Reserve officer

Reserve Officer

A Reserve Officer is a member of the armed forces who is not in active duty but can be called upon in times of emergency or war. Reserve officers are part of the military reserve forces, a component of a country's total available military manpower.

History

The concept of a reserve officer has its roots in the history of military organization. During times of peace, the duties of a reserve officer may be part-time, but during times of war, these officers may be activated and serve full-time. The use of reserve officers has allowed nations to maintain a military force larger than what would be affordable on a full-time basis.

Roles and Responsibilities

Reserve officers perform a variety of roles depending on the needs of the military. They may serve in combat roles, or in support roles such as logistics, intelligence, and medicine. Reserve officers are often used to fill gaps in the regular forces, or to provide specialist skills that are not readily available in the regular forces.

Training

Reserve officers undergo the same basic military training as regular officers, but their training is often spread over a longer period of time. This training includes both physical and academic components, and covers areas such as tactics, strategy, and law.

Reserve Officer in Different Countries

Different countries have different systems for their reserve officers. For example, in the United States, reserve officers are part of the United States Reserve Forces. In the United Kingdom, they are part of the British Army Reserve. In Canada, they are part of the Canadian Forces Reserve.

See Also

• Military reserve forces
• Military officer
• Military training