The Army Reserve Command: Factors Shaping its Development: Current Structure and Anticipated Value

The establishment of the US Army Reserve Command has been lauded by some as the most significant reorganization of the Army Reserve in recent times. While this action represents the culmination of Public Law 90-168, the Reserve Forces Bill of Rights and Revitalization Act, it was not taken without controversy and delay. Congressional interest in the readiness of the Reserve Components has been consistent with concern for the status of Reserve and Guard units expressed as long as 25 years ago. It was not until the Total Force Policy of 1975 that the Army carefully focused on the readiness of the Reserve Components when the revised force structure inextricably integrated reserve and active force elements. From that point on, no future contingency could be met without the Reserve Components. But an examination of resource allocation shows an historic shortfall to the Army Reserve. This shortfall stems, in part, from the large number of combat service and combat service support missions assigned to the Army Reserve.