Army To Overhaul Guard, Reserve Missions

The Army plans to bring the National Guard and reserve components in line with the active duty force. Speaking during the Association of the U.S. Army annual meeting in Washington on Oct. 10, Forces Command commander Gen. Charles C. Campbell said that the reorganization would ensure that Guard and reserve units would have the both the equipment and the training necessary to be fully operational with the active force. At the same time, he said, Guard members and reservists would still be able to fulfill traditional homeland security missions. Under the changes, Guard and reserve units would be placed in one of three pools, depending upon factors such as their readiness status and how recently they returned from deployment. While some recuperate and stand ready to assist in disaster-relief missions, others would undergo training. Those units that are ready to deploy would be placed in the third "available" pool.