Naval Reserve History

• The Navy Reserve owes its beginnings to the state naval militias that were formed during the Revolutionary War. These state militias were made up of citizens who had a maritime background, such as fishermen or merchant sailors, and who wanted to serve their country at sea. Although they were under state control, the militias were often used to augment the size of the U.S. Navy in times of war.
  
  

Reserve Act History

• In 1914, the National Militia Act was passed, which made the state militias subject to federal supervision. In 1918, this law was repealed, and control of the naval militias returned to the states. The Navy Act of 1920 created a reserve component to the Navy and Marine Corps that was made up of retired service members. This act was restructured by the Navy Reserve Act of 1938, which reorganized the reserve members in various classes of service. The Armed Forces Reserve Act of 1952 replaced this act and formally established the federal Naval Reserve.
  
  

Significance

• The Navy knew that the creation of a federal naval reserve would drastically reduce the delays it often took to mobilize the state militias. This was because the militias the Navy had long relied on were nominally under state control and not subject to control by the federal government. By providing for a ready source of trained men, the Navy would be better prepared to respond in the event of an emergency.
  
  

Effects

• The Navy Reserve Act of 1938 enabled the Navy to rapidly expand its ranks through World War II until the number of naval personnel reached over 3 million. The Armed Forces Reserve Act now enables the Navy to maintain an active reserve force that makes up more than 20 percent of its overall force. Additionally, today's Reservists train alongside active-duty personnel, which leads to better integration when they are activated for duty.
  
  

Adverse Effects

• As men joined the Naval Reserve, it created a lack of manpower that forced many state naval militias to dissolve. Today, most state naval militias exist only on paper in their respective state's constitutions. One, however, adapted to the situation and, as a result, continues to serve today. The New York Naval Militia owes its survival to a change in New York state law that now requires its members to be active Navy, Coast Guard or Marine Reservists.