Milford chronicle., 1922-07-07
The U. S. ARMY RESERVE OFFICER; HIS
DUTIES, PRIVILEGES, RESPONSIBILITIES
By 9AJOR CHARLES WILLIAMS Artillery Corps, Army
Charge Of the Work in DelaWare)

The numerous assignments of re
serve officers that have appeared i
the Delaware newspapers within tn
last two months, no doubt have beel
of little significance to many reader
because of the current widespread,
lack of information on the presen
army policy and the organization con
templated thereby. 1t is the purpos
Of this article to present, briefly bu
clearly, the fundamental principles O
our present army policy, and to ex
plain the meaning of a commission il
the Reserve Corps, and the duties
privileges and responsibilities thai
attach to such a commission.
The United States Army consists oi
three components, viz:
1. The Regular Army.
2. The National Guard.
3. The Reserves (more correctly
called the Organized Reserves).
Without going into too great detail,
the basic functions and relations of
these three components may be stated
as follows:
1. The Regular Army will furnish,
as in the past, the necessary garri-
sons for our overseas possessions; it
will provide adequate peace garrisOns
for the coast defenses of the United
States; it will furnish certain per-
sonnel to assist in the training and
development of the National Guard
and of the Organized Reserves. This
component will be explained further
on. 1t will provide the necessary per-
sOnnel for the overhead" of the army
of the United States wherein the du-
ties are of continuing nature; it
will take care of any emergencies
both within and without the conti-
mental limits of the United States that
are not of such extent as to require
the addition of troops from the Ma
tional Guard or the Reserves; and,
finally, it is intended that the Regular
Army shall be so thoroughly trained
and efficiently managed as to serve as
a model for the National Guard and
the Organized Reserves. 1t is the first
or primary component of the Army of
the United States, both in peace and
war.
2. The National Guard will take
care of minor emergencies within the
several States, and may be called in
to action when necessary in other
States than those to which the sew
eral units belong. In time of war or |
major emergencies, Congress may au-
.hOrize the use of the National Guard |
% supplement the Regular Army for
service anywhere. The National Guard |
S the second component of the Army
If the United States, in peace and in
var.
8. The Organized Reserves, popu-
arly called the Reserves, constitute
! purely war force, and can be en-
Dloyed only in the event of a national
declared by Congress.
hey constitute the third component
# the Army of the United States. 1t
S the policy of the War Department
o develop the Regular Army and the
National Guard to the full strength
rovided by law; but, for the present,
D maintain the nucleus only of the
,eserve forces this nucleus or cadre
D consist of the complete officer per-
Onnel that would be required if this
Irce were to be fully organized, and !
My such enlisted men as would be
equired to fill the more important
on-cOmmissioned grades, i. e., first
supply sergeant, gun COM
lander, plotter, etc. ;
From the above brief outline of the
urpOses and peace organization of I
le Reserves, it will be seen that, in s
le face of another great national
nergency there would exist already v
le framework upon which q great t