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Key Findings

Reviewing questions related to requirements for reserve component general and flag officers (RC G/FOs), RAND researchers found that current authorized strength and exemptions are sufficient to provide effective management and leadership. They found that management and justification of these positions are adequate, but that standardization across the services and implementation of tracking methods across the U.S. Department of Defense could help better evaluate and validate RC G/FO positions. RAND researchers also found relatively few possibilities for elimination, downgrading, or conversion of positions. Although development considerations should not drive RC G/FO requirements because adequate positions for officer development exist, care should be taken not to disproportionately eliminate positions considered crucial for development purposes.

Increased use of the reserve component, particularly since September 11, 2001, has renewed interest in the question of whether the number of reserve component general and flag officers (RC G/FOs) is appropriate. Interest in this question prompted Congress to ask the Secretary of Defense, through the Fiscal Year 2014 National Defense Authorization Act, to conduct a review of "general and flag officer requirements for members of the reserve component in an active status . . . to ensure that the authorized strengths . . . are based on an objective requirements process," are sufficient, and reflect any efficiencies that can be gained by eliminating or downgrading unneeded positions.