US ARMY

The key factors contributing to Officer Shortages within the Army Reserve (2011)



Why is the Army Reserve short Captains and Majors?

Introduction

The constitution of the Reserve Components consists of the Army Reserve and the National Guard. Founded in 1908, the Reserve Army initially consisted of medical personnel in order to supplement the medical corps. However, on 4 June 1920, according to the National Defense Act, the US land forces were re-organized and the Reserve Army was given an Organized Reserve status (Officers Reserve Corps and Enlisted Reserve Corps). The size and strength of the reserve was to be unrestricted. The ongoing struggle of the Army Reserve to overcome the severe problems of retention and high turnover has been a matter of grave concern (Pullen, 2002).

The United States Army has been facing severe problems in the recruiting and retention of officers. It has been noted that since 9/11, soldier's intention to stay, their commitment, and intergroup conflicts have affected soldier retention adversely. The Army Reserve has been the top contributor in the War on Terrorism. The issues regarding the retention of officers are serious issues that have to be addressed.

Problem Statement

The Army Reserve has had difficulty in filling the officer ranks of Captain and Majors.

As the problem statement reflects, the study is based upon the various issues regarding the difficulty faced by the Army Reserve to fill in the ranks of Captains and Majors. A mentioned, the inability to achieve retention has been the main cause of this difficulty. All the other causes relating to the issue at hand will be included in this study.

Research Questions

The study plans to address all the issue pertaining to the inability or difficulty faced by the Army Reserve to fill in the ranks of Captains and Majors in the reserve. The implications regarding the future of the Army Reserve are also included as well as to find viable and working solutions of the problems. The research questions, hence, are as follows:- (Pullen, 2002).

Why is the Army Reserve short Captains and Majors?

What are the implications on the future of the Army Reserve?

What can be done to solve the problem not just medicate it?

Limitations of the study

Restricted access to the data and information of confidential nature of the US Military, conflicting accounts of respondents and issues regarding the accuracy of readily available literature were the factors that needed to be taken into account and duly addressed during this study (Pullen, 2002).

Literature Review

Introduction

The Army Reserve is one of three components in the Army, along with Active Duty and Army National Guard. The Army Reserve has more than 2,000 units in the United States, Guam, the Virgin Islands, Puerto Rico and Germany, each one trained in a specialized skill and ready to support Army missions around the world. The Reserve Army was founded in 1908 and consisted of personnel intended to supplement the medical wing of the Army during operations. The Reserve Army rendered great support to the combat units of the Army and were recognized as a ...