Considering a Cadre Augmented Army - RAND Corporation

-77- A Budgetary Analysis of Cadre
Figure 6.2—Stress on the AC when RC is Rotated More Intensively
20%
17%
16%
% of AC Deployments
15%
10%
5%
6%
5%
5%
10%
9%
7%
13%
RC 1:5
RC 1:4
RC 1:3
0%
12 16 or fewer 20 or fewer
Months at Home Between Deployments
As the RC is used more intensively, stress on the AC decreases because RC units are
available to redeploy in the period during which cadre units are mobilizing. However, this
decrease is not very significant given the stress placed on the RC. 89 The percentage of AC
units deployed with 20, 16, and 12 or fewer months at home drops by only one to four
percent as the frequency of RC rotation increases from one year in six (1:5) to one year in
four (1:3).
The reduction in the cost savings from a cadre augmented force due to using the RC
more intensively is balanced by a decrease in stress on the AC. Overall, a cadre augmented
force still reduces annual costs when the RC is used more intensively, with the additional
benefit that using the RC more intensively reduces stress on the AC.
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89 It is unlikely that DoD would be willing to accept three year dwell times for RC units given the nature of
reserve service. Deployments as frequent as every four years would disrupt the civilian careers of many
reservists and would likely lower recruitment and retention.