Integrating the Army's Active and Reserve Component Combat Arms

Abstract

Abstract : The thesis is that Army reserve component (RC) ground combat forces should be deployed for the next major regional contingency. These units must be combat ready. They can be through better integration of the active components (AC) and the RC. The author tracks the creation of the Total Force concept and issues raised by the Army's roundout units during Desert Storm. He briefly reviews the preparation and readiness of combat units from the other services. He also reviews timelines stating how long it takes to get RC combat units ready and the capability of strategic mobility to deploy them. The proposed solution is to integrate AC and RC by assigning them to the same units during peacetime. Earlier deployers would be mainly AC; later deployers would be mainly RC.... Integrating Army Active and Reserve Components, Roundout, Total Force, Army Combat Forces.