Assistant Secretary of Defense for Manpower and Reserve Affairs

According to a statement of intent signed by the ASD (M&RA), the purpose of the office is "to set the conditions for a sustainable, seamlessly integrated and complementary total force." To do so, the ASD (M&RA) seeks to "proactively deliver credible advice and information about the capabilities of the reserve components," and "develop the policies and resources necessary to fully exploit those capabilities."^[4] The language of these statements is precise and deliberate. As the statement of intent explains:

• The ASD (M&RA) "sets the conditions" because the individual armed services must integrate the forces themselves.
• “Seamlessly integrated” and “complementary” are characteristics of a reserve force that can augment and reinforce the active components in every facet of the National Security Strategy. These characteristics imply an absence of friction and a mutually supporting force structure.
• A “total force” is the combination of active and reserve components that service chiefs provide willingly, and that unified combatant commanders can utilize effectively.
• “Delivering credible advice and information” requires fidelity to fact and a humility that avoids boastfulness and over-promising.
• “Resources” include modern and well-positioned equipment and facilities, and the assets necessary for a force that is trained for both irregular and conventional warfare prior to mobilization and deployment.
• To "exploit" reserve capabilities means “to take full advantage” of them. In business, it would mean a high return on investment.

The statement of intent also sets out a metric for this office's performance: "Our success will be measured by the degree to which we have advanced a culture of mutual appreciation and confidence in both the active and reserve components."^[4]

The title and portfolio of the assistant secretary for manpower and reserve affairs has evolved several times over the years. An assistant secretary of defense was first assigned oversight of DoD manpower and personnel affairs in 1950 by Secretary George C. Marshall. In September 1955, Secretary Charles Wilson redesignated the position as Assistant Secretary of Defense (Manpower, Personnel, and Reserve).^[5]

DoD Directive 5120.27 (31 January 1961) redesignated the position as Assistant Secretary of Defense (Manpower), but after a few years, the Reserve Forces Bill of Rights and Vitalization Act (P.L. 90-168, signed 1 December 1967), changed the title to Assistant Secretary of Defense (Manpower and Reserve Affairs).^[5]

Defense Directive 5124.1, signed 20 April 1977, combined the position with the assistant secretary of defense (installations and logistics) to become the assistant secretary of defense (manpower, reserve affairs, and logistics).^[5]

Following the FY 1984 Defense Authorization Act (P.L. 98-94, 24 September 1983), the title was changed to Assistant Secretary of Defense (Manpower, Installations, and Logistics), and the reserve affairs functions were reconstituted into a new position called Assistant Secretary of Defense (Reserve Affairs).^[5]

The assistant secretary of defense (reserve affairs) became a reporting official to the under secretary of defense for personnel and readiness when the latter role was established through the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 1994 (P.L. 103-160).^[6]

Section 902 of the Carl Levin and Howard P. "Buck" McKeon National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2015 (P.L. 113-291, 19 December 2014) redesignated the position as the assistant secretary of defense for manpower and reserve affairs.^[7]