The Congressionally chartered Commission on the National Guard and Reserves is getting company in its effort to review the now more extensive use of reserve components. The Pentagon has tapped its Defense Science Board to form a task force to study the “length and frequency of the deployment” of reservists. The task force is to assess the consequences of such deployments on force structure, morale, and mission capability and to identify the “optimal” length and frequency. Lastly, the task force must identify “mechanisms to reduce” said lengthy and frequent deployments.
Airmen and Guardians in the Active and Reserve component, as well as civilian employees, in “mission critical and high-risk populations” are now required to receive influenza vaccinations annually to “preserve force readiness,” according to a recent Department of the Air Force memo.