U.S. ARMY RESERVE COMMAND

FORT LIBERTY, NORTH CAROLINA

 

 

 

 

U.S. Army Reserve Command has over 20 offices, each with an individual mission and function that contributes to the accomplishment of the overall mission of the command.

Operational groups such as personnel, logistics, operations, training and resource management are responsible for the daily work involved in managing, training and equipping the Army Reserve’s Soldiers and units across the continental United States.

Special staff offices provide technical support and guidelines to U.S. Army Reserve Command and Army Reserve units across the country. These offices include public affairs, safety and enterprise services.

The Executive Team includes the leaders of U.S. Army Reserve Command and their personal staff. The leaders are the Commanding General, Command Sergeant Major, the Command Chief Warrant Officer, the Deputy Commanding General and the Chief of Staff.

Title 10 USC (10171) directs USARC:

  • Separate command of the Army commanded by the Chief of Army Reserve.
  • USARC is a Direct Reporting Unit to FORSCOM; (Prescribed by Secretary of the Army).

AR 140-1:

  • CG, USARC commands all Readiness Divisions, USAR General Officer commands, and USAR subordinate units assigned to the USARC. 
  • Mission is to meet Department of the Army contingency operations or mobilization requirements.

Pictured above: U.S. Army Reserve Command Headquarters, Marshall Hall, Fort Liberty, N.C.

The Command

The Reserve Forces Bill of Rights and Vitalization Act of 1967 was the precursor of the creation of the USARC. This act prescribed reserve leadership for reserve units. The Continental Army Command (CONARC) maintained command and control of the Army Reserve units until 1973 after which U.S. Army Forces Command (FORSCOM) assumed control.

On 18 January 1990, the CAR and the FORSCOM commander agreed to establish USARC as a subordinate command under FORSCOM. FORSCOM developed policy for the Army Reserve while the new Reserve Command executed procedures, plans, and programs in accordance with FORSCOM guidance. The objective was integration of the active component and reserve component into a Total Force.

 

1990

Permanent Order 183-13, dated 1 October 1990, established the U.S. Army Reserve Command (Provisional). Congress formalized this arrangement in November 1990 with the passage of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 1991. This act assigned all Army Reserve forces in the continental United States to the command.

Congress directed the development of a concept plan for the new command. FORSCOM and the USARC Planning Group worked to transition functions from the continental U.S. Armies and FORSCOM to the USARC. A fully operational command came into being on 18 October 1991 with Permanent Order 54-15. By the fall of 1992, the USARC had become fully operational with the manpower strength of more than 810 military and civilian employees. As a result of Base Realignment and Closure, the USARC moved from Fort McPherson, Georgia to Fort Bragg, North Carolina in 2010.

A Dedicated and Diverse Workforce  

Army Reserve Soldiers serve in many different ways, in Troop Program Units, in the Individual Mobilization Augmentee (IMA) program or as part of the Active Guard Reserve. The Army Reserve family also includes thousands of dedicated civilian employees who provide continuity and expertise to the organization.

Soldiers

Army Reserve Soldiers combine civilian experience with military training to provide specialized skills for military missions around the world. 

Army Reserve Soldiers are both educated and experienced, often bringing valuable civilian-acquired skills to the Army Reserve. Examples include doctors, utility workers, teachers, mechanics and law enforcement. Army Reserve Soldiers are also experienced in the military—up to half the Soldiers who join each year have prior Active Duty experience in the Army, Navy, Air Force or Marines.

Enlisted and Officers

Army Soldiers are divided into two broad groups: Enlisted and Officers.

Most Soldiers begin their career in the Army Reserve as Enlisted Soldiers with the rank of private or specialist. Enlisted Soldiers with additional experience and training assume leadership responsibilities in their units and are recognized as Noncommissioned Officers (NCO). NCO ranks are corporal, sergeant, staff sergeant, sergeant first class, master sergeant, first sergeant, sergeant major and command sergeant major. Approximately 80% of Army Reserve Soldiers are Enlisted, and about half of those are NCOs.

Officers are Soldiers who have completed special leadership training. Warrant Officers hold warrants from their service secretary and are experts in certain military technologies or capabilities. The commissioned ranks are the highest in the military. These Officers hold presidential commissions and are confirmed at their ranks by the Senate. Commissioned officer ranks are Lieutenant, Captain, Major, Lieutenant Colonel, Colonel and General Officer. Approximately 20% of Army Reserve Soldiers are Officers.

Learn about our Force Composition »

Diversity: The Army Reserve is a vibrant organization with members from all demographics, with increasing numbers of women and minorities joining our ranks.

Education: Soldiers in the Army Reserve can take advantage of Army bonuses and scholarships to get college degrees. A four-year college degree is mandatory for all Commissioned Officers above the rank of Lieutenant, and many Officers have graduate degrees. About 13 percent of the Enlisted Soldiers in the Army Reserve have a bachelor’s degree, and 3.5 percent have master’s or doctoral degrees.

Age: Qualified individuals between the ages of 17 and 40 can join the Army Reserve and serve until their mandatory removal date. The average age of officers in the Army Reserve is approximately 40, and the average age of enlisted Soldiers is 31.

Strength: Approximately 79% of Army Reserve Soldiers are Enlisted, and 46% of those are Noncommissioned Officers. Approximately 21% of Army Reserve Soldiers are Officers.