components, which have an increasingly
critical role in the defense of our
country. We must provide our military
services with pay and benefit programs
that encourage large numbers of qualified
men and women to serve in Guard and
Reserve Units.

The price of this commitment
is not small, but I want to assure
the American people that it is no
larger than the nation's security
requires. Consequently, this quadrennial
review should undertake a comprehensive
evaluation of the benefits and costs of
all reserve compensation programs."

Because this is the first review to deal with reserve

compensation issues, we expect to see a significant number of recommendations in the final report.

The third major event, the successful screening of the Individual Ready Reserve (IRR), will be discussed in greater detail beginning on page 13.

Selected Reserve Personnel Strength

The Department has budgeted for a Selected Reserve strength

increase of more than 20,000 in FY 1988 and will maintain this

new level in FY 1989. This increase is required to meet the most critical manpower demands of both new and expanded missions for the Reserve components. The projected end strengths for FY 1988

and FY 1989 reflect a growth of over 300,000 Selected Reserve

members since FY 1980

the beginning of this Administration.

An increase in selected Reserve end strength of 5,400 for

the Army National Guard, and 7,000 for the Army Reserve is planned for FY 1988, and the new force levels will be maintained

Reserve components of the Army will exceed the strength of the

reach our trained unit strength goal of 90% of our wartime

requirement.

Force structure increases and equipment

modernization programs for Army aviation elements also are

included in our request.

For example, one new attack helicopter

battalions equipped with AH-1s (Cobra) helicopters will be added

in FY 1988, and six attack helicopter battalions in FY 1989.

The Air National Guard and the Air Force Reserve will

C-5 and new C-130H tactical airlift aircraft.

In addition, they

will expand their role in Special Operations in FY 1988, activating an Air Force Reserve unit at Davis-Monthan Air Force

Base.

To meet the increased wartime manning requirements of the

Naval Reserve, we have planned for a Selected Reserve end

strength increase of 4,500 in FY 1988 and we will maintain this

increased level in FY 1989.

The Fleet Hospital Program is one of the fastest growing

programs in the Naval Reserve.

Fleet Hospitals are self

contained, modular, rapidly deployable medical facilities that

provide comprehensive care for fleet and Marine forces engaged in

combat operations.

Eventually, more than half the units in the

Fleet Hospital Program will be manned by Naval reservists.

The Naval Reserve's craft of Opportunity (COOP) program will

grow from nine to twenty-two craft by FY 1989.

The objective of

this program is to enhance the Navy's mine countermeasures

capability through the use of Navy patrol craft and converted

civilian vessels to counter the mine threat to major U.S.

military and commercial ports.

The surface reserve frigate program began in 1982, with the transfer of four KNOX Class frigates to the Naval Reserve. The program has continued to grow, and with four more PERRY Class and

one more KNOX Class frigates added during FY 1988, will total 24

frigates in an ambitious program to assign 26 modern frigates to

the Naval Reserve by 1990.

We requested an increase in the end strength of the selected

Reserve of approximately 1,300 in FY 1988 for the Marine Corps Reserve in order to meet requirements generated by additional unit activations and increased ground combat and support

capability.

The 4th Marine Aircraft Wing will activate a second

KC-130T squadron and a second AH-1J squadron in FY 1988.

In

addition, the Medical Logistics Company of the 4th Supply Battalion, 4th Dental Battalion, and the remainder of the 4th

Medical Battalion will be activated in the FY 1988 time frame.

* Numbers may not add due to rounding ** For consistency, FY 1980 strengths have been adjusted to include Navy Training and Administration of Reserves (TARS) and Category "D" Individual Mobilization Augmentees (IMAS)

Despite the initial training requirements associated with these total strength increases plus the normal personnel losses,

our trained strength in units (i.e., strength stated in terms of

unit members who have completed initial training) is improving,

as shown in Table 4.

However, the rate of progress will be

affected by the continuing growth of wartime requirements

associated with increased Reserve component missions.

TABLE 4

Trained Manning In Units Against Wartime Requirements

(Thousands)

Concurrent with the expanded role of the Reserve Forces is

the continued growth in full-time support activities provided by

Active component personnel, Active Guard/Reserve personnel,

military technicians, and civil service personnel. The personnel organize, train, recruit, and administer the Reserve components, in addition to maintaining equipment and other logistical

activities.

The total full-time support strength at the end of

FY 1987 was approximately 15 percent of the Selected Reserve.

The effectiveness of the training provided to drilling reservists is a function of the quality of the full-time support force. Therefore, our goal is to field a force of highly

motivated and skilled personnel that is cost-effective and

capable of producing well-trained Reserve component members and

units fully prepared for rapid mobilization.

We have requested an increase in full-time personnel of