AUSA’s Institute of Land Warfare has released a new Defense Report titled "Army Total Force Policy: Fully Integrating the Operational Reserve" (Defense Report, November 2012).This publication examines steps the Army is taking to ensure future access to a highly capable operational reserve.The Army Total Force Policy, signed by Secretary of the Army John McHugh in September 2012, is a significant step in the evolution of the all-volunteer force.The policy lends greater official and institutional permanence to what soldiers and commanders on the ground have already been doing – fighting as one operational force and providing predictable, recurring and sustainable capabilities.Among the Army’s initiatives are:Conducting a formal annual analysis of force structure options (including consideration of the mix between operating and generating forces between the active and reserve components);Employing a common deployment cycle and common standards for validating readiness;Streamlining the mobilization process for reserve component units and soldiers;Adapting the Army’s equipping strategy, enabling the Army to better perform all its missions;Integrating personnel management practices and offering soldiers flexible ways to serve in their careers; andCreating common standards for qualification and professional development.The numerous initiatives driven by the policy are aimed at ensuring that the entire Army is "tailorable" to the needs of combatant commanders, rapidly deployable when the nation calls and scalable as strategic and tactical mission requirements dictate.This and other ILW publications are available online at http://www.ausa.org/ilw, and can also be obtained by calling (800) 336-4570, Ext. 4630, or by e-mailing a request to ilwpublications@ausa.org.