In this paper, the role of reservists is both discussed and analysed by the author. At the same time – based on the experience of NATO member states with a history and tradition longer than ours in this context – the author outlines the alternative options for possible participation by a reserve association in efforts aimed at supporting the volunteer reserve system and national defence as a whole in Hungary.
Reservists are citizens of a country who combine a military career with a civilian career. They are not normally on active duty and their predominant function is to be available for military service when a state mobilises to deal with a crisis, the possibility of a crisis or when needed otherwise. Normally, reserve forces are not considered part of a permanent standing body of armed forces. The existence of reserve forces traditionally enables a country to downsize its peacetime military expenditure
The modern interpretation of the term ‘reservist’ was initially used in the mid- 19th century.
As the spectrum of warfare widens and operations other than war become more complex and prevalent, the use of reserves focuses more on their civilian knowledge skills and experience. The following words, attributed to former UN Secretary-General Dag Hammarskjöld
The armed forces of the majority of developed countries have found their way out of this paradoxical situation partly by utilising more reservists – particularly volunteer reservists – because, by definition, a reservist is, to some extent a service member and, in some measure, a civilian, “twice a citizen” as Churchill referred to them (
It should be emphasised that until quite recently, security was an issue associated mostly with military and, to some extent, political considerations. This approach was evident within the Cold War bipolar context. In the post–Cold War era, peace and stability have become more vulnerable, and are facing an array of threats of increasingly higher levels of complexity. To that end, increasingly complex interpretations of security have emerged; economic, societal and environmental aspects have become the object of scrutiny (
Against the backdrop of reduced military budgets, there is a tendency in most NATO member states for the reservists of all-volunteer armed forces to be regarded as “part-time” volunteers who serve in positions that do not have to be manned by “full-time” (regular) service members in peace-time (
While the armed forces are still in need of reservists who are known to have previously performed their military service as regular service members, it is a proven fact that post–Cold War era military operations increasingly require various civilian skills – to be utilised by individuals in uniform – which are not necessarily available to the regular forces today (
Reserve associations are non-political and non-profit organisations. They are organised democratically and structured around a constitution. They are independent of the military hierarchy of the country. These associations represent reservists from all services and branches. Generally, their main functions are fostering the professional development of reservists, providing advice on reserve issues and supporting national defence:
1. Maintain the cohesion of reservists both physically and mentally, between calls-up for service.
From a purely military point of view, this is the most important aspect of all. Since reservists are on active duty for limited periods only, it is necessary to maintain their cohesion – through professional programmes, physically and mentally – while they are in inactive status. Not only are volunteer reservists suitable for this, they expect it. It was in fact quite long ago, in the autumn of 2003, following our first 25-day preparatory period as volunteer reservists, that our battalion commander (who was unfamiliar with the current practice in NATO member states, which are more experienced than we are in this respect) had this to say in his farewell speech: “Having spent time together as volunteer reservists, we would all benefit from continuing our cooperation while in inactive status (…), which would save us the trouble of having to start from scratch next year.” The reserve associations of our allies, who have a long-established, older tradition than we do when it comes to organizing reservist events, offer relevant programmes (shooting competitions, military patrol competitions, long-distance marches, language courses, lectures on security policy etc.) which, apart from providing assistance in maintaining the cohesion of reservists in inactive status, contribute to the improvement of reservists, both in terms of their physical condition and their understanding of the theoretical aspects of defence related issues.
2. International relations have proved helpful for reserve associations in their interoperability with the defence organisations of NATO member states.
