Navy Reserve Centennial Address, with Vice Admiral Robin R. Braun
In commemoration of the U.S. Navy Reserve's 100th year of service, Vice Admiral and Chief of USNR Robin Braun visits for a special presentation about the past, present, and future of America's citizen sailors.
Officially established by an act of Congress on March 3, 1915 and known as the United States Naval Reserve until 2005, the Navy Reserve has answered our nation's call for a full century—serving primarily as a force multiplier and support for a wide spectrum of mission areas across the globe.
When the U.S. entered World War I on April 6, 1917, there were 8,000 sailors serving in the Navy Reserve Force; when the fighting ended on November 11, 1918, more than 250,000 Reservists were on active duty—more than half the total war-time Navy.
By the summer of 1941, two years after the start of World War II in Europe, nearly all members of the USNR had been called to active duty. And as the Navy expanded over the course of the next four years to a force of nearly 3.5 million sailors at its peak, some 84% of those sailors were reservists—including more than 100,000 women.
"Today we need a nation of minute men; citizens who are not only prepared to take up arms, but citizens who regard the preservation of freedom as a basic purpose of their daily life and who are willing to consciously work and sacrifice for that freedom. The cause of liberty, the cause of America, cannot succeed with any lesser effort."
—John F. Kennedy
Today, there are roughly 59,000 sailors in the Navy Reserve serving out of 123 Navy Operational Support Centers (NOSC) in all 50 states, Guam, and Puerto Rico. Since September 11, 2001, 70,000 members of USNR have completed more than 70,000 mobilizations worldwide.
Navy Reserve sailors are patriots who balance the demands of family life, civilian careers, community service, and the United States Navy—bringing diverse, dedicated backgrounds from all walks of life. USNR offers current sailors a way to continue their careers while pursuing other opportunities in civilian life, and to enjoy opportunities to travel, participate in training, and build leadership skills while earning additional income and great benefits, including health care programs and a retirement plan.
VICE ADMIRAL ROBIN R. BRAUN, USN currently serves as Chief of Navy Reserve and is the first female Commander of the Navy Reserve Force. A graduate of Northern Arizona University, Braun was commissioned in 1980 and designated a naval aviator in 1981, since accumulating more than 5,800 hours in Navy aircraft. Flag assignments include deputy commander, Navy Recruiting Command; director, Total Force Management for the Deputy Chief of Naval Operations for Information Dominance (OPNAV N2/N6), and deputy director, European Plans and Operations Center (ECJ-3), Stuttgart, Germany. Her awards include the Defense Superior Service Medal, Legion of Merit (three awards), Meritorious Service Medal (four awards), the Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal (two awards), and the Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal (three awards).
