Department of Defense
INSTRUCTION
NUMBER 1235.12
June 7, 2016
Incorporating Change 1, Effective February 28, 2017
USD(P&R)
SUBJECT: Accessing the Reserve Components (RC)
References: See Enclosure 1
1. PURPOSE. In accordance with the authority in DoD Directive (DoDD) 5124.02 (Reference
(a)), this instruction:
a. Reissues DoD Instruction (DoDI) 1235.12 (Reference (b)) and incorporates and cancels
DoDD 1235.10 (Reference (c)) to establish policy, assign responsibilities, and prescribe
procedures for ordering units and members of the RC to active duty as an operational force to
support the national defense strategy across the full spectrum of military functions. Such RC
support includes, but is not limited to, sustained operational missions, emergent operations,
contingency operations, and service during national emergencies or in time of war. Applicable
access to the RC includes:
(1) Ordering units and members of the RC to active duty in accordance with sections
688, 12301(a), 12301(b), 12302, 12304, 12304a, 12304b, 12406, 331-333, or 335 of Title 10,
United States Code (U.S.C.) (Reference (d)).
(2) Ordering members of the RC to active duty with the consent of that member in
accordance with section 12301(d) of Reference (d).
b. Implements Secretary of Defense Memorandums (References (e) and (f)) with respect to
sections 12304a and 12304b of Reference (d).
c. Incorporates and cancels Secretary of Defense Memorandums and Under Secretary of
Defense for Personnel and Readiness (USD(P&R)) Memorandums (References (g), (h), (i), and
(j)) with respect to accessing, utilizing, and managing RC forces. (References (g) and (h)).
(d) Supersedes in part, to the extent that they are inconsistent