The Army Reserve's mission, under Title 10 of the U.S. Code, is to provide trained, equipped, and ready Soldiers and cohesive units to meet the global requirements across the full spectrum of operations. The Army Reserve is a key element in The Army multi-component unit force, training with Active and National Guard units to ensure all three components work as a fully integrated team.
* Enabling the Army to do more with fewer resources, by providing a flexible, well-trained, complementary force that can expand and contract to meet the specific needs and challenges of each new mission.
* Training Soldiers at the highest possible level in one of nearly 200 specific skills in order to support the Army on any air, land or sea mission.
* Maintaining a force that can mobilize rapidly and skillfully at any moment to respond to a crisis or situation, or to defend America's interests at home and abroad.
* Building a stronger Army by drawing on the strength, support and success of all the diverse backgrounds and communities across America represented by the Soldiers in the Army Reserve.
* Anticipating the ever-evolving needs of today's modern Army and helping it transform into a smaller, faster, stronger force while continuing to protect the nation's interests.
* Implementing national objectives.
* Keeping the Army mobile, efficient and complete by providing specialized technological and troop support when and where it's needed most.
* Supporting national policies.
* Preserving the peace and security, and providing for the defense of the United States, the Territories, Commonwealths and Possessions, and any areas occupied by the United States.
* Overcoming aggressive acts from nations and terrorist groups that imperil the peace and security of the United States.
* Giving back to the community by providing civil support, i.e. food, shelter, safe drinking water and medical attention to our citizens during emergencies and natural disasters.
Powering the Army and defending America's interests
The world theater is changing daily. In order to protect our interests, our freedoms and our people, the role of the United States and its armed forces must also evolve. To defend our nation's interests, the country needs a force structure that is both flexible and responsive across all its elements, especially the Army Reserve.
The Army Reserve had performed a complementary role to the Active component, providing combat support and combat service support functions to enable the Army to ramp up its capabilities to protect combat forces and sustain mobilization.
To meet the challenges of the 21st century in the war on terrorism, the Army has had to redefine and restructure itself. It is becoming smaller, lighter and quicker. The Army Reserve is playing a critical role in this transformation. With over one million Soldiers available at any time, the Army Reserve provides a highly skilled, flexible force that can support the Army when and where they are needed most:
Combat Support
Combat Service Support
Peacekeeping
Nation-building
Civil Support
The Army Reserve makes up only 20 percent of the Army's organized units, but it provides about half of the Army's combat support and a quarter of the Army's mobilization base expansion capability. At 5.3 percent of the Army's budget, the Army Reserve provides a cost-effective solution to the Army's need for specialized capabilities.
The Army Reserve contributes to the Army's Total Force
by providing 100% of the:
Chemical Brigades
Internment Brigades
Judge Advocate General Unit
Medical Groups
Railway Units
Training & Exercise Divisions
Water Supply Battalions
...more than two-thirds of the Army's:
Civil Affairs Units
Psychological Operations Units
Transportation Groups
Motor Battalions
Chemical Battalions
Hospitals
Medical Brigades
Theater Signal Commands
...and nearly half of the Army's:
Petroleum Battalions
Adjutant General Units
Petroleum Groups
Transportation Command
Terminal Battalions
Public Affairs Units