ROA Briefs RFPB on Strategies, Policies and Programs for a Stronger Reserve

Bob Feidler

On Tuesday, July 16, ROA Executive Director Major General Andrew Davis, USMC (Ret) briefed the senior policy board at the Pentagon on strategies, policies and programs that ROA would endorse to ensure a strong and relevant Reserve Component for the future.


In his briefing to the Reserve Forces Policy Board (RFPB), Davis suggested that key items relative to the RC included: continuing the RC as an operational - as opposed to strategic - Reserve; ensuring a balanced force mix that is affordable; and ensuring that the voice of the RC is heard in various strategic forums that will drive the future of our military and national security. These forums include the upcoming Quadrennial Defense Review, which is due in 2014, the compensation modernization commission dealing with pay and retirement benefits for the military, and a variety of other commissions now at work such as the commission to review the Air Force. MajGen Davis also called for a separate commission to periodically review the RCs and their role in our national security.

Executive Director Davis expressed ROA's full support for the RFPB's report which quantified the cost efficiency of the RCs. The report found that the relative costs of the RC to be about one third less expensive than the Active Component when fully burdened life cycle costs were addressed. Davis pointed out that Reservists should receive the same joint educational credit for completion of senior service schools in non-resident status as resident students currently receive.

"Since they must complete the same course work with the same standards as resident students, they should receive equal credit," said Davis.

Davis concluded his briefing with a suggestion that the RFPB consider creating an entirely new Reserve Component that would be made up of true subject matter specialists in high-demand, low-density, high expertise fields that are not normally found in the military. These fields may include positions such as macro-economic advisor, finance or cyber specialists.