United States Armed Forces Reserve

from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

The Reserve of the United States Armed Forces ( English : reserve components of the United States Armed Forces ) includes all military organizations and personnel in the United States, to which the federal government as required to complement their professional armed forces can rely. Essentially, it consists of three components, individual reservists who are directly assigned to active units of the armed forces and federal authorities as a supplement ( English Individual Mobilization Augmentees ), the reserve units of the armed forces ( English reserves ), which are directly subordinate to the Ministry of Defense , and the troops subordinate to the federal states National Guard , which can be subordinated to the Ministry of Defense ( English mobilized for federal active duty ). This system goes back to the historical development in which the federal states were granted the right to own militias in the constitution , on the other hand the need to centrally coordinate the development of the armed forces of the federal government in the event of war and to prepare this in peacetime. The reserves in the USA today, like the active soldiers, basically consist of volunteers. Reservists usually serve in one of these two reserve organizations or are assigned directly to an active unit of the armed forces as a supplement. You do a minimum of 38 days of service per year as a soldier or you are exempt from practicing.

assignment

The U.S. Military Code, Title 10 of federal law , defines the mandate of reserve components as follows:

“The purpose of each reserve component is to provide trained units and qualified persons available for active duty in the armed forces, in time of war or national emergency, and at such other times as the national security may require, to fill the needs of the armed forces whenever more units and persons are needed than are in the regular components. "

“The purpose of each reserve component is to provide trained units and persons for active service in the armed forces, both in times of war and national emergency, and on occasions when national security requires it to meet the needs of the armed forces cover when more staff and associations are needed than are available. "

- TITLE 10, Subtitle E, Part I, Chapter 1003, § 10102

organization

Strength of the reserve components of the armed forces:

Reservist component Workforce
Armed Forces Reserve
Seal of the United States Army Reserve, svg United States Army Reserve 190,000
Air Force Reserve Command.png United States Air Force Reserve Command 70,000
Seal of the United States Navy Reserve, svg United States Navy Reserve 60,000
Marine Forces Reserve insignia (transparent background) .png United States Marine Corps Reserve 38,000
Seal of the United States Coast Guard Reserve.png United States Coast Guard Reserve 6,200
Seal of the United States National Guard, svg National Guard
Seal of the United States Army National Guard, svg Army National Guard 333,000
US-AirNationalGuard-2007Emblem.svg Air National Guard 107,000
total 802,000

Federal Reserve

U.S. Army Reserve medical personnel activated during the COVID-19 pandemic

The armed forces reserve units are directly available to the federal government of the United States . They are directly connected to the active armed forces and largely correspond to them in terms of uniforms and equipment. The reserve units of the federal government are the Army Reserve , the Navy Reserve , the Air Force Reserve , the Marine Corps Reserve and the Coast Guard Reserve . Except for the marine infantry, the focus of the reserve units is on training, support and logistics units. The marine infantry has a complete division, squadron and logistics group in reserve.

The reserve units in the USA usually do not operate their own training courses for men and officers. The reservists, if they have not previously served actively, undergo individual training together with the active soldiers and are placed in active status for the duration of the training.

National Guard

Philadelphia Police and National Guard, during the demonstrations over the death of George Floyd

The second reserve component is the National Guard . It is a state militia that is deployed by the individual states and the US territories. The power of command over the units of the National Guard rests with the governor of the respective deploying state, who can use them, for example, in the event of unrest or natural disasters and other accidents; Parts of the National Guard are subordinate to the federal government only by a resolution of the Congress or a decree of the President or Minister of Defense. The National Guard is divided into Army National Guard and Air National Guard . The respective national guards of the states already work closely with the respective armed forces on a daily basis and have to comply with the standards of this armed forces in terms of equipment and training in order to be able to be integrated at any time. The Army National Guard consists primarily of combat units, including special forces and large interstate units, including divisions. The majority of the soldiers in the National Guard are reservists. Some associations are partially active or active associations with a number of long-term soldiers and professional soldiers.

