October 15, 2003

The U.S. Navy is doing something different with it's special warfare reservists; it's organizing them into units. For most of the last half century, the U.S. Navy has used it's reservists largely as individual replacements. The army, air force and marines all went the traditional route and put most of them in reserve units. That way, entire units could be called to active duty. In the navy, most of the few reserve units were medical or construction. Most of the reservists themselves were not attached to reserve units and were activated as individuals. Now the navy Naval Special Warfare Operational Support Group has activated two new reserve units (Operational Support Team 1 and 2). One will be based in California, and the other in Virginia. These units will be available for rapid mobilization to support navy special operations (mainly SEALs).