National Guard in Transformation: Preparing Army National Guard Brigade Combat Teams in the Army Force Generation Model

摘要

Army Force Generation (ARFORGEN) is the Army's transformational model for manning, equipping, training, and deploying both Active Component (AC) and Reserve Component (RC) forces. Under this modular force concept, the Army National Guard (ARNG) is now an operational reserve as opposed to a strategic reserve for fighting the wars of the United States. As an operational reserve force provider, one of the key elements the ARNG is responsible for is deployment of Brigade Combat Teams (BCTs). To date, there are no specific ways to implement the ARFORGEN model for the ARNG. The primary question this thesis seeks to answer is as follows: What are the key attributes for ARNG BCT success in the ARFORGEN model. To answer this question, a focus on existing and potential problems encountered by RC units (ARNG BCTs) in implementation of the ARFORGEN model is necessary. By using these ARNG BCT ARFORGEN key attributes for success, ARNG BCT commanders can evaluate their strategies for successful implementation of the ARFORGEN model in support of the Army Campaign Plan. To answer the primary question, the researcher developed secondary research questions arranged in a manner to guide the reader. The first two secondary questions are as follows: Why did the Army choose the ARFORGEN model, and what is the intent of the model. Once the thesis introduction answers the why questions, four more secondary questions are answered in the literary review chapter: (1) How is the ARFORGEN model defined; (2) How is the ARFORGEN model implemented over time; (3) What are the identified problems, constraints, or issues relating to the ARFORGEN model; and (4) What are the differences between the Active Component (AC) and the ARNG in ARFORGEN implementation. The answers to these four questions form the basis for answering the ARNG BCT centric questions: What are the manning, equipping, and training critical ARNG BCT problems, constraints, and issues related to ARFORGEN.