Militias

Georgia State Guard on a rescue drill

The law continues to mention militias. The organized militias are deployed exclusively by the federal states and are the national guard and in some states also a state guard ( English State Defense Force or State Militia ), which is not subordinate to the federal government. They are mainly used in border, civil or disaster control or to support the police in major situations . Your loved ones serve voluntarily.

Unorganized militia ( English unorganized militia ) or reserve militia basically include all male Americans or foreigners with the intention of naturalization between the ages of 17 and 45 as well as female members of the National Guard. The activation of the unorganized militia is subject to the regulation of the individual states, is regulated differently, and is mostly limited to war and emergencies. The relatives can then be used as reinforcement for the State Guard or the police if they do not serve in the active armed forces or are subject to another exception. There is usually no preparation for mobilization. The unorganized militias are therefore less of an organization, but rather represent a local conscription in the event of war, in extreme emergencies and during disasters.

The militia movement in the United States does not belong to the unorganized militia because it has no sovereign duties and powers and is not subject to the state authorities. From a legal point of view, these are therefore private associations, even if these militias often claim otherwise and refer to the military legislation with the section on unorganized militias . However , under the United States Constitution, Congress and the individual states have the exclusive right to set up and regulate militias.

With the exception of the National Guard, members of the organized and unorganized militia do not belong to the federal armed forces and are therefore not reservists under military legislation.

Auxiliary group

Radio amateur of the Military Auxiliary Radio System

Many federal or state security organizations and agencies in the United States have auxiliaries. These are voluntarily and legally organized independently and carry out support tasks for the state partner organization. The relatives work on a voluntary basis and, unlike the reserve, do not have combatant status and cannot be used for combat tasks. The following organizations exist at the federal level:

Reservists

category

According to the law, reserve soldiers are classified into one category. Depending on which reserve component they are assigned and which training status they are in.

Ready reserve

The ready reserve are all soldiers who are assigned to an active unit of the armed forces or the reserve component and can be activated immediately.

  • Selceted Reserve are soldiers of these units who are subject to training. The Drilling Reserve for the reserve components of the armed forces, Active Guard Reserve for the National Guard and Individual Mobilization Augmentees for active units of the armed forces are assigned. Regular practice means at least one weekend per month and two weeks per year. However, designated reservists such as special forces or pilots have a higher exercise obligation in order to maintain the skills in their use.
  • Individual Ready Reserve or Inactive National Guard are reservists who are not subject to any duty to maintain training. Military service members of the Reserve Officer Training Corps also belong to this category. Reservists who are not in training have to report to their unit once a year.
Standby reserve

In the standby reserve , reservists are grouped together who are not assigned to a unit and are not engaged in any exercises. She could not be mobilized temporarily for professional or health reasons. After the obstacle has been removed, the reservists return to the ready reserve .

Retired reserve

The retired reserve are all reservists who receive pension payments after at least 20 years of service as an active soldier or reservist or who later have a pension entitlement. Once the active unit or reserve unit has been transferred to this status, they are no longer obliged to exercise, but can individually be returned to active service or active reserve as long as they have not reached the age of sixty. This reserve component represents a pool of experienced soldiers.

A general reserve status as in Germany with the general reserve of former soldiers or substitute reserve of unserved conscripts does not exist in the United States. A former soldier or reservist who is not available for mobilization so that none of the above categories is located is not a reservist. He is no longer entitled to use his last rank or to exercise privileges from soldier status. Exceptions are retirees who are released into retirement directly from active service or the retired reserve . Young men registered in the Selective Service System are also not reservists.

Service in the reserve

Recruitment and training

In principle, soldiers in the US armed forces commit themselves voluntarily for a total service period of eight years, which is made up of service time in an active unit and in the reserve. The active period of service can be between two and six years for the initial commitment, the rule is four years, but can be extended later on request and if necessary. At the end of the contractual active service period, the soldiers are assigned to a unit as reservists. Due to the training during active service, no further training is usually necessary. The period of service in the reserve takes place with or without exercise, depending on the regulations of the armed forces, and can be voluntarily extended, for example to receive a pension entitlement via an extended service in the reserve.

