MAXIMIZING PRE-MOBILIZATION TRAINING AT …

1 Strategy Research ProjectMAXIMIZING PRE-MOBILIZATIONTRAINING AT home STATIONBYCOLONELMICHAEL R. ABERLEN orth DakotaArmyNational GuardDISTRIBUTION STATEMENT A:Approved for Public SRP is submitted in partial fulfillment oftherequirements of the Master of Strategic Studies views expressed in this student academic researchpaper are those of the author and do not reflect theofficial policy or position of the Department of theArmy, Department of Defense, or Army War College, Carlisle Barracks, PA 17013-5050 USAWC CLASS OF 2009 The Army War College is accredited by the Commission on Higher Education of the Middle State Associationof Colleges and Schools, 3624 Market Street, Philadelphia, PA 19104, (215) 662-5606.

2 The Commission onHigher Education is an institutional accrediting agency recognized by the Secretary of Education and theCouncil for Higher Education DOCUMENTATION PAGEForm ApprovedOMB No. 0704-0188 Public reporting burden for this collection of information is estimated to average 1 hour per response, including the time for reviewing instructions, searching existing data sources, gathering and maintaining thedata needed, and completing and reviewingthis collection of information. Send comments regarding this burden estimate or any other aspect of this collection of information, including suggestions for reducingthis burden to Department of Defense, Washington Headquarters Services, Directorate forInformation Operations and Reports (0704-0188), 1215 Jefferson Davis Highway, Suite 1204, Arlington, VA 22202-4302.

3 Respondents should be aware that notwithstanding any other provision of law, no person shall be subject to any penaltyfor failing to comply with a collection of information if it does not display a currentlyvalid OMB control DO NOT RETURN YOUR FORM TO THE ABOVE REPORT DATE(DD-MM-YYYY)13-03-20092. REPORT TYPES trategy Research Project3. DATES COVERED(From- To)4. TITLE AND SUBTITLEM aximizing PRE-MOBILIZATION TRAINING at home Station5a. CONTRACT NUMBER5b. GRANT NUMBER5c. PROGRAM ELEMENT NUMBER6. AUTHOR(S)Colonel Michael R. Aberle5d. PROJECT NUMBER5e. TASK NUMBER5f. WORKUNIT NUMBER7. PERFORMING ORGANIZATION NAME(S) AND ADDRESS(ES)Lieutenant Colonel Anthony JohnsonPeacekeeping and Stability Operations Institute8.

4 PERFORMING ORGANIZATION REPORTNUMBER9. SPONSORING / MONITORING AGENCY NAME(S) ANDADDRESS(ES)10. SPONSOR/MONITOR S ACRONYM(S) Army War College122 Forbes AvenueCarlisle, PA 1701311. SPONSOR/MONITOR S REPORTNUMBER(S)12. DISTRIBUTION /AVAILABILITY STATEMENTD istributionA: Unlimited13. SUPPLEMENTARY NOTES14. ABSTRACTThe current mobilization policy directs deploying reserve component units to serve at least 365 days on active policy requires much of the TRAINING the mobilized unit previously completed at the mobilization station and afterthey were mobilized now must be completed prior to their mobilization date to allow maximum use of the mobilized unit'sdeployment.

5 This paper examines what steps were taken to facilitate this new method of TRAINING and how the army canimprove these processes to maximize boots on the ground time for each deployment. It will research the advantages ofpre- mobilization TRAINING conductedat home station . Finally, this paper will examine the responsibility given to eachcomponent for PRE-MOBILIZATION TRAINING and recommend how each component can become more efficient in the SUBJECT TERMSPost- mobilization , NationalGuard, Reserve Component16. SECURITY CLASSIFICATION OF:17. LIMITATIONOF ABSTRACT18. NUMBEROF PAGES19a. NAME OF RESPONSIBLE PERSONa. REPORTUNCLASSIFEDb. ABSTRACTUNCLASSIFEDc. THIS PAGEUNCLASSIFEDUNLIMITED2819b.

