Reserves strained by war demands, lawmakers say

Members of the National Guard and Reserves-juggling their new missions in the fight against global terrorism and a possible war with Iraq with their traditional duties-could start bailing out unless relief is provided, according to a congressional delegation that recently traveled to Europe.

"There is concern that unless changes are made in the active [duty]-reserve component mix, including an increase in the size of active components, the strains placed on the reserve components may lead to retention and other problems," according to the delegation's report-dated Feb. 12-to House Armed Services Committee Chairman Duncan Hunter, R-Calif. A copy was obtained by CongressDaily.

House Armed Services Total Forces Subcommittee Chairman John McHugh, R-N.Y., headed the delegation that visited military facilities throughout Europe with an eye toward the expanded role of National Guard and Reserve units. The group stopped in Germany, Italy, Sicily and France as well as the U.S. European Command Headquarters and spoke with senior commanders and reservists of the U.S. European Command as well as Army, Navy, Air Force and Marines leaders there.

"Since Sept. 11, the war on terrorism has changed the pace and direction of military service," McHugh told CongressDaily. "Reservists who are in high-demand jobs are being called up repeatedly." McHugh added that active duty commanders told him "they could not do the job they were being asked to do without the Guard and the reserve."

The increased demand and additional duties also point to the need to reconsider troop strength, McHugh said. "We need more men and women in uniform," he said, adding that his subcommittee planned to address this and other National Guard and reserve issues in oversight hearings.

McHugh was joined on the trip by Armed Services ranking member Ike Skelton, D-Mo., and Armed Services members Mike McIntyre, D-N.C.; Robin Hayes, R-N.C.; and Jeff Miller, R-Fla.

For the last seven years, reservists have been providing annual peacetime military support equaling that of 33,000 active duty personnel. In addition, 15 months after the start of the war on terrorism, more than 56,000 reservists remain on active duty worldwide. And mobilization for a possible war with Iraq comes as reserves face a 12-fold increase in peacetime support duties and are already committed elsewhere.

While the delegation found reservists highly motivated and dedicated to achieving their mission, reservists told them that increasingly being called up on short notice and for multiple assignments created problems at home and work as well as causing financial problems. As a result, some are considering leaving the reserves.

"We heard about strained marriages, lost businesses and jobs and a lot of strain on them," McHugh said. In addition, McHugh said many reservists told him that they no longer listed Guard experience on their resumes due to concerns that prospective employers might not hire them because of frequent absences.

"This is stunning to me, this [Guard experience] is something every American should be proud of, and every employer should want in a person they hire," McHugh said.