Representation Within Occupations.  The assignment of Reserve Component personnel to occupations is based upon individual qualifications and desires, military requirements, and unit vacancies.  The changing missions of the Armed Services, including domestic and international humanitarian efforts, affect personnel assignment.  Table 5.13 shows the occupational area distribution of Reserve and Active Components.

Table 5.14 indicates that the occupational distribution among Active and Reserve Components varies. The differences reflect each Reserve Component's unique mission requirements and force structure. These differences may preclude some direct transfers from active duty to the National Guard and Reserve within the same skill.  For example, 13 percent of active Navy enlisted members serve in electronics specialties, but Naval Reserve requirements account for only 7 percent of this skill area.  On the other hand, only 10 percent of active Navy enlistees serve in administration while 21 percent of USNR enlistees serve in administration.  Similar occupational differences are found in each Service component.  Some occupational areas may not be able to absorb all transfers, while other areas may have to recruit more NPS individuals to fill unit vacancies or retrain those with prior service.  The occupational distribution percentages for FY 1998 are relatively similar to those of FY 1997.

Representation of minorities within occupations.  As shown in Table 5.15, about two-thirds of all Selected Reserve personnel are in four occupational areas:  infantry, administration, electrical/mechanical equipment repair, and service and supply.  The largest percentage of Blacks and "Others" are in functional support and administration, while combat occupations are the most prevalent among Whites and Hispanics.

Representation of women within occupations.  The assignment patterns for Selected Reserve enlisted men and women in occupational areas are reflected in Table 5.16.  Most National Guard and Reserve enlisted women are assigned to two occupational areas:  functional support (41percent) and medical (16 percent).  Enlisted men are assigned primarily to infantry (21 percent) and electrical/mechanical equipment repair (19 percent).

The April 1993 policy (7) to open more specialties and assignments to women resulted in new opportunities for women in both the Active and Reserve Components. Women are not permitted to serve in direct ground combat roles, but positions on ships and aircraft engaging in combat are now open to women.  In FY 1998, 4 percent of women served in infantry, gun crew, and seamanship specialties, as illustrated in Table 5.16.

The proportion of Selected Reserve women in non-traditional occupations, such as technical and craftsmen, was relatively low in FY 1998.  Women were nearly three times more likely than men to serve in the traditional occupational areas of medical and administration.  In the future, the proportion of women enlisting in non-traditional positions in the National Guard and Reserves will depend to a considerable extent on the number of Active Component women in non-traditional skills, their willingness to join a Selected Reserve unit upon separating from active duty, and the proportion of technical skill vacancies in Guard and Reserve units.  However, with the end of the military drawdown, there are fewer prior service women available to enter the Selected Reserve.  Consequently, it is important to continue monitoring occupational trends by gender in both the Active and Reserve Components.

Memorandum from Les Aspin, Secretary of Defense, Subject:  Policy on the Assignment of Women in the Armed Forces, April 28, 1993. (go back)

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