Examining the Roles of Army Reserve Component Forces in Military Cyberspace Operations

What capabilities can Reserve component forces bring to the Department of Defense (DoD) cyberspace forces? What opportunities and challenges surround the integration of these forces into a still-evolving joint cyberspace force? What are the expectations for cyber forces that serve in a militia capacity? This monograph explores these questions in four major sections. First, the monograph provides a concise review of basic information on the laws and policies governing the use of Reserve component forces. Second, it explores the uses of Reserve component cyber forces from a DoD perspective, focusing on the current strength and organization of Army National Guard (ARNG) and Reserve cyber forces and their use as part of the Cyber Mission Forces (CMF). It also addresses responsibilities for defense support to civil authorities and related operational issues, training and exercise opportunities, and total force challenges. Third, the monograph examines the use of ARNG cyber forces from the perspective of a state government, emphasizing the expectations of governors for state incident response and cybersecurity support. This section also addresses military-private partnerships, state-sponsored cyber ranges and exercises, and international partnerships. In the final section, the author offers recommendations to policymakers and leaders toward improving the integration and utilization of Army Reserve component cyberspace forces.