In his first letter to his “Army Reserve team,” the component’s new chief warned of a complex world for which the force must be ready.

Lt. Gen. Robert Harter, who since Aug. 1 has been chief of the Army Reserve and commanding general of U.S. Army Reserve Command, said in the Sept. 3 letter that the world is changing rapidly, noting that “capable adversaries present growing challenges at home and abroad.”

Stating that “presence matters,” Harter said he will lead from the front and by example, and he expects the same of leaders across the force.

“We must be ready,” Harter wrote, adding, “Never forget why the Army and Army Reserve exist: to fight and win our nation’s wars.”

Harter outlined four priorities for all Army Reserve soldiers. “We will hold ourselves accountable to manning our formations, maintaining our equipment, and training to standard,” Harter wrote, expressing his expectation that soldiers will be disciplined, mentally resilient and physically fit. “Delivering combat ready soldiers and formations is our main effort.”

Army Reserve soldiers must be individually ready, and leaders must prepare their formations “to mobilize and deploy on time and at scale,” Harter wrote. He reminded his troops that the Total Army depends on the unique capabilities of the Army Reserve to “project power in support of the joint force.”

The complexity of the global environment, coupled with “constrained resources,” he said, should prompt soldiers to be innovative and bold by adapting their thinking, transforming units for large-scale combat operations and modernizing equipment and processes to meet future threats.

Harter also said the Army Reserve will seek a balance between ensuring combat-ready formations and taking care of soldiers, civilians and families, whom he described as “the foundation of all we do.”

“Since our establishment in 1908, the Army Reserve has continuously and consistently answered the nation’s call” as have soldiers and their families, “and we have always delivered. We will be called again, and we will be ready,” Harter wrote.

Read the letter here.