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USCINCCENT, and make recommendations to Secretary Cheney and the

President on   additional forces, if and when  they are deemed necessary.


The Contribution of Reserve and National Guard Forces


      There are several points I would like to stress concerning the use of

our Reserve and National Guard component in Operation Desert Shield.


      Desert Shield presented this   nation with the first large-scale practical

test of the Total Force Policy.   As a result, we have learned some important

lessons and gained some valuable insights that can only serve to

strengthen  the  policy and, consequently, our national defense.


      Reserve volunteers were vital to the sffccess of the early stages of

this operation.   As you know, during the early weeks of August some

10,000 reserve volunteers   per week provided   such critical functions as

airlift and tanker support.  It is safe to say that without them the swift and

efficient deployment of our forces would not have been possible.


      The authorization by the Secretary of Defense to call up 50,000

Selected Reservists   was  made because we needed the support and they

stood ready to provide it.   The fact that the Secretary of Defense has since

increased the number of reservists called to active duty to over 122,000 is

a measure of the importance of the Guard and Reserve in times of crisis.


      The subject of Reserve combat forces has already been addressed,

but allow me to say that I am very familiar with the three combat

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