Independent Commission Examines Roles and Missions of the Guard and Reserves

CNGR website ^ | 9 March 2006 | Staff

[Racehorse]

Two days of Capitol Hill hearings on the current and future roles and missions of the National Guard and Reserves have launched a comprehensive, year-long assessment of the use of the nation’s Guard and Reserve Components at home and abroad.

The hearings, which concluded today [9 March], were conducted by the independent Commission on the National Guard and Reserves. The 13-member Commission has been charged by Congress to recommend changes in the laws and policies under which the Guard and Reserves operate, to ensure that they are tasked, organized, trained, equipped, compensated, and supported to best meet the nation’s security requirements.

Over two days, Commissioners heard from the Senate and House leaders of the committees and caucuses that oversee military issues; senior Department of Defense officials; the Vice Chiefs of Staff of the Army, Air Force, Navy, and Marine Corps; and non-governmental subject matter experts.

“The centerpiece of our task is to assess the current roles and missions of the Reserve Components and identify appropriate future roles, all within the context of likely emerging threats,” Commission Chairman Arnold L. Punaro said following the hearings. “The work of this Commission in the year ahead will be based on this assessment. Our panels of distinguished witnesses have given us what we need to move ahead, and we are moving.”

Information on Web Site

Detailed information on the hearing panels is found on the Commission’s Web site, www.cngr.gov.  Complete transcripts of the hearing sessions will be available on the site beginning March 14.

Also: The March 8 hearing panels were taped for later broadcast by C-SPAN; Defense Department and service panels were taped and broadcast to the military community by the Pentagon Channel.

[Racehorse]

Good bookmark for those of you who like to keep track of such things.