Reserve Component Readiness Highest Ever
By Kathleen T. Rhem
American Forces Press Service
WASHINGTON, Sept. 9, 2004 -- The state of readiness among today's reserve-
component forces is higher than it has been in the nation's history, the
official responsible for equipping and training those forces said today.
Assistant Secretary of Defense for Reserve Affairs Thomas Hall said he believes
the high state of readiness among National Guard and Reserve troops is
indicative of the goodness in the American people.
"I believe the thing that has been said about America and our goodness is (that
it) is not at all in the science and not at all in the equipment, but in all
the people," he said during an interview with the Pentagon Channel and American
Forces Press Service.
Hall said the Guard and Reserve are representative of the American people
because they are truly citizen-soldiers. He added that he believes today's
generation of young people has the potential to be the next "greatest
generation."
"Sometimes we say the younger generation is this or that. I think what the
younger generation is today is patriotic," the secretary said. "And they are
answering the call to colors just like their fathers, grandfathers (and)
grandmothers did throughout the past."
Today's National Guard and Reserve troops are deployed to virtually every
location and every mission that requires active-duty servicemembers. "So when
you look in the Sinai, you look in Bosnia, Kosovo, Afghanistan, Korea, Europe,
Iraq -- almost anywhere in the world -- you'll find guardsmen and reservists
alongside their active-duty brethren," Hall said. "And in a totally integrated
force, that's what you need."
Hall, a retired two-star Navy admiral, said he believes recruiting and
retention will be among the greatest challenges facing the reserve components
in the immediate future. With 400,000 guardsmen and reservists mobilized since
Sept. 11, 2001, and 157,000 still activated today, he said the war on terrorism
has led to the largest mobilization of reserve-component troops since the
Korean War.
Historically, Hall explained, there has been a dip in retention rates following
major conflicts. And, he added, there is no reason to believe this one should
be any different. "It's a natural thing," he said. "When you've been in a war
or a combat situation and you come back from that, you're not always
enthusiastic about immediately going back to that. You need a decompression
period.
"So during that period of time, some people will say this is just not for me,"
he added.
So far, all the reserve components have met their retention goals for fiscal
2004, which ends Sept. 30. And all but one, the Army National Guard, have met
their recruiting goals. Hall said the Army Guard will end the fiscal year 2
percent below its end-strength goal due to a slight recruiting shortfall,
specifically a shortage in recruiting prior-service troops.
"Not as many people have come out of the active Army to join" the National
Guard, he said.
The secretary noted recruiting is always challenging, and it's vital "to ensure
that we make service in the Guard and Reserve just as attractive as it always
has been."
Policymakers need to consider what Hall called the "three-legged stool" -- the
individual, the family members and the employer. If all three are not happy,
chances are an individual won't re-enlist. "We have to make sure that those
three legs are equal, (that) each one of them agree or the stool will tumble
over," he said.
In a message directly to the reserve-component troops, Hall urged them to thank
their employers, their families and their communities. He said he's touched by
how supportive Americans are of their troops, which is evident in heartfelt
displays of support in towns and cities across the country.
"Once again," he said, "it's a symbol (that) the strength and the goodness of
this country is in our people and the way our people respond."
Biography:
Assistant Secretary of Defense for Reserve Affairs
Thomas Hall
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