Reserve Component Personnel Issues: Questions and Answers : Congressional Research Service (CRS) , November 4 , 2026
Reserve Component Personnel Issues: Questions and Answers : Congressional Research Service (CRS) , November 4 , 2026
From the document: "Congress has historically shown interest in various reserve component (RC) personnel issues, such as pay and benefits, training and readiness, and career management. The term reserve component refers collectively to the seven individual RCs of the Armed Forces: the Army National Guard of the United States, the Army Reserve, the Navy Reserve, the Marine Corps Reserve, the Air National Guard of the United States, the Air Force Reserve, and the Coast Guard Reserve. The purpose of these seven reserve components, as codified at Title 10, Section 10102, of the U.S. Code, is to “provide trained units and qualified persons available for active duty in the armed forces, in time of war or national emergency, and at such other times as the national security may require, to fill the needs of the armed forces whenever more units and persons are needed than are in the regular components.” The Army National Guard and the Air National Guard also have a state role: When operating under the control of their governors, they respond to various domestic emergencies, such as disasters and civil disorders.
This report addresses how RC personnel are organized, compensated, and mobilized. It concludes with a discussion of potential issues for Congress. This report covers the military services exclusively and generally does not discuss the Coast Guard Reserve."
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