The Future of the Reserve Components System in Japan.

Abstract : The objective of this study is to develop the impact of changing trends in political, social, financial and technological environments on the future Reserve Components System of the Japanese Ground Self-Defense Force (GSDF) in order to recommend some alternative courses of action to improve the current GSDF reserve system. This essay concludes that a new role for the reserve compoments, besides the traditional role in a post-mobilization phase, is necessary to lighten the heavy burden on active components in peacetime and that a new approach to manpower acquisition will be required to meet the challenges of Japan's complex social structure. Additionally, it argues that some other improvements relative to Active/Reserve mix ratio, affiliation programs and mobilization authority will be necessary to increase readiness in the Total Force structure. (Author)