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Panel urges changes to structure of reserves

A healthier and more effective National Guard and reserves will require substantial changes in coordination between federal and state officials and improved overall organizational structure, a congressionally appointed commission concludes in a report released today in Washington.

Among its most striking recommendations, the commission proposes that the Defense Department develop protocols that would allow state governors to direct the efforts of federal military assets — active-duty forces based in their states — to augment the National Guard in responding to an emergency such as a natural disaster.

“We spend a tremendous amount of time identifying, analyzing and documenting the problem,” said Arnold Punaro, chairman of the Commission on the National Guard and Reserves. “We came up with a cumulative set of regulations that would have a profound effect on the way that we’re able to respond to man-made or natural disasters as quickly as possible.

“Our findings show we are not sufficiently prepared now,” Punaro said. “The cause is all the shortcomings we have in all the institutions involved.”

The 13-member commission was established by Congress in 2005 with a mandate to assess the U.S. reserve components and recommend changes to ensure the National Guard and the reserves are “organized, trained, equipped, compensated and supported to best meet the needs of U.S. national security.”

The role of the reserve components has changed dramatically since Sept. 11, 2001, Punaro said. During the Cold War, he said, “They weren’t designated to be used on moment’s notice,” but both were used “a lot” during the first Gulf War and have been used “almost continuously” since Sept. 11.

“But saying that they’re operational doesn’t make them operational,” he said.

Among the commission’s recommendations:

* The Department of Homeland Security should generate civil support requirements, which the Defense Department would be responsible for validating.

* The National Guard Bureau should be made a joint activity of the Defense Department rather than a joint bureau of the Army and Air Force.

* Budget information for National Guard training and equipment for military assistance to civil authorities should be included in Army and Air Force budget documents.

* U.S. Northern Command should develop plans for consequence management and support to civil authorities that account for state-level activities and incorporate the use of National Guard and reserve forces as first responders in an emergency.

* Laws should be passed to enable the president and a governor to agree in advance that National Guard officers called to federal duty do not lose their state commission, can continue to command Guard troops and are exempt from provisions of the Posse Comitatus Act.

Read the full report