserve forces to provide an abundance of well-qualified Soldiers, provide them and their Families with options, predictability, quality of life, superior leadership, and expect them to provide, on a continual basis, the service required to meet the needs of the Army and the greater intelligence community. This paper will propose an entirely new resourcing methodology for USAR MI forces, Soldiers and systems in the USAR, leading to increased manning, education, skill maintenance, and preparedness for long- or short-term contingencies and reduce or share costs for the program within the intelligence community. The new system will better meet Army Force Generation (ARFORGEN) requirements in the Army as well.