The COVID-19 pandemic might be the event that convinces the Navy Reserve to restructure to be better postured for large-scale mobilizations. Early in the pandemic, the Commander, Navy Reserve Forces Command (CNRFC), authorized an exception to policy to allow reserve sailors to mobilize through their Navy Reserve Activities or Navy Operational Support Centers (NOSCs) to expedite their arrival to the USNS
Comfort (T-AH-20), which was being sent to New York City. This should be the model going forward.
Currently, however, all mobilizations are processed at Navy Mobilization Processing Site (NMPS) Norfolk, Virginia, which is overseen by the Expeditionary Combat Readiness Center (ECRC).
1. Phil Stewart and Idress Ali, “U.S. Navy Suffering from ‘Failure in Leadership,’ Says Nominee to Lead It,” Reuters, 7 May 2020 www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-navy/u-s-navy-suffering-from-failure-in-leadership-says-nominee-to-lead-it-idUSKBN22J2AD.
2. LT Daniel Stefanus, USN, “Retaining More High-Performing Aviation, Sub, and SWO Talent,” MyNavy HR Feeder Board, 18 February 2020.
3. Army Talent Management Task Force, “Army Announces New Battalion Commander Selection Program,” 6 November 2019, www.army.mil/standto/archive 2019-12-06/.
4. LT Daniel Stefanus, USN, “Beyond Golden Handcuffs,” OPNAV N1 report, 29 April 2020.
5. Jon Kolko, “Wicked Problems: Problems Worth Solving,” Austin Center for Design, 6 March 2012, www.google.com/url?q=https://ssir.org/books/excerpts/entry/wicked problems problems worth solving%23:~:text%3DA%2520wicked%2520problem%2520is%2520a,these%2520problems%2520with%2520other%2520problems&sa=D&ust=1595215526461000&usg=AFQjCNEZzK10