Integration of the Army National Guard and Army Reserve into the Army Acquisition Corps: The Next Step

The transition to Army XXI and then to Army After Next poses significant challenges for the Total Army. These challenges must be overcome in an environment replete with many diverse opinions concerning the role and composition of the Total Army. Serious internal strife is commonplace as each of the components grasp for a niche in the final equation. True unity comes only with a vastly improved relationship among the components and with an interdependence that comes through teamwork. Today the wisdom of exploiting the total force concept goes beyond the conditions that created it. The active component and the reserve forces of the Army are literally fighting for their lives in the fiscal battles in Washington. It makes sense to pool the political influence of each component as the Army attempts to get resources more closely aligned with its workload. It also makes sense to capitalize on the wide array of talent existing in the Total Army. An area where the Army components can achieve the intent of the Total Force is acquisition. This paper will review a previous study on the integration of the Army National Guard and Army Reserve into the Army Acquisition Workforce and provide information concerning the present status of this integration. It is only through a continuing effort toward integration that the Total Army can leverage capabilities to contribute to increased military preparedness and a seamless Total Force.