The Presidential Selected Reserve Call-up

Book excerpt: The number of Reserve Forces deployments continue to increase due to the restructuring of the Army, the emphasis on integration initiatives and the potential increase of peacekeeping missions. The Presidential Selected Reserve Call-up (PSRC) is exercised by the National Command Authority (NCA) under Title 10 United States Code (USC) Section 12302, which allows 200,000 Reserves to be called to active duty for up to 270 days of operational missions, other than during war or national emergencies. The purpose of this research is to provide an analysis of the PSRC process from the statutory and regulatory point of view. Many lessons were learned as a result of President Johnson's decision not to mobilize the Reserves during Vietnam. Efforts by Army Chief of Staff Creighton Abrams regarding the restructuring of the Army and the Reserves virtually guaranteed their availability in any substantial future conflict. The nations will regarding vital interests is seldom debated. Do we risk losing this national will of the people due to increased missions? This issue and also the impact on the use of the Reserves to those left behind, such as their families, their employers and the civilian community who depend on them during peacetime will be discussed.