The second option is a voluntary obligation to serve exclusively in the Reserve or the National Guard without serving in active units. In principle, all possible uses of the armed forces are also open to reservists, including highly specialized uses such as a fighter pilot or service in a special unit . The training is generally completed jointly with active soldiers at training facilities of the active armed forces. You are in a special active status ( English Initial Active Duty for Training ), have the same rights and duties as an active soldier and have the same pay. In the case of lengthy training, such as special forces, ordnance disposal or fighter pilots, this status can last for several years. With the completion of the training you are transferred to the reserve unit and carry out your regular exercises and otherwise go to civilian employment.

Continuing engagement and retirement

A further obligation in the exercising reserve can theoretically take place up to the age of 60, as long as one is healthy and fulfills the sporting requirements in the regular fitness test. Promotions and further training are largely subject to the regulations of the active units. However, soldiers of the National Guard cannot be transferred to reserve units outside the state because the National Guard is basically a state militia. After at least 20 years of service, you can switch to the retired reserve and receive a pension entitlement that is paid out at the age of 60. The calculations for this are based on a point system, so that this claim can only be achieved when practicing in the Selctive Reserve or through regularly longer active service times as a reservist. Activation from the retired reserve outside of war is possible, but very unlikely after more than five years.

Privileges

Reservists enjoy the following privileges in the United States. For this they have their own Military ID, which explains your rights. They may also exercise these privileges outside of exercises or active service hours:

  • Management of the current rank
  • Access to support and leisure facilities of the armed forces such as B. golf courses, holiday hotels
  • Transport with the Air Force's own personal transport flights, if spaces are available. English Space A Travel for private purposes
  • Tax-free purchases in Post Exchange (Px) and Commissary
  • After 20 years of service, you are entitled to a pension including health insurance when you reach the age of 60

Reserve officer

Hands-on training from the Reserve Officer Training Corps on the University of Michigan campus

The system of officer training in the United States makes no fundamental distinction between officer and reserve officer training. This means that the officer candidates of the reserve troop units undergo officer training together with the active officer candidates. Special training courses for part-time reserve officer candidates are only available in the Army National Guard. Officers of the National Guard received a double patent ( English Double-Commission ) by the Governor of your state and also by the President of the United States.

Web links

Commons : Category: Reserve forces of the United States  - Collection of pictures, videos and audio files

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ Harvey M. Sapolsky, Eugene Gholz, Caitlin Talmadge: US Defense Politics: The Origins of Security Policy . 1st edition. Routledge, New York 2008, ISBN 978-0-415-77265-5 , pp. 31 (English).
  2. ↑ Management of Individual Mobilization Augmentees (IMAs). (pdf) Instruction Number 1235.11. In: www.esd.whs.mil. Department of Defense, July 10, 2015, accessed June 24, 2020 .
  3. ↑ Harvey M. Sapolsky, Eugene Gholz, Caitlin Talmadge: US Defense Politics: The Origins of Security Policy . 1st edition. Routledge, New York 2008, ISBN 978-0-415-77265-5 , pp. 27 (English).
  4. ↑ a b c d e f Reserve Component Personnel Issues: Questions and Answers. (pdf) RL30802. In: fas.org. Congressional Research Service, June 15, 2020, accessed June 24, 2020 .
  5. ↑ Selected Reserve Personnel by Reserve Component and Rank / Grade (Updated Monthly). In: www.dmdc.osd.mil. Defense Manpower Data Center, April 2020, accessed June 23, 2020 .
  6. ↑ a b c 10 US Code § 246 - Militia: composition and classes. In: www.law.cornell.edu. Retrieved July 17, 2020 .
  7. ↑ 10 US Code § 247 - Militia duty: exemptions. In: www.law.cornell.edu. Retrieved July 17, 2020 .
  8. ↑ Article I, Section 8: .... To provide for organizing, arming, and disciplining, the militia, and for governing such part of them as may be employed in the service of the United States, reserving to the states respectively, the appointment of the officers, and the authority of training the militia according to the discipline prescribed by Congress; ... In: www.law.cornell.edu. Retrieved July 17, 2020 .
  9. ^ Stewart Smith: What Is the Minimum Military Enlistment Obligation? Joining the Military. In: www.thebalancecareers.com. The Balance Careers, April 13, 2020, accessed July 17, 2020 .