Iimpetus Behind the Creation of the United States Naval Reserve

The United States Naval Reserve (USNR) provides the United States Navy a ready pool of trained personnel as an augmentation force to the active duty manning. In the 230-year history of the Navy the Naval Reserve has only been organized for the last 90 years. This paper examines the history of the Navy identifying key elements within the US that lead to the authorization of the Naval Reserve in 1916. It will examine the political, economic, and strategic environment between 1775 and 1916 and will look at the strategic mission of the Navy and how it changed during that time to require a ready reserve. The experiences of the naval leaders over the course of time identified and developed the theory for the professional naval force to include a viable reserve force. The gradual recognition of the changing and expanding role of the Navy after the Industrial Revolution, the culmination of America's Manifest Destiny, and the development of a strategic naval policy, along with overseas territorial expansion all provided impetus in the social and political arena that led to the authorization of the US Naval Reserve. The USNR continues to provide valuable support to the Navy. Both are continuing to transform to maintain the relevance between the forces.