By Staff Sgt. Keith Anderson
Army North PAO
FORT SAM HOUSTON, Texas — The senior leader for the U.S. Army Reserve dropped in on local Reserve soldiers to update them on the future of force, during his time in San Antonio for the U.S. Army All-American Bowl.
Lt. Gen. Jeffrey Talley, Chief of the Army Reserve and Commanding General of the U.S. Army Reserve Command, outlined his “Rally Point” strategy during a town hall meeting Jan. 3, at the James E. Rudder U.S. Army Reserve Center.
Despite the planned U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan in 2014, there is a continuing need for trained and ready Reserve soldiers, Talley said.
“There will always be a large number of contingency missions,” Talley said. “Maintaining an Army Reserve with operational flexibility and strategic depth will be essential.”
The Reserve, with more than 205,000 soldiers and 12,000 civilians, is an enabler for the active Army, and provides technical expertise and capabilities that the Army needs, he said.
The Reserve augments the Army in many specialized fields such as logistics; chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear; soldier support and force generation; engineers; civil affairs and military information support; and medical and dental.
Talley praised the efficiency of Reserve soldiers.
“We are 20 percent of the Army force, but only six percent of the budget,” Talley said.
The senior reserve leader outlined his strategic and operational priorities, including fostering a culture of cost management; getting back to the basics of shoot, move and communicate; emphasizing technical skills training in tactical environments; having defined soldier and leader readiness programs; and developing ties with Army components at all levels.
The Army Reserve is one of three components in the Army, along with Active Duty and Army National Guard. The Army Reserve has more than 2,000 units in the United States, Guam, the Virgin Islands, Puerto Rico and Germany, each one trained in a specialized skill and ready to support Army missions around the world.