6 TELEPHONE NUMBER(include areacode)Standard Form 298 (Rev. 8-98)Prescribed by ANSI Std. STRATEGY RESEARCH PROJECTMAXIMIZING PRE-MOBILIZATION TRAINING AT home STATIONbyColonel Michael R. AberleNorth Dakota Army National GuardLieutenant Colonel Anthony JohnsonProject AdviserThis SRP is submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements of the Master of StrategicStudies Degree. The Army War College is accredited by the Commission onHigher Education of the Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools, 3624 MarketStreet, Philadelphia, PA 19104, (215) 662-5606. The Commission on HigherEducation is an institutional accrediting agency recognized by the Secretary ofEducation and the Council for Higher Education views expressed in this student academic research paper are those of the authorand do not reflect the official policy or position of the Department of the Army,Department of Defense, or the Army War CollegeCARLISLE BARRACKS, PENNSYLVANIA 17013 ABSTRACTAUTHOR:Colonel Michael R.

7 AberleTITLE: MAXIMIZING PRE-MOBILIZATION Trainingat home StationFORMAT:Strategy Research ProjectDATE:13 March 2009 WORD COUNT:5,548`PAGES:28 KEY TERMS:Post- mobilization National Guard Reserve ComponentCLASSIFICATION:UnclassifiedThe current mobilization policy directs deployingreserve component unitstoserve at least 365 dayson active duty. This policy requires much of the TRAINING themobilized unit previously completed at the mobilization station and after they weremobilized now must be completed prior to their mobilization date to allow maximum useof the mobilized unit's deployment. This paper examines what stepsweretaken tofacilitate this new method of TRAINING and how the army can improve these processes tomaximize boots on the ground time for each deployment.

8 It will research the advantagesof PRE-MOBILIZATION TRAINING conductedat home station . Finally, this paper will examinethe responsibility given to each component for PRE-MOBILIZATION trainingandrecommendhow each component can become more efficientin the PRE-MOBILIZATION TRAINING AT home STATIONOn19 January 2007 Secretary of Defense Robert Gates directed reservecomponent (RC) units would serve a maximum of 12 months on active duty for policy prior to thisrequiredeach deployed unitto mobilize, train, andthen depart for their given theater to serve 365 days Boots On the Ground (BOG)2inaddition to time spent atthemobilization each deployment now limited toa total of 365 days, each post mobilization TRAINING day now counts against the 365 totaldays, leaving fewer days for the unit to serve in its mission during the policy requires that much ofthetraining the mobilized unit previously completedatthemobilizationstation (MS) after they weremobilized, mustnowbe completed prior totheir enable units preparing for upcoming mobilizationsto put BOG as quickly as possible underthis mobilized unitsare currently completing athomestation (HS)

9 Prior to mobilizationare examinedin thisreview as well as suggestions onwhich additional tasks could be completed at HStofurther reduce the post- mobilization requirements. This SRP offers recommendations onhow theArmy can improveitsprocesses to maximize the BOGportion of eachdeploymentwhile ensuring that the combatant commander receivesRCunits fullycapable of accomplishing all assigned tasks. Finally, thisSRPexamines eachcomponent sresponsibility for PRE-MOBILIZATION begin, we must firstunderstand the current mobilization five phases of mobilization . Phases I and II take place at HS in the PRE-MOBILIZATION TRAINING , then Phases III, IV, andV take place after mobilization .

10 This new2policy seeks to reduce the burden of mobilization on RC Soldiers and their Families. Byreducing the total length of time for each mobilization , it has accomplished this. But thenew policy has created hardships for units TRAINING to deploy and for the receivingcombatant commanders. This SRP examines current mobilization processes andsuggest ways of improving these processes. Each level of command fromDepartmentof the Army (DA) on down must be willing to carefully examine their current processesand embrace changes that will allow units to streamline the mobilization these organizations must update current policies and in some cases seekregulatory changes to facilitate future mobilizations.