usmilitary.about.com
In 1973, DOD adopted the total force policy, which recognized that active and reserve U.S. military forces should be readily available to support military operations. As a result, reserve forces were no longer considered to be forces of last resort; rather, they are now recognized as indispensable to the nation's defense from the earliest days of a conflict.
In addition, the reserves' peacetime support to the active forces has taken on increased importance in areas such as peacekeeping missions, counterdrug operations, disaster aid, and exercise support. ,b>The seven reserve components are the Army Reserve, Army National Guard, Air Force Reserve, Air National Guard, Naval Reserve, Marine Corps Reserve, and Coast Guard Reserve....
Federal Call-Up Authority
Title 10 U.S.C. 12301(a) provides that, in time of war or national emergency declared by the Congress, the entire membership of all reserve components or any lesser number can be called to active duty for the duration of the war or national emergency plus 6 months. Although this statute normally is viewed as the call-up authority for responding to a major threat to national security, DOD stated that it could be used to activate reservists for a domestic emergency. However, it has never been used for this purpose.
Title 10 U.S.C. 12302 provides that, in time of national emergency declared by the President, up to 1 million members of the Ready Reserve can be called to active duty for not more than 24 consecutive months. Similar to the previous authority, DOD stated that this statute could also provide access to reservists for a domestic emergency, although it has never been used for this purpose....
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If I remember correctly, Bush has used something like 45% of the reserves that he could call on but the 24 month limit is going to be hit for those he has called. Who knows, maybe Bush is secretly glad to have the British memo leaked that floats the trial balloon of force reduction in 2006.
Who knows, maybe he leaked it. It's better than announcing a draft in 2006. |
