Operational reserve: costs and considerations
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Authors
Simpson, Joshua B.
Hussain, Rai A.
Subjects
operational reserve
Marine Corps Reserve
12304b
reserve employment
reserve activation
Marine Corps Reserve
12304b
reserve employment
reserve activation
Advisors
Hatch, William D.
Mortlock, Robert F.
Date of Issue
2017-12
Date
Dec-17
Publisher
Monterey, California: Naval Postgraduate School
Language
Abstract
This research examines the costs and other considerations associated with the 2016 activation of approximately 200 U.S. Marine Corps Reserve personnel under 10 U.S. Code § 12304b. The goal of this research is to determine whether cost savings were generated by employing a Reserve Corps (RC) unit. This unit supported Special Purpose Marine Air Ground Task Force–South and was the first incidence of the Marine Corps' use of the 12304b authority in a material way. Findings include relevant RC costs at approximately 132% of those of a hypothetical equivalent AC unit. The primary contributor to increased RC costs was the approximately $4.9M in pay and allowances required for RC members who were activated but not deployed. Secondary contributors of increased RC costs were $2.9M in operations and maintenance travel costs, followed by $364K in incremental RC costs. This research provides three recommendations. First, the Deputy Commandant for Plans, Programs, and Operations (PP&O), as the 12304b program manager, should include all categories of RC-relevant costs during the operating forces program review, program evaluation board, and Program Objective Memorandum working group. Second, the Deputy Commandant for Manpower and Reserve Affairs (DC, M&RA), should monitor the totality of relevant monetary and non-monetary costs for any future RC units activated under 10 U.S. Code § 12304b and communicate these findings to key stakeholders such as Programs and Resources, PP&O, Marine Forces Command, and U.S. Marine Corps Forces Reserve. Finally, DC, M&RA should assess the benefits generated from RC units activated under 12304b authority and weigh these potential benefits against any additional RC unit costs.
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Thesis
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Department
Business & Public Policy (GSBPP)
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Approved for public release; distribution is unlimited.
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This publication is a work of the U.S. Government as defined in Title 17, United States Code, Section 101. Copyright protection is not available for this work in the United States.
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Copyright is reserved by the copyright owner.