What should the role of the National Guard be in the Joint Chiefs of Staff

Abstract

The role of the National Guard has evolved from a strategic reserve force during the Cold War to an integral part of today's Total Force. The new roles and missions of the National Guard require it to operate seamlessly in the joint environment, a role that was traditionally covered by its active counterparts. With this evolution, the National Guard's role in the Joint Chiefs of Staff must increase to insure its forces are accurately represented and planned for in joint operations. This thesis reviews the new roles and missions of the National Guard, as identified in the Reserve Component Employment 2005 Study, and the directorates within the Joint Staff that will influence them. The specific areas within each directorate that influence National Guard integration are then identified and prioritized. The result is a recommendation of current and proposed positions within the Joint Chiefs of Staff' in priority order due to anticipated resource constraints, that best support integration of the National Guard into joint operations. The thesis concludes with specific recommendations on the selection and management of the National Guard personnel assigned to Joint Staff positions