The Army Reserve Command of the 21st Century Force: An Element of the Federal Army

The Force that was required for the Cold War is not the Force for the 21st Century. As the Active Army transforms into the Force of the 21st Century, the United States Army Reserve USAR must transform to support that Force. As a major element of the USAR, the Army Reserve Commands ARCOM of today must likewise change. Projecting todays ARCOMs into the 21st Century Force that supports the U.S. National Security Objectives in the rapidly-changing contingency environment requires a rethinking, refocusing, restructuring of the U.S. Army Reserve Force for the future. The USAR must enhance its position as an element of the Federal Force by working towards total integration with the Active Army. It must play an active role in contingency planning to fully support the Unified Commanders with combat support and combat service support units CSCSS fully ready for rapid deployment to meet any crisis. In doing so the USAR must focus its efforts on clearly identified goals, functions and structure that add value, elimination of waste, continuous improvement, flexibility, adaptability and responsiveness. With these as a guide, an ARCOM for the 21st Century Force can be developed.