A New Kind of Defense in Depth
The transformation of the National Guard and Reserve from a strategic reserve to an operational component is leaving the United States vulnerable to man-made and natural emergencies. We have traditionally thought of the active-duty military as guarding our skies and shores while the Guard and Reserve provide the strategic reserve. For most people, the National Guard represents the weekend warrior—neighbors and colleagues who devote a weekend a month and a couple of weeks a year to be ready to respond to national and local crises. Similarly, most people thought of the Reserve as those who had served time on active duty and who would generally be called back in the event of a major war.
