Reserve Supply in the Post-Desert Storm Recruiting Environment

📖 The Scoop

Recent military actions, budgetary restrictions, changes in the structure of the Armed Forces, and increasing reliance on flexible manpower capacity are making reserve issues increasingly important. While previous econometric estimates and inventory projection models for the reserves provides useful insights, they may not be sufficient for guiding future policy. Attitudes and expectations concerning the reserve commitment are likely to be different in the era after Operation Desert Shield and Storm (ODS). Moreover, changes in the size and structure of the active force and recruiting programs are likely to have profound implications for the flow of personnel into the reserves, These changes, coupled with the escalating requirement for innovative and cost-effective reserve manpower policies, suggest the need for new research. In an exploratory effort focusing on supply-side reserves issues, the research presented in this paper reviews current reserve recruiting issues, develops a basic framework to guide future analyses of these issues, and outlines alternative policy options for manpower managers in the post-ODS era. The research approach consists of four primary tasks. First, the recent events and policies that have contributed to the creation of the new reserve recruiting environment are reviewed. Second, the post-Desert Storm recruiting experiences examined using available data to develop some preliminary insights into the effects of recent events and personnel policies on reserve supply. Third, a basic conceptual framework for guiding future research on the reserves is developed. For the fourth task, the research discusses policy alternatives and establishes the basis for a continuing research agenda.

Genre: History / Wars & Conflicts / Persian Gulf War (1991) (fancy, right?)