To get back on topic here, the Army is currently undergoing regeneration. Obviously, not being able to copy and paste the entire 300 some-odd page regeneration document here, I'll attempt to pull out the parts that are pertinent to this discussion and the Army Reserve. Here it goes:
The Army has identified several operational capabilities that are suitable for development as â Å“Reserve-onlyâ ? functions. In addition to individual augmentation of trained ARes personnel to operations, and provision of formations from traditional capabilities, the ARes will be the single provider of the Army's CIMIC, Psychological Operations (PSYOPS), and dedicated CBRN force generation capability. These new capabilities will be remain manned on a part-time basis until such time as individual soldiers or formations are generated for a specific mission requirements. The ARes will continue to support, when required, the generation of sub-units, and sub-sub-units, from within the traditional arms in each of the Land Force Areas. Close coordination with DLFR and DCDS staffs will be necessary to determine the degree to which ARes capabilities either replace or complement Regular Force and civilian agencies as first responders in a domestic crisis situation.
3Much work in the development of new capabilities remains to be done before these specialized units are fully emplaced in the institutional ARes. Under the guidance of the LFRR project, the Director of Land Reserve Management (DLRM), in concert with DLSP and other LS Dirs will oversee the stand-up of new ARes capabilities, and implement such establishments and funding levels as to ensure their appropriate manning and training. The goal will be capabilities of sufficient depth to ensure their continuing ability to support the Army's continuing operational commitments whenever required.
The successful deployments of Composite Reserve Companies (CRC) to Op PALLADIUM has proven the viability of re-grouping ARes individual augmentees into formed sub-units. These re-groupings allow for greater ARes leadership exposure to operations, and increased operational tempo relief for the Regular Force. While no Land Force Area is currently planning deployment of a composite ARes company overseas, the ARes will remain committed to having the ability to force generate at least two composite companies per year in order to augment high Readiness forces on an individual or sub-sub unit basis.
Augmentation - Land Force Areas will continue to force generate their deployment packages as required, utilizing formed ARes sub-units when necessary and appropriate. In the longer term, the ARes envisions a more predicable pattern of operational commitment that would permit greater lead-time for work-up training and business planning. In due course, appropriate ARes capabilities will be incorporated into the Managed Readiness Plan and will be reported on in Level 2 HQ Operational Readiness Reports.
The raison d'etre of the ARes is it's ability to force generate individuals, sub-sub-units and sub-units for operations as required, and it will remain highly committed to augmenting the Regular Force whenever possible. As such, the ARes will continue to provide individual augmentees when required as a priority. Second to individual augmentation, the ARes will seek to develop deployable and employable new capabilities, either exclusively or with the Regular Force, as quickly as possible. Thirdly, the ARes supports the re-grouping of ARes augmentees into formed sub-units for operations, and the force generation of ARes operational packages, as required by the Army's High Readiness Tasks.
ARes commitment to the CMTC at this point is still very much in development. However, it is envisaged that as that facility and trg cycle and methodology matures, the ARes will play increasingly significant roles. As a start point, the ARes will force generate up to five company/squadron group size elements each year starting in 2006 that will cycle through the CMTC workup and exercise sequence. It is currently planned that Reservists will participate in a CMTC serial in summer 06 (TF 5-06) and in summer 07 (TF 5-07).This trg cycle will culminate in the ARes company groups participation in a two-three week long trg exercise at CMTC, nominally scheduled for the later part of August in each trg year. These companies will be identified through the Managed Readiness Plan and will be force generated by the LFA in the high readiness cycle. There will also be scope for increased ARes participation in the OPFOR requirement for CMTC, details of which are still being resolved.