Reserve component unit stability : effects on deployability and training / Thomas F. Lippiatt, J. Michael Polich.

Format:

Book

Government document

Author/Creator:

Lippiatt, Thomas F., 1940-

Contributor:

National Defense Research Institute (U.S.)

Polich, J. Michael.

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Unit cohesion (Military science).

United States. Army Reserve--Unit cohesion.

United States.

United States. Army Reserve--Personnel management.

United States. Army Reserve--Operational readiness.

United States. Army Reserve--Mobilization.

Physical Description:

1 online resource (xvi, 71 pages) : color illustrations (digital, PDF file).

Place of Publication:

Santa Monica, CA : RAND Corporation, 2010

Summary:

Personnel stability is highly valued by all military forces, particularly in combat units and other formations that deploy to a theater of operations. The U.S. Army in particular aims to maximize unit stability (that is, the degree to which a unit's membership remains constant over time). Yet, Reserve Component units typically experience a surge of personnel turbulence as they approach mobilization and deployment. Some members leave the unit, and new personnel are cross-leveled into the unit to reach its target for deploying strength. This inflow of personnel may undercut the effectiveness of training because new arrivals miss training events that have occurred before they join. As a result, units must repeat some training, making pre-mobilization preparation less efficient and potentially increasing the extent of training that must be accomplished after mobilization. How widespread is this problem, what causes it, and what might be done about it? RAND research was undertaken to address those questions, focusing on stability levels of personnel in deploying Reserve Component units, how long units are stabilized before deployment, the major factors that generate instability, the potential effect of instability on unit training, and policy options that could help manage the situation. --From publisher description.

Contents:

Introduction

Data and approach

Stability levels in deploying units

Losses from units approaching deployment

Non-deployers

Effects of instability on training

Policy directions and options

Conclusions

Appendix A: Supplementary data.

Notes:

"Prepared for the Office of the Secretary of Defense."

Title from PDF title page (viewed on August 11, 2010)