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As a follow-up initiative, in July 1998 the

time. Someone who trains one weekend a

Army issued a new White Paper, "Citizen-

month and two weeks a year is obviously not

Soldiers and America's Army: Learning from

going to be as well trained as a regular. Most

the Past--Preparing for the Future," which

experts feel that at least three or four weeks of

calls for "the continuing integration of the

training are needed. Although that is impos-

Army National Guard, the Army Reserve, and

sible every year, perhaps major units should

the Active Army."40

be called up every three or four years for a

Some of the proposals for a Seamless

longer training period.

Total Force are surprisingly simple, even cost-

Another proposal is for more interaction

free. For example, changing the color of the

between active and reserve personnel. The

reserve ID cards from the hated pink to

Louisiana National Guard has one of its

green, which was done in 1998. The reserves

reserve battalions commanded by a lieu-

always hated their pink ID cards mostly

tenant colonel on active duty. That not only

because they differentiated the reserves from

gives that active-duty commander the neces-

the regular forces. Although possessing a

sary command for promotion (which is

green card does not add benefits, the color is

becoming harder to get), but he learns to

"important in a military that values symbol-

work with the reserves. As an incentive, per-

ism."41 Another example is giving reserve

sonnel swaps between active and reserve

forces better access to Pentagon computers

forces might be considered as satisfying the

and to the Internet. For example, an active-

new Goldwater-Nichols joint (interservice)

duty private can access the Pentagon's "Early

requirements for advancement. It is probably

Bird"--which is a summary of daily news clip-

more important that an active Army general

pings of interest to the military--but a

be familiar with the Army National Guard

National Guard major general cannot.

and Reserves than with Navy or Air Force

There is also a host of small initiatives that

capabilities. As a result of personnel swaps,

could make a big difference. For example, the

the active forces are also more likely to be

Navy has three new initiatives, including

comfortable with the reserve elements when

"hourly drills" that allow reservists to stop by

they are called up for active duty. The mili-

an active command for an hour to fix a prob-

tary also sends many officers at the 0­3 and

lem. The service is also looking at moving

0­4 (Navy lieutenant/lieutenant commander,

reserve units closer to active commands and

Army and Air Force captain/major) levels to

increasing travel budgets.42 Also important is

civilian graduate schools for a year or two.

During that time they might be assigned to

giving reservists better access to commis-

The Army might

drill with reserve units.

saries and exchanges. Reservists have access

Some of these proposals are either already

while on their two weeks of active duty and

be cut from its

being implemented or are on the drawing

12 times a year, but many would like unlimit-

current ten divi-

board. For example, in November 1997, as

ed access, or at least doubled access. Another

part of his Seamless Total Force, Secretary

sore spot for reservists has been access to

sions to six.

Cohen held a summit on reserve health care

health care. Currently, if an Army helicopter

to "address the full spectrum of health care

containing regular Army, Army Reserve, and

issues, entitlements and legislative policies

Army National Guard personnel crashes, the

affecting the readiness of U.S. military

injured will get three different levels of treat-

Reserve components in the post­Cold War

ment.

world."43 The Army's "One Team" White

Although those smaller initiatives should

not be underestimated as a means of increas-

Paper proposed more interaction between

ing the integration of the reserves and active

active and reserve forces. That proposal

forces, larger initiatives such as maintaining

included the formation of two integrated

the readiness of the reserves are more impor-

divisions, each containing an Army National

tant. The major problem has always been

Guard Enhanced Separate Brigade under a

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