A New Vision For The Guard, Reserves

It is time for fundamental change in the post-9/11 National Guard and
reserves.

It is also time to embrace the lessons of the past nine years and start
thinking about a reserve component that is an indispensable part of the operational force.

Today’s reserves are unlike those of any prior era. The “new” Guard and
reserves have several essential characteristics: pre-trained and pre-equipped;
always in some state of readiness; and organized for a planned rotational
availability so some units can periodically serve on active duty as a part of
the nation’s operational force.

Some
Guard and reserve troops will volunteer for assignment to a primarily strategic
reserve, avail­able only in case of national emergency. Other Guard units will
focus on homeland defense missions.

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