Army Reserve Forces: Applying Features of Other Countries' Reserves Could Provide Benefits
NSIAD-91-239
Published: Aug 30, 1991. Publicly Released: Aug 30, 1991.
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Highlights
Pursuant to a congressional request, GAO examined how Germany, the Netherlands, Norway, the United Kingdom, and the Soviet Union organize and train their army reserves to identify features that the U.S. Army might consider as it restructures its forces.
Recommendations
Recommendations for Executive Action
| Agency Affected | Recommendation | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Department of the Army | Before the Army fully incorporates cadre forces into its force structure, the Secretary of the Army should: (1) use the lessons learned in other countries to test the cadre concept at both the division and other organizational levels, for support as well as combat units, and under various staffing and leadership arrangements; and (2) explore alternatives to the cadre concept, such as the Unit Cohesion Model. |
Closed – Not Implemented
The Army no longer plans to integrate cadre units into its force.
|
| Department of the Army | In considering the merits of adopting or expanding the features identified, the Secretary of the Army should use the existing management process for updating the Reserve Components Training Development Action Plan to examine alternative means of increasing the percentage of reservists who continue in the same military occupational specialty as their active duty service or previous reserve assignment, particularly in the National Guard. |
Closed – Implemented
Legislation now requires soldiers to have served on active duty in the same military occupational specialty and skill level as the position being occupied in the Reserve component unit. DOD is examining alternatives to help ensure that military occupational specialty changes are minimized.
|
| Department of the Army | In considering the merits of adopting or expanding the features identified, the Secretary of the Army should use the existing management process for updating the Reserve Components Training Development Action Plan to examine the feasibility of stratifying the amount of training required of reservists based on how recently they served on active duty, the complexity of their assignments, and the relevancy of their civilian jobs to their military positions. |
Closed – Implemented
DOD does not intend to further stratify its training requirements because it believes doing so would not enhance unit coordination, cohesion, or integrity.
|
| Department of the Army | As potential cost-saving measures for both active and reserve forces, the Secretary of the Army should review the practicality of: (1) expanding the sharing of equipment among units; (2) expanding the Army's use of humidity-controlled plastic bags as a means of storing equipment; and (3) entering into additional peacetime contingency agreements with the private sector to provide assets and services upon mobilization. |
Closed – Implemented
DOD does not plan to expand the practice of sharing equipment due to problems this would cause when units are mobilized. It is currently testing the feasibility of storing equipment in humidity-controlled warehouses. Army initiatives are under way to combine logistics services with other DOD agencies and to contract out where possible with civilian agencies.
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Topics
Armed forces reserve trainingArmed forces reservesArmy reservistsCombat readinessDefense contingency planningForeign military trainingMilitary forcesNational defense operationsNational GuardMilitary reserve personnel