New directorate streamlines joint reserve corps

OFFUTT AIR FORCE BASE, Neb. - U.S. Strategic Command designated a new directorate dedicated to streamlining joint reserve forces to meet the command's mission needs.

The J10 Reserve Directorate in conjunction with the Joint Strategic Reserve Unit officially stood up in October. The J10 combines the former USSTRATCOM Guard/Reserve Matters and the commander's Mobilization Assistant offices, with the JSRU integrated to enhance joint reserve efforts.

"Our purpose for combining these offices was to bring all reserve components - Army, Air Force, Navy, and Marines - under one hat," said Col. James Barkley, JSRU deputy commander. "This facilitates a cross flow of information between services to ultimately present a better reserve component product to the combatant commander. "

As part of the 2010 Quadrennial Defense Review's comprehensive report, recommendations were made for applying efficient and cost effective changes in employing joint reserve forces. To initiate these recommendations, USSTRATCOM's reserve component took a page from U.S. Transportation Command's effective reserve force structure at Scott Air Force Base, Ill.

"TRANSCOM has had a joint reserve unit for 20 years and we did an extensive study on what they're doing. We felt –that it's a better way of doing business," Colonel Barkley explained.

Colonel Barkley said using a similar reserve framework as TRANSCOM's was a practical choice because it enables them to share information more freely within a formal structure and allows them to present a better product to Gen. C. Robert Kehler, USSTRATCOM commander.

Although the J10 and JSRU share the same office and collectively work joint reserve issues, they each serve a separate function. The J10's responsibilities include advising the commander on matters related to reservists from all branches of service while coordinating reserve funding. The JSRU is charged with providing trained and mission ready reservists to integrate and supplement the command's requirements. Maj. Gen. William Schauffert, the Mobilization Assistant to the commander, is dual hatted as director of the J10 and commander of the JSRU. Navy Capt. William Lear serves as the deputy director for J10. The J10 and JSRU each have service branch elements and advise General Schauffert on service specific reserve guidance.

The J10 and JSRU are taking a phased step approach to fully integrate their capabilities, but Colonel Barkley said they're up to the task of providing the best possible service to the command.

"We brought everybody together to make things better, more transparent, to ensure reserve initiatives are not left out of the loop and most importantly that the combatant commander isn't missing any latent reserve capability," Colonel Barkley said. "At the end of the day we're here to provide what he needs, when he needs it. "