Mission and History
As provided in 10 USC 10301, the Reserve Forces Policy Board, acting through the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Reserve Affairs, is the principal policy advisor to the Secretary of Defense on National Guard and Reserve component matters. The Board acts independently to monitor, review and evaluate proposals, actions and situations impacting the National Guard and Reserve forces and, as provided in 10 USC 113, reports annually (transmitted by the Secretary of Defense) to the President and Congress.
Fact Sheet
The Reserve Forces Policy Board was created by act of Congress in 1952. The predecessor of the Board was the Committee on the Civilian Components, created in 1947 as a result of an Executive Order of President Truman.
Title 10, United States Code (USC) 10301(c) provides that, "The Board, acting through the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Reserve Affairs, is the principal policy adviser to the Secretary of Defense on matters relating to the Reserve components."
The Board reviews Reserve component programs in an annual report transmitted by the Secretary of Defense to the President and the Congress as required under title 10 USC 113(c)(3). It also provides information on its field studies.
The Board advises on all matters relating to the Reserve components. It evaluates proposals by its members or other agencies for changes to existing laws and policies and recommends appropriate actions.
The Board is composed of 24 members, including a civilian chairman; the assistant secretaries of the Army, Navy, and Air Force responsible for Reserve components; a regular officer from each of the three military departments; a general/flag officer from the Joint Chiefs of Staff; a general officer from the active Marine Corps; two officers from each of the six Department of Defense Reserve components plus two officers, regular or Reserve, of the Coast Guard; and a Reserve general or flag officer who serves without vote as military adviser to the chairman and as executive officer of the Board.
Board members represent a wide range of industrial, business, professional, and civic experience, in addition to their military expertise. Reserve component members, combined with the civilian and active component members, provide the Secretary of Defense with a unique and independent body of senior officials to review and comment upon Reserve component programs and policies.
Governing Statute
§ 10301. Reserve Forces Policy Board
(a) There is in the Office of the Secretary of Defense a Reserve Forces Policy Board consisting of-
(1) a civilian chairman appointed by the Secretary of Defense;
(2) the Assistant Secretary of the Army for Manpower and Reserve Affairs, the Assistant Secretary of the Navy for Manpower and Reserve Affairs, and the Assistant Secretary of the Air Force for Manpower and Reserve Affairs;
(3) an officer of the Regular Army designated by the Secretary of the Army;
(4) an officer of the Regular Navy and an officer of the Regular Marine Corps each designated by the Secretary of the Navy;
(5) an officer of the Regular Air Force designated by the Secretary of the Air Force;
(6) four reserve officers designated by the Secretary of Defense upon the recommendation of the Secretary of the Army, two of whom must be members of the Army National Guard of the United States, and two of whom must be members of the Army Reserve;
(7) four reserve officers designated by the Secretary of Defense upon the recommendation of the Secretary of the Navy, two of whom must be members of the Naval Reserve, and two of whom must be members of the Marine Corps Reserve;
(8) four reserve officers designated by the Secretary of Defense upon the recommendation of the Secretary of the Air Force, two of whom must be members of the Air National Guard of the United States, and two of whom must be members of the Air Force Reserve; and
(9) a reserve officer of the Army, Navy, Air Force, or Marine Corps who is a general officer or flag officer designated by the Chairman of the Board with the approval of the Secretary of Defense. and who serves without vote as military adviser to the Chairman and as executive officer of the Board; and
(10) an officer of the Regular Army, Regular Navy, Regular Air Force, or Regular Marine Corps serving in a position on the Joint Staff who is designated by the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.
(b) Whenever the Coast Guard is not operating as a service in the Navy, the Secretary of Transportation may designate two officers of the Coast Guard, Regular or Reserve, to serve as voting members of the Board.
(c) The Board, acting through the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Reserve Affairs, is the principal policy adviser to the Secretary of Defense on matters relating to the reserve components.
(d) This section does not affect the committees on reserve policies prescribed by section 10302 through 10305 of this title.
(e) A member of a committee or board prescribed under a section listed in subsection (d) may, if otherwise eligible, be a member of the Reserve Forces Policy Board.
(f) The Board shall act on those matters referred to it by the Chairman and, in addition, on any matter raised by a member of the Board. (Aug. 10, 1956, ch. 1041, 70A Stat. 9; Dec. 1, 1967, P.L. 90-168, § 2(3), (4), 81 Stat. 521; P.L. 98-94, § 1212(b), Sept. 24, 1983, 97 Stat. 687; P.L. 98-525, § 1306, § 1405(4), Oct. 19, 1984, 98 Stat. 2612, 2622; P.L. 98-557, § 21, Oct. 30, 1984, 98 Stat. 2870; P.L. 99-433, § 531(a)(1), Oct. 1, 1986, 100 Stat. 1063.) (PL 103-337, § 921, Oct 5, 1994, 108 Stat. 2663)
§ 113. Secretary of Defense [EXCERPT]
(a) There is a Secretary of Defense, who is the head of the Department of Defense, appointed from civilian life by the President, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate. A person may not be appointed as Secretary of Defense within 10 years after relief from active duty as a commissioned officer of a regular component of an armed force.
(b) The Secretary is the principal assistant to the President in all matters relating to the Department of Defense. Subject to the direction of the President and to this title and section 2 of the National Security Act of 1947 (50 U.S.C. 401), he has authority, direction, and control over the Department of Defense.
(c) (1) The Secretary shall report annually in writing to the President and the Congress on the expenditures, work, and accomplishments of the Department of Defense during the period covered by the report, together with-
(A) a report from each military department on the expenditures, work, and accomplishments of that department;
(B) itemized statements showing the savings of public funds, and the eliminations of unnecessary duplications, made under sections 125 and 191 of this title;
(C) such recommendations as he considers appropriate.
(2) At the same time that the Secretary submits the annual report under paragraph (1), the Secretary shall transmit to the President and Congress a separate report from the Reserve Forces Policy Board on the reserve programs of the Department of Defense and on any other matters that the Reserve Forces Policy Board considers appropriate to include in the report.
