Army Reserve, an operational forceThe U.S. Army Reserve, using the Army Force Generation (ARFORGEN) model of providing forces in a cyclic manner, provides operational forces to the total Army to meet the nation’s military demands.Many of the Army’s civil affairs, psychological operations, medical and transportation capabilities reside predominately within the Army Reserve.Due to mobilization and rapid-deployment demands since Sept. 11, 2001, the Army Reserve has evolved into an operational, expeditionary force with streamlined, deployable headquarters.The Army Reserve’s ability to mobilize quickly and its essential capabilities make it well-suited for meeting the nation’s future military requirements as a part of the operational force.Compared to the cost of active component support capabilities, the Army Reserve is able to provide enabler support more cost effectively, in order to meet security requirements at home and abroad. Army Reserve soldiers will remain a vital part of the total force – meeting the national security challenges of the future.Army Reserve accomplishmentsThe Army Reserve continues to be called to address imbalances within the active Army for many required capabilities, including logistical, engineer, military police, medical and civil affairs support, as well as to fulfill active duty generating force requirements.The Army Reserve is now recasting itself from its part-time "strategic reserve" role, to a fully integrated and critical part of an operational, expeditionary Army.After a century of serving as the nation’s strategic federal reserve force, the Army Reserve has transformed into a ready operational force postured to effectively and efficiently support the nation’s evolving and challenging security requirements. Army Reserve of the futureFor now and into the foreseeable future, the Army Reserve will function as an integral member of the total Army’s operational force and will continue to be a positive investment for the nation. Important to the ArmyEmploying the Army Reserve as part of the operational force provides the nation a "best value," cost-savings option, resulting in only paying the full cost of Army Reserve soldiers when they are mobilized.The Army Reserve, using the ARFORGEN rotational readiness model, is capable of providing support to the operational force at nearly one-third less cost than maintaining the same capability in the active component.