At 100, Reserve shows operational force

[unhappycamper]

At 100, Reserve shows operational force
By Lisa Burgess, Stars and Stripes
Mideast edition, Wednesday, April 23, 2008

ARLINGTON, Va. — Of all the forces affected by the war on terrorism, few have been affected as deeply as the Army Reserve.

As it reaches its 100th birthday, the Army Reserve is shedding its status as a strategic reserve of available military manpower, and becoming “an operational force and an integral part of the world’s greatest Army,” according to its commander, Lt. Gen. Jack Stultz.

Congress established the forerunner of the Army Reserve, the Medical Reserve Corps, on April 23, 1908. The group of 160 medical officers could be ordered to active duty by the Secretary of War during time of emergency.

Today, the Army Reserve numbers 194,000 soldiers, with an authorized end-strength goal of 205,000, Stultz said.

Planners designed the Army Reserve as a strategic reserve — there just in case the active Army was unable to provide enough boots on the ground.


Rest of article at: http://www.stripes.com/article.asp?section=104&article=54251



uhc comment: So now both the National Guard AND the Army Reserve are 'operational forces' --> http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=259x13828

[chknltl]

1. first of many KnRs

Here is a :toast: to our reservists. Let us see if 'we the people' can do better by these Men and Women after November. :patriot:

[CRK7376]

2. As one of 194,000

Reservists it's been interesting to say the least. I joined the Reserves in 1980 after spending 3 years enlisted....The Army Reserve is much different from when I first joined...one weekend a month and 2 weeks of summer camp/duty....Now it's constant deployments to places I would rather not go...For me and many other soldiers it's been a very busy 12 years of constant mobilization and tours in tough places. Many folks may not realize it, but some Reservist have been in nearly a constant state of mobilization since we first committed our military to the Balkans in 1996, then came Afghanistan, Iraq, the Horn of Africa, the Philippines....on and on we go. So I salute you fellow Army Reservists and your families for supporting you and your service to our great nation. Now to get some great civilian leadership for a change.......