Relevance of Army National Guard Infantry Units in the Force Structure and Their Role in Combat

Abstract

Abstract : Currently 55% of the Army's combat units are in the National Guard. The Army National Guard has 88 of the 159 infantry battalions in the Army's force structure. Yet as of this paper only two infantry companies are actively serving in Operation Iraq Freedom. From the terrorist attack on September 11, 2001 until April 30, 2003 over 202,435 members of the Army National Guard have mobilized and served on active duty in 86 countries. That is 58% of a total force of 346,848 assigned. Such large numbers are staggering considering that National Guard infantry units are not being utilized according to their organization training and equipment. These are the same trends that left National Guard Infantry units unused during the first Gulf War and caused tremendous friction between the active Army and the Army National Guard. The strategic implication is negative for National Guard force structure resources strength optempo and equipment. The Army National Guard is constitutionally the reserve force for the Army. The active Army consists of only 33 combat brigades. Most of those are currently in Iraq and Afghanistan or are redeploying home. National Guard infantry units are trained and ready to deploy to those theaters of operations and assume the role of the departing active units. The strategic situation has become critical for the United States as world-wide threats continue to grow in places like Iran North Korea and the Philippines while the rebuilding of Iraq and Afghanistan is far from complete. I recommend that the Army break the cold war paradigm and use National Guard infantry units in combat operations now. It would be cost effective to mobilize at least two Army National Guard Infantry Divisions for two years and use them exclusively in Iraq and Afghanistan. This will allow the active units to stand down reorganize and recuperate.