Path: utzoo!utgpu!jarvis.csri.toronto.edu!mailrus!ames!pacbell!att!cbnews!ssc-vax!shuksan!major@beaver.cs.washington.edu
From: ssc-vax!shuksan!major@beaver.cs.washington.edu (Mike Schmitt)
Newsgroups: sci.military
Subject: Guard and Reserves
Keywords: Foreign Armies
Message-ID: <5114@cbnews.ATT.COM>
Date: 24 Mar 89 04:24:29 GMT
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From: ssc-vax!shuksan!major@beaver.cs.washington.edu (Mike Schmitt)

    To my knowledge the British also have a 'reserve' component which
    they call the "Territorials".  These units, made up of former
    active duty soldiers are responsible for 'home defence'.  

    The German Bundeswehr also has a reseve or Territorial force known
    as the WBK (Wehrbereitskommando) which is a headquarters-type unit 
    in each German 'Land' (State) equivilent to our National Guard.
    Subordinate units are VBK (Verbereitskommando) which can be military
    police units, signal units, light infantry companies, rail and 
    transportation security, and civil affairs.  Their major function in
    wartime is to assist NATO in transporting to the battlefields and what
    is called "host nation support".  The WBK and VBK are usually called
    to 'active duty' during REFORGER exercises.  

    This is what I can remember about the WBK/VBK and the very fine officers
    that supported my units in Germany.  There may be more information 
    details that I've omitted (or could be in error).


    major