Blackwell Reference Online

Extract

These are stand-by military units trained and equipped by the US Army rather man the states; they are specialty and support units (the N ational G uard provides combat forces). The N ational D efense A ct (1916) created the Reserves as a manpower pool, and its members were not organized into units until the Armed Forces Reserve Act (9 July 1952). This Reserve Act created a Ready Reserve of units that could be ordered into active federal service for up to two years if the president declared a national emergency; it also created a manpower reserve of ex-soldiers, the Standby Reserve, who were not organized into units and could not be individually recalled to active duty unless Congress declared a national emergency. ... log in or subscribe to read full text