Reserve Component
While Reserve Forces are a national responsibility, they do play an important role in maintaining the strength of the Alliance. As individuals who are not normally employed on full-time military service, Reservists serve as a connection between the military and the civilian sector. Reserve Forces help to Project Stability, assist in National Homeland Defence, and provide both specialist and general-purpose officers and enlisted to support National and Alliance requirements. Reserve Forces enhance agility, flexibility, and resilience.
Two Reserve organizations in particular serve in an advisory and advocacy capacity to the Alliance.
Comprising national delegates representing member nations’ Chiefs of Defence, the National Reserve Forces Committee (NRFC) serves formally to provide policy advice on Reserve issues, while strengthening the preparedness of Reserve Forces by providing a forum for exchange of best practices and lessons learned regarding all relevant Reserve matters.
The Interallied Confederation of Reserve Officers (CIOR) is an independent confederation of National Reserve Officer Associations which advocates for and promotes capabilities and skills of Reserve Officers.
Additionally, NATO Allied Command Transformation is supported directly by over 200 United States Navy Reservists assigned to six NATO ACT and NATO AUX Units located in the United States. NATO ACT and NATO AUX Units provide support to NATO ACT at its Headquarters in Norfolk, Virginia and three subordinate commands in Norway (Joint Warfare Centre), in Poland (Joint Force Training Centre) and in Portugal (Joint Analysis & Lessons Learned Centre). Their mission is to provide Reserve support for mobilization and manpower across the full spectrum of defence planning and joint-multinational operations and exercises, from emergencies to daily operations, peacetime through conflict resolution. They provide support to Allied Command Transformation deliverables, symposia, NATO strategic exercises, pre-deployment training, and engagement with industry and academia in Norfolk, Virginia and throughout Europe.who are organized into seven units around the country. Their mission is to provide Reserve support for mobilization and manpower across the full spectrum of defence planning and joint-multinational operations and exercises, from emergencies to daily operations, peacetime through conflict resolution. They provide support to Allied Command Transformation deliverables, symposia, NATO strategic exercises, Resolute Support training events, and engagement with industry and academia in Norfolk, Virginia and throughout Europe.
Organization
NATO ACT
The NATO ACT Reserve Program Director is the senior US Flag officer at HQ SACT. The day-to-day oversight of the program and staff coordination is assigned to the HQ SACT Reserve Forces Coordinator, who also serves as the Navy Reserve Program Director and the NATO ACT LO to the NRFC.
Reserve Units
Reservists are assigned to one of six units located in: Atlanta, GA; Chicago, IL; Newport; RI, Norfolk, VA; and Washington, DC.
Each unit has a Commanding Officer, Executive Officer, and Senior Enlisted Leader.
Units are aligned by directorates and responsibilities, but work together closely in support of strategic initiatives to leverage the unique military and civilian skillsets possessed by Reservists.
| US Navy Reserve Unit | Drill Site |
| NR NATO ACT | NRC Norfolk, VA |
| NR NATO ACT NPT | NRC Newport, RI |
| NR NATO ACT WAS | NRC Washington, DC |
| NR NATO AUX | NRC Norfolk, VA |
| NR NATO AUX ATL | NRC Marietta, GA |
| NR NATO AUX CHI | NRC Great Lakes, IL |