Selected Reserve

Selected Reserve
Unit name	Selected Reserve
Country	United States
Branch	United States Department of Defense
Type	Military reserve force

Selected Reserve. The Selected Reserve constitutes the core, trained, and immediately available segment of the United States military reserve forces. It is composed of personnel from the Army Reserve, Navy Reserve, Marine Corps Reserve, Air Force Reserve, and Coast Guard Reserve who are in an active drilling status. These members are required to maintain a high state of readiness and are the primary source for augmentation of the active duty force during contingency operations, national emergencies, and wartime.

Definition and purpose

The Selected Reserve is formally defined under Title 10 of the United States Code as those reserve units and individuals designated by their respective service secretaries as essential to initial wartime missions. Its fundamental purpose is to provide a trained and equipped force that can rapidly mobilize to support the active component across the full spectrum of military operations. This includes filling out active duty units, providing specialized capabilities not maintained in the regular military, and offering a strategic depth for sustained conflicts. The existence of the Selected Reserve is a cornerstone of the Total Force Policy, integrating reserve elements seamlessly with the United States Armed Forces.

Organization and components

The Selected Reserve is organized within the seven uniformed services but is primarily sourced from the five federal reserve components. Key formations include Army National Guard brigade combat teams, Navy Reserve expeditionary and aviation squadrons, Marine Forces Reserve infantry battalions, Air National Guard fighter wings, and Coast Guard Reserve port security units. Each component is structured under its own chain of command, such as the United States Army Reserve Command or Air Force Reserve Command, which report through their respective service chiefs to the Secretary of Defense. The National Guard Bureau administers the Army National Guard and Air National Guard, which have a dual state and federal mission under the authority of the governors and the President of the United States.

Training and readiness requirements

Members of the Selected Reserve are required to participate in a minimum of 48 scheduled drill periods, known as Unit Training Assemblies, and complete at least two weeks of annual training each year, often at major installations like Fort Bragg or Naval Air Station North Island. They must meet the same individual readiness standards as their active duty counterparts, including physical fitness tests under the Army Combat Fitness Test or Marine Corps Physical Fitness Test, weapons qualifications, and professional military education. Readiness is measured through evaluations like the Army's Mission Readiness Exercise and the Air Force's Operational Readiness Inspection, ensuring units are prepared for potential mobilization to locations such as U.S. Central Command's area of responsibility.

Activation and deployment

Activation of the Selected Reserve occurs through several legal authorities, most commonly a presidential reserve call-up under 10 U.S.C. § 12304, a partial mobilization under 10 U.S.C. § 12302, or a full mobilization under 10 U.S.C. § 12301. These authorities were extensively used following the September 11 attacks for operations in Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Iraqi Freedom. Deployments typically follow a cycle where reserve units are alerted, undergo pre-mobilization training at centers like Fort Bliss, and then deploy for periods generally not exceeding one year. The Global War on Terrorism has led to the repeated deployment of National Guard units such as the 34th Infantry Division and Air Force Reserve squadrons like the 507th Air Refueling Wing.

Benefits and incentives

To attract and retain personnel, members of the Selected Reserve are eligible for a comprehensive package of benefits and incentives. These include monthly drill pay, access to the Montgomery GI Bill and Post-9/11 GI Bill for education, low-cost health insurance through TRICARE Reserve Select, and retirement benefits under the Blended Retirement System. Special pay incentives are offered for critical skills, such as Aviation Continuation Pay for pilots. Additional benefits include commissary and exchange privileges, Space-Available travel on military aircraft, and life insurance through the Servicemembers' Group Life Insurance program.

Comparison to other reserve components

The Selected Reserve differs significantly from the Individual Ready Reserve and the Inactive National Guard, which consist of trained individuals who do not perform regular drills but remain liable for recall. While the Selected Reserve is in a paid, active status, the Individual Ready Reserve is an unpaid, non-drilling pool used to fill manpower shortages. Another key distinction is with the Active Guard and Reserve program, where reserve personnel serve on full-time active duty to support reserve units, unlike the traditional part-time commitment of most Selected Reserve members. The National Guard also possesses a unique status, as it can be activated for state missions, such as responding to Hurricane Katrina or civil disturbances, by a governor, a capability not held by the federal reserves.

Category:Military of the United States Category:Military reserve forces of the United States