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Total Force: Fleet Forces Command Partnering with Naval Reserve Force
Story Number: NNS031028-02
Release Date: 10/28/2003 11:05:00 AM
From Fleet Forces Command Public Affairs
NORFOLK, Va (NNS) -- The Chief of Naval Operations recently assigned Commander, Naval Reserve Force and the Commander, Naval Reserve Forces Command, additional duties reporting to Commander of U.S. Fleet Forces Command, Adm. William Fallon, in an effort to more closely align its Reserve and active forces and improve combat efficiency and effectiveness. This action will strengthen ties between the Navy's active and Reserve forces and is the first step in an initiative that seeks to first better define, and subsequently better construct, a cohesive "Total Force" team that can more effectively satisfy the Navy's operational requirements.
The end state of this initiative will be a more integrated total force in which Naval Reserve capabilities are tied directly to active units in support of Sea Power 21 mission capabilities.
"The first step in this initiative is to have the active component define exactly what requirements they have for Reserve forces. The second step is going to be to structure the Reserve force to meet that requirement. And the third step is having the active component take ownership of the training and readiness state of this new Reserve force. This has never occurred before." said Rear Adm. David Anderson, recently appointed U.S. Fleet Forces Command director of force integration.
Coordination has already begun with a complete zero-based review (ZBR) of Naval Reserve capabilities. Active duty commands have already been tasked to identify their Reserve requirements and to describe potential new capabilities they need from the Reserves to more readily meet their mission requirements.
"We're conducting a detailed analysis of existing and desired Reserve capabilities to shape our Reserve force to integrate seamlessly with the active duty. This will help us ensure we are making the best use of our manpower and funding for both the Navy and DOD. As a matter of fact, this zero-based review will help us get our arms around training and readiness requirements and identify any capability gaps in our active force that the Reserves may be able to better fill," said Anderson.
Based on the findings, U.S. Fleet Forces Command will work with principal Navy organizations to affix how Reserve forces can better integrate with the active component. Eventually, by matching present capabilities to those projected as most relevant, the Navy will shape the Reserve force to better complement its active fighting force.
"Let's face it, Total Force - the balance between our active and Reserve components - is vital to our smaller Navy, and to our nation's global war on terrorism. Realigning our Reserve Force is more critical now than ever before in order to keep our Navy the most lethal in the world," said Anderson.
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Fallon Spells Out Future of Fleet Forces Command - 10/9/2003
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