Well, the very fact that the average combat unit is requiring six to twelve months of training would in my mind qualify as "not cutting it". I'd also look to the fact that most units that redeploy go to C4 because of the number of personnel who leave. Patrolling missions in Bosnia and the Sinai do not equate to deploying to Korea and fighting another Pusan Perimeter.
"You have no idea what NG and Reserve forces do."
Well, having spent 32 months assigned to a Readiness Group whose primary mission was to evaluate National Guard and Reserve units; having been in the National Guard member from 17 1/2 to 24 and; having been tagged a half dozen times to evaluate NG/Reverve units while stationed with the 82d at Fort Bragg; I'd say I have a fairly good idea of what the Army Reserve/National Guard forces are supposed to do and how well they do it.
Combat Support and Combat Service Support missions performed above division level are the right place for the reserves. Ports, Civil Affairs, Engineering, Medical Ops are fine. If we expect to be able to deploy to and fight a real war against a large, well armed and determined army then we'd had better have one of our own. The United States has been lucky in that since 1973 we've been fighting the military equivalent of the Keystone Cops. That may not last.
"The volunteer/day-care army" or navy/af...
Day-care! hahaha...more truth then folks want to admit...