It seems like these days there are more advisory boards, consortiums, panels, working groups, and other fill in the blank collaborations where the private and academic sector share their perspectives with the Department of Defense or other government agencies. Many of these boards seem to recommend the exact same thing: more cross-pollination between cultures, incentives to be innovative, and processes for efficient decision-making. It is almost impossible to keep up with these without making a spreadsheet and checking their minutes every chance you get. I am sure many of these meetings turn into meetings about meetings, which create subgroups, which creates more meetings, which may or may not create recommendations. It reminds me of the Seinfeld episode in which Kramer had the bright idea of creating a coffee table book about coffee tables. The above notwithstanding, I have found one group, the Reserve Forces Policy Board, to be both relevant and effective (as effective as a recommending body to Congress and the DoD can be).

The board is a federal advisory committee within the Office of the Secretary of Defense, which serves as an advisor on all things strategy policy and practice designed to improve and enhance the capabilities, efficiency, and effectiveness of the reserve components. It was revised in 2012 to reflect its current structure

The board includes a diverse makeup:

  • A civilian chairperson
  • A non-voting Military Executive and Senior Enlisted Representative
  • A member or former member of each of the seven reserve components (quick, can you name them?)
  • Ten U.S. citizens with significant knowledge and experience in national security and reserve component matters (often reserve retirees now in the private sector)

Some of the issues the board tackled their last meeting in June were giving perspectives on home based dwell policies for such things as cyber and intelligence missions (like my former unit, the 184th Intelligence Wing), tax breaks for employers of Reserve Component members and integrating cyber warriors into the DHS framework as natural fits. Finally there was advocacy (again) from the board to the DoD and Congress to continue doing everything it can to reduce security clearance processing times.

The board seems to have the ear of the policy makers judging by who shows up and presents to them each meeting.

The board will hold its next meeting on September 10 in Arlington, VA and it is open to the public. Some of the topics on the agenda include the FEMA/Reserve Component relationship and the future of Selective Service Registration and the Individual Ready Reserve. The Reserve Forces Policy Board website is loaded with information on past and present events.

If this type of discussion affects you or is in your wheelhouse, submit topics through the proper protocol and/or lobbying organization. Some things that come to mind are the following: a legitimate non-command promotion path for Reserve Component technical experts in the cyber, engineering, or intelligence fields; the discussion of rewarding our Reserve Component cyber warriors “bug bounties” to aid in retention efforts in a highly competitive environment; and more incorporation of the Reserve Component into guest or adjunct faculty programs at colleges and universities.

The Reserve Forces Policy Board seems to have an ear that is willing to listen. And even more importantly, they’re being heard. Part of their 2018 Report on Duty Status was incorporated by Congress.

Related News

Joe Jabara, JD, is the Director, of the Hub, For Cyber Education and Awareness, Wichita State University. He also serves as an adjunct faculty at two other universities teaching Intelligence and Cyber Law. Prior to his current job, he served 30 years in the Air Force, Air Force Reserve, and Kansas Air National Guard. His last ten years were spent in command/leadership positions, the bulk of which were at the 184th Intelligence Wing as Vice Commander.