Path: utzoo!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!cs.utexas.edu!samsung!emory!att!cbnews!cbnews!military
From: bcstec!shuksan!major@uunet.UU.NET (Mike Schmitt)
Newsgroups: sci.military
Subject: Re: Changes to the Reserves.
Message-ID: <1991Mar18.003926.23568@cbnews.att.com>
Date: 18 Mar 91 00:39:26 GMT
References: <1991Mar8.022927.9421@cbnews.att.com> <1991Mar14.014929.18556@cbnews.att.com>
Sender: military@cbnews.att.com (william.b.thacker)
Organization: The Boeing Co., MMST, Seattle, Wa.
Lines: 62
Approved: military@att.att.com



From: bcstec!shuksan!major@uunet.UU.NET (Mike Schmitt)

> From: cga66@ihlpy.att.com (Patrick V Kauffold)
 
> > 	Rumor has it that there will be *big* changes to the Reserves and
> > National Guard as a result of the NTC and Ft. Hood fiascos. 

> I suspect that there will be some reorganization, revision of mission
> areas, and re-allocation of personnel.  But Reserve force levels are
> set by statute and agreements with DOD service commands, and this process
> is EXTREMELY political.  So this will provide an opportunity for extensive
> Congressional hearings and plenty of politicking behind the scenes by
> such interest groups as ROA, Navy League, etc.  My guess is that there
> will be some reasonable functional changes as a result of the Gulf
> mobilization, plus some cosmetic changes, plus some politically motivated
> changes.

  I think you'll see some sweeping changes - especially in the reserve
  component combat units - specifically the brigades.

  SecDef Cheney has stated that the "round-out" concept of a reserve
  component combat brigade 'assigned' as the third brigade of an active
  division, simply did not work as planned.  Training and the NTC uncovered
  some serious deficiencies in combat readiness.  No reserve component 
  combat units were deployed to the Gulf.  Active divisions that are tabbed
  for 'rapid-deployment' to trouble spots must be complete divisions.
  Reserve component combat brigades may be formed into divisions for follow-on
  deployments.  


> This will depend on the force levels in the Regulars and Reserves after the
> dust settles; if force levels drop (people get out, recruiting drops off),
> then standards drop.

  According to one report by the end of 1995 conventional forces would
  look like this, according to the new defense budget proposals submitted
  in February: 

  The Army would cut down to 12 active divisions (down from 18) and six
  National Guard divisions (down from 10).

  The Air Force reduces to 15 active tactical fighter wings and 11 in
  reserve components (down from 24 and 12 today).   

  The Navy would be reduced to 451 ships (down from 545); 12 aircraft
  carriers (loss of 1) and 11 active carrier air wings (down from 13) and
  no battleships.

  Marine Corps is unaffected.  Its force structure is written into law, at
  three active divisions and three air wings. 

  Reserve components will see about a 20% loss in authorized personnel.

  Strategic Sealift is to be boosted with an increase in the Ready Reserve
  Fleet.  Airlift, however, will remain at current levels. (Well, they won't
  have that much to carry will they?) 
 
  
  Mike Schmitt