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reserves announced by General Reimer in his

the bomber force could be mothballed; the

"One Army" White Paper would eliminate

other half could be split between the reserve

the problems experienced by the 48th

and active forces.

Mechanized Brigade during Desert Shield

Navy and Marine Corps. Although the Navy

and Desert Storm.

and Marine Corps would be the least affected

Air Force. In the more benign threat envi-

because they are needed for both crisis

ronment of the post­Cold War world, the

response and an initial response to an MTW,

whole Air Force could be put in the reserves.

more integration of the active and reserve

If this seems drastic, consider that the

forces is still needed. The Navy has probably

defense of the homeland even during the

done the worst job of creating a Seamless

Cold War was assigned to the Air National

Total Force. Some of the reasons are under-

Guard. Even DOD analyst Frank Spinney

standable. For ships deploying for six to

proposes moving 80 percent of the Air Force

seven months in faraway places, trying to

into the reserves.45 Although putting the

integrate reservists on duty for only two

weeks is both difficult and expensive. If over-

whole Air Force or even 80 percent into the

seas deployments were scaled back, this prob-

reserves might be excessive, many analysts

lem might be less consequential.

feel that about 50 percent of the Air Force

Many analysts

Perhaps nothing would better symbolize

could be converted.

feel that about 50

the integration of the active and reserve

First, Air Force units have a limited role in

forces than to recommission two battleships

deterring crises. When the Cold War ended,

percent of the Air

as reserve ships. They were retired because

the Air Force put forth the notion of "Global

Force could be

their large crews were expensive. But that

Reach, Global Power," which implied that it

converted to

problem would be solved easily and cheaply

could respond to crises. But the evidence that

by allowing reservists to be part of the crew.

the Air Force could perform such missions is

reserve forces.

The Navy currently has a shortage of sea-

scant. Worse, even when Air Force units are

based gunfire support for forces ashore--the

stationed in the area of a crisis, host countries

battleship's primary mission. The ships

are often extremely reluctant to give the

could also be used for training midshipmen

United States unlimited use of their air bases.

from the Naval Academy. The U.S. Navy is

For example, in 1997 the states in the Persian

one of the few major navies of the world with-

Gulf region refused to allow their bases to be

out dedicated training ships.

used against Saddam. As a result, although

The Navy should also examine putting

there were some 200 Air Force planes in the

more ships in mothballs. The largest prob-

area, Navy aircraft carriers were needed.

lem facing the military is getting troops

Second, virtually everyone agrees that the

(Army and Air Forces) overseas. For example,

Air Force has done a wonderful job of inte-

old ships such as the large LPH amphibious

grating the air units in the active forces, the

assault ships could be kept in mothballs. In

Air Force Reserve, and the Air National

any conflict, those ships could transport

Guard. (Even Army and Navy reservists point

Army and Air Force personnel to forward

to Air Force integration as the most success-

bases. In case a contingency arose, the Navy

ful model.) One of the reasons is that many

used to keep LST amphibious landing ships

Air Force Reserve and National Guard pilots

manned at about 25 percent. The Navy might

are commercial pilots and thus are constant-

also use reserves to test the new "Horizon"

ly maintaining their skills. Because the Air

concept of keeping ships manned by rotating

Force works well with its reserve units, more

the crews. Some of those rotated crews could

of the forces could be moved into the

be reservists. Alternatively, some ships could

reserves.

become part of a "surge" Navy, which would

The Air Force could also put some of its

be manned by both active-duty and reserve

aircraft into mothballs. Those aircraft could

crews and respond to crises from U.S. ports.

be reactivated in 30 to 60 days. At least half of

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