USAWC Strategy Research Project: An Evaluation of the Canadian-Us Armies Reserve Relationship

Authors

  • Lieutenant Colonel Christopher M. Lamoureux United States Army

Abstract

The Armies Reserve of Canada and the United States have held six general officer summits since 1999. The purpose of these summits is to: forge personal relationships; exchange information; improve interoperability by training individuals and units in each other’s formations; and improve overall capabilities by training reserve soldiers in each other’s core competencies. But, senior leadership in both armies at national headquarters level and at major command level are oblivious to these meetings and to their potential. Furthermore, the activities of this forum are usually not coordinated, either vertically or horizontally, with other international activities of higher headquarters. This study evaluates the Canada-US Armies Reserve relationship using the process of the American Army International Activities Plan. First, it measures the stated purpose of this forum against national policy and doctrine of both countries. Then, it evaluates the value of the forum to national security using three criteria: the number and rank of senior leadership that attend; the perceptions of senior leadership as to the utility of this forum; and the work accomplished, on-going, and planned of the forum. The evaluation is that the forum is consistent with national policy and that it does have value and great potential. It is relevant and good for national security. However, the relationship must be reinvigorated with Terms of Reference and a strategic sponsor. That sponsor should be NORTHCOM in order to “put in place a framework and structure that transcends the personalities of the participants.”

Author Biography

Lieutenant Colonel Christopher M. Lamoureux, United States Army

LTC Chris Lamoureux, a native of Virginia, is a Senior Service College Fellow at the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy, Tufts University, Medford, Massachusetts. He is a logistician and a foreign area officer with a specialty in Western Europe. During his twenty-two years of service, he has spent more than fifteen years in command and staff assignments at the Battalion level and below. His previous two assignments were at the Pentagon. He was the US National Standardization Officer (NSO) for the American, British, Canadian, Australian (ABCA) Armies’ Standardization Program, The Army G3, Headquarters, Department of the Army. Prior to that assignment, he was the International Programs Officer, Office of the Chief, Army Reserve (OCAR) He holds both a Bachelors and a Masters Degree in International Relations from Brigham Young University. He speaks French, Italian, German, and Spanish. His next assignment in June 2004 is as Battalion Commander, 240th Quartermaster Battalion, Fort Lee, Virginia. He is married to the former Cathy Mitchell. They have seven children.

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Section

International Reserves Conference, Homeland Defence and Land Force Reserves, March 25-27, 2004