Army Reserve fast becoming 'broken' force - General points to Iraq, 'dysfunctional' policies

Baltimore Sun ^ | January 5, 2005 | Tom Bowman

[Former Military Chick]

WASHINGTON - The Army Reserve, a force of 200,000 part-time soldiers that provides key support in Iraq and Afghanistan with medics, engineers and truck drivers, "is rapidly degenerating into a 'broken' force," its top general told senior Army leaders.

In a blunt memo, Lt. Gen. James R. "Ron" Helmly, chief of the Army Reserve, noted the demands of overseas commitments and the unwillingness of Army and Pentagon officials to change "dysfunctional" policies that hamper the Reserve on issues such as training, extension of service and the mobilization of his soldiers.

The Dec. 20 memo, which was obtained by The Sun, says "current demands" in Iraq and Afghanistan put his command in "grave danger" of being unable to meet other potential Pentagon missions or help with domestic emergencies, and that the Army Reserve "is rapidly degenerating into a 'broken' force."

"The purpose of this memorandum is to inform you of the Army Reserve's inability ... to meet mission requirements" associated with Iraq and Afghanistan "and to reset and regenerate its forces for follow-on and future missions," Helmly wrote in the eight-page memo sent through channels to the Army chief of staff, Gen. Peter J. Schoomaker.

"I do not wish to sound alarmist," Helmly wrote. "I do wish to send a clear, distinctive signal of deepening concern."

Interviewed yesterday at the Pentagon, Helmly said: "I stand by the memorandum. Is there frustration? Absolutely. Is the frustration beyond control? No."

The memo was designed as a frank exchange with Army leaders in advance of congressional hearings, Helmly said, adding that he plans to press ahead with reforms for the long-term health of the Reserve.

"Loyalty means I share with the chain of command my best professional judgment," he said.

[Former Military Chick]

They say the purpose of this memo is to inform of the Reserve's inability to meet mission requirements, I say horse hockey.

[Max Combined]

If he can't get the job done, fire his butt and put someone in there who can.

[Santana]

I hope my niece who is serving as a medic in Iraq with the Army Reserve doesn't hear she's "broken".

[pepsionice]

The guy can't fix the problem unless the army gives him a massive pile of money...and it ain't going to happen. The active duty force does not want to see huge sums of money going to the reserve and guard...face that fact. My guess is that we will eventually milk the entire reserve and guard team down...and they will be worthless for about ten to fifteen years until congress gets extremely mad over the entire issue.

[LibWhacker]

Democrat. Two to one he's a democrat.

[claudiustg]

---"Loyalty means I share with the chain of command my best professional judgment," he said.---

So why is this public?

[em2vn]

I think the nation would do well to heed his words. Retention is a major problem.

[Plutarch]

There is no doubt that the Bush Administration expected Iraq to more of a liberation than a war, and a war is what they got. The demands of this war have been borne most acutely by the Army and especially by the Army Reserve. If the people and material get used up at a rate that exceeds replenishment, the force will be weakened and ultimately "broken". It may be that the General is relating unpleasant facts but true.

[Old Sarge]

The active duty force does not want to see huge sums of money going to the reserve and guard...face that fact.

I can speak as an eyewitness: the faucet for cash to the Guard is open wide. We're getting training and equipment funding like we've rarely seen. Guys need to get to Monterey? No problem. Kids gotta go off to our exotic schools? Here's the check.

All the neat-and-groovy toys that Big Army plays with, is coming to us shortly.

I read this article, and I smell a retiring flag officer angling for either a sweet contractor deal, or a seat in Congress from a certain military-loathing political party.

[jpsb]

Recuriting for the reserve and the guard is off 40%.

[Fishing-guy]

Don't kill the messenger. There are only 200,000 reserves to begin with. That's hardly enough to fight any major war.

[Drammach]

Same article at Wash Post.. no registration...

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A51687-2005Jan5.html

[jpsb]

"Retention is a major problem."

I thought "Stop Gap" solved that problem.

[Max Combined]

"If the people and material get used up at a rate that exceeds replenishment, the force will be weakened and ultimately "broken"."

It is being used for what it was there for. Those who were in there and never expected to have to actually serve are getting out as soon as they can. Those who want to fight, stay in or join up. It is not getting broken, it is getting toughened up. Nothing like a tough war to separate the goats from the sheep.

[CheneyChick]

In my MOS the Reservists are spending more time in the combat zone that the active duty folks, and on repeated deployments. Meanwhile, they are trying to keep a family together and a job back home. Now tell me who the goats and the sheep are.....

[Max Combined]

"Meanwhile, they are trying to keep a family together and a job back home."

That comes with the territory.

[Uncle George]

I say this memo would have been PRIVATE and not LEAKED if the General was a Republican. All this is a lib undermining of the Whitehouse "AS USUAL".

[Old Sarge]

Gentlemen, gentlemen...

Let me address point by point, here:

Retention is a problem only in one thing, at least where the Guard is concerned. The biggest source of enlistments for the ARNG has been Prior-Service coming from Big Army. And the one thing that happened is, Stop Loss. When that hit, troops stayed in Big Army, and the spring dried out. Recruiter Command is adapting by shifting to Non-Prior-Service enlistments, and in FY '05, you'll see the line straighten out.

Second, any talk of "using up and exhausting troops" is mirror-smoke. Think of it this way: three rotations thru Iraq have meant about 250K troops from all branches - out of a total end strength of 2 million. That's roughly 12% of the force. We haven't anywhere near tapped the keg yet, as far as manpower's concerned.

Now, I know that USAR has been taking hits, mainly in the logistics units - because that's where Big Army transferred them to, during the Reign Of Terror. These units are the few that can do the mission, and they logically get back to back deployments. Those are the units from where we get the most complaints and negative air time, when you think about it.

[Williams]

Perhaps all is not well in this best of all possible worlds. I can easily see a reserve which is not used to long combat engagements becoming a less popular option in time of war. Of course there are some terrific patriots serving, but some must consider their family situations, etc. If it is breaking, what is the solution?