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Army Reserve marks 110 years of history

On April 23 of this year, America’s Army Reserve will celebrate 110 years of history in service to the Army and the nation.

What began in 1908 as a tiny corps of medical professionals held in readiness for service is today the Army’s global operational reserve force — meeting high “optempo” demands, generating forces to support Army commitments worldwide, and providing predictable capabilities to the Army and our global combatant commands.

Established by Congress in 1908 with just 160 doctors and nurses, a somewhat larger organized reserve was created under the National Defense Act of 1916. A year later, when America entered World War I, more than 160,000 reserve soldiers were mobilized to help the U.S. Army defeat Germany and the central powers. By World War II, more than 200,000 had joined the fight, serving on every front.

Through the Cold War, Korea, Vietnam, the Persian Gulf War, the Global War on Terror and countless crises, operations and emergencies, America’s Army Reserve has never failed to meet the challenges of its time — providing quick access to the mission-critical forces and capabilities the Army needs to initiate, sustain and prevail in major operations.

Today, the nature of the threat is changing, and the Army Reserve is again rising to meet it, forging the most capable, combat-ready and lethal federal reserve force in the history of the Nation.

At the tip of the spear is a ready force of some 600 units prepared to deploy quickly — some in less than 30 days — to fight, survive and win against emerging threats. A second level of effort consists of operational units prepared to deploy in 61-90 days for contingency operations, followed by units needed beyond 120 days. All will be postured to move fast, engage quickly and win decisively on the battlefields of today and tomorrow.

Looking ahead, America’s Army Reserve will stay true to its roots as an expeditionary force, remaining flexible, agile, innovative and attuned to the velocity of change in our time. And it will continue to leverage the talent of the private sector for the good of the nation. For at its heart, America’s Army Reserve is, and always will be, an army of citizen soldiers, supported by engaged employers, and committed to their local communities.

Highly skilled and educated in more than 148 different career fields, they are doctors, lawyers, engineers, scientists, information and other specialists on the leading edge of their fields. But they are also our relatives, neighbors and friends, who not only defend our freedom and security abroad, but secure the homeland, provide assistance in times of crisis or disaster, and never fail to lend a hand when needed.

The world is constantly changing, but one thing is constant: The Army Reserve will remain the dedicated federal reserve of the most decisive and lethal land force in the world. Ready now, shaping tomorrow, forging and sustaining the most capable, combat-ready and lethal federal reserve force in the history of the nation.

George H. Duell Jr. is an Army Reserve Ambassador for the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. The Army Reserve Ambassador Program was established in 1998 to promote awareness of the Army Reserve and the goals and objectives of the Chief of Army Reserve. Ambassador Duell resides in Palmerton.