Military Readiness Model

Why the United States Army is now using the

Sustainable Readiness Model The United States Army has been in constant conflict since September 11, 2001. It is currently drawing down its forces but at the same time needs to prepare for an increasingly unpredictable future. The readiness models of the past are not able to provide the level of readiness and flexibility needed in the future with the combination of less troops and continued operations around the world. To ensure we maintain an effective fighting force we will need the new readiness model to maintain our current capabilities and allow enough flexibility to deal with any unforeseen future missions. SRM’s goal is to keep a higher rate of readiness by using our reserve components

The basic concept was that different units were prepared at different levels for an overseas enemy with all the reverse components saved as a last resort in case of emergency. September 11, 2001 completely changed the way in which the military operated. The Army realized that the old TRM model would not work for the demands of Afghanistan and Iraq so the ARFORGEN was developed and implemented. The ARFORGEN model created a predicable deployment cycle for all units within the Army. It synchronized all units into a pattern each unit would be in one of three phases. The reset cycle would occur directly after a deployment. Where by design the returning unit would lose a relatively large portion of their trained soldiers and leaders, either a permanent change of station (PCS), expiration of term (ETS), and/or professional development opportunities. All of the units’ at this time would also turn in a large portion of their equipment for reset and refurbishment. The unit would gradually enter the next cycle known as the train/ready cycle. The units would began receiving their equipment back and all existing and new soldiers continue their higher command directed training. In order to move to the next cycle known as the available cycle the unit had to be fully manned, equipped, and trained for the known mission (either Afghanistan or Iraq). This ARFORGEN

The mission module means the unit is fully maned, equipped, and trained. These units have an ordered mission and are immediately ready to conduct decisive action defined as "the continuous, simultaneous combinations of offensive, defensive, and stability or defense support of civil authorities' tasks”( Fieckert, 2017). The next module in SRM known as the ready module is identical to the mission module except for the fact that the unit currently does not have a mission. The final stage in SRM known as the prepare module means the unit is not ready for a mission and is currently rebuilding to an acceptable mission