The U.S. Army faces global challenges that have required it to use
reserve components in a manner unseen since World War II and the Korean
War. Today, there are many questions and concerns about the future of
the Army Reserve and National Guard due to the unprecedented, continued
mobilization of these reserve components and problems involving
retention. Without adequate retention of personnel, valuable experience
and unit readiness are at risk. The Army would have to spend its limited
resources to replace many seasoned soldiers with junior personnel or use
more contractors who may not be as effective or efficient. This
monograph examines Army Reserve and National Guard enlisted retention
patterns from 1995-2002. It provides a necessary background to compare
retention patterns in the past with those of today. This information
will help reserve component leadership to assess their personnel
retention efforts and adjust appropriate public policies to improve
their force structure.