The Interallied Confederation of Reserve Officers (CIOR)
3. They constitute a connecting link between the armed forces and society.
At the beginning of the 3rd millennium, the demobilisation of the last conscript service members on 3 November 2004 marked a new era across the whole spectrum of Hungary’s defence system, i.e. in terms of the correlation between the armed forces and society (
4. They constitute a connecting link between regular and reserve forces.
The status of volunteer reservists is a unique one. In the words of Winston Churchill “a reservist is twice the citizen” given the fact that notwithstanding his military duties, he is, fundamentally, a civilian. My own experience seems to underline the fact that when it comes to an individual’s motivation and commitment, the focus is on “volunteer” not on “reservist”. Put differently, there are similarities between reservists and the other volunteer service members – the regulars – who also serve in the armed forces. Personally, I am of the view that “part-time volunteer” is a more accurate definition to describe their status. They could be likened to people who love football but never become professional football players. However, there is a significant difference between their motivation, viewpoint, conduct, social interactions and those of service members in the other category. Therefore, just as important as their role as a connecting link is to constitute another link: one between the above-mentioned categories of service members (
The help that reserve associations provide in looking at the reservist issues and the relationship between the armed forces and society – particularly from the point of view of decision-makers – is a crucial one.
5. They provide assistance in the recruitment of reservists.
Recruitment, whether it be regular service members or volunteer reservists, is a key issue for the all-volunteer forces. Again, it needs to be emphasised that because of their deep social roots, reserve associations are capable of resonating with those segments of society which the majority of messages generated by official politics either will not reach, or just a fraction of those messages will find their way to. Based on experience at an international level, reserve associations do have a role to play in the recruitment of all categories of service members, particularly volunteer reservists.
6. They increase awareness in the society of the significance of defence-related issues.
In the post–Cold War era, while “awareness of the significance of defence” was on the wane across the whole spectrum of NATO, these organisations helped maintain vigilance in all sections of society. Representatives of these organisations hold the view that reservists, given their unique relationships with and within society as such, are the best diplomats advocating the values of the armed forces. However, this is a reciprocal process: reservists can offer specialised civilian expertise to the armed forces and, at the same time, act as intermediaries making sure that the armed forces are receptive to the messages rooted in the mentality of the civilian population (
7. They act as advocates promoting the interests of reservists.
Problems associated with service members in this category are, in many ways, different from those affecting regular or even retired service members; therefore, a great number of countries with a tradition longer than ours in tackling such issues have assigned the key task of promoting the interests of reservists to their reserve associations
I believe that these are times when the existence of a reserve association in Hungary is of particular importance in the same way as reservists (Szűcs n.d.) are vital for the armed forces or volunteer reservists are vital for the volunteer reserve forces. I would even venture to say that no volunteer reserve system can survive without a reserve association to support it. As true as it is that the Hungarian Defence Forces lack crucial capabilities without a volunteer reserve system, the volunteer reserve system will also lack capabilities without organisational support stemming from society itself, provided by a reserve association.
Using reservists can be extremely cost eff ective: in 2000 56% of US military capabilities were provided by reservists for no more than 8% of the military budget (
In Hungary, the term ‘compulsory military service’ dates back to Act No. XXXIII on the Hungarian Army (draft), while the term ‘reserve service member’ dates back to the coming into force of Act No. XL of 1868 on Defence Forces. In the interwar period, Act No. II of 1939 on National Defence made a distinction between the service duties of normal reservists as opposed to those of supplementary reservists.
Dag Hjalmar Agne Carl Hammarskjold (Jonkoping, Sweden, 29 July 1905 – Ndola, Rhodesia and the Federation of Nyasaland [today Zambia], 18 September 1961) Swedish Nobel Laureate, 2nd Secretary-General of the UN. Cold war prevailed throughout his entire term of office.
In NATO, the significance and prestige of reservists and reserve officers, along with the organisations founded by reservists, are best illustrated by the fact that among a great number of civilian organisations, dedicated to advancing the cause of defence, the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation maintains a special relationship with only four parliamentary and social organisations. One of them is CIOR (NATO Handbook 2001, pp. 375–385,
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This trend is a cause for concern in other countries as well, see Schafer (2017, pp. 2-18).
Based on CIOR guidelines and recommendations approved in 1996 regarding reserve (officers’) associations, see Ujházy (2011, pp. 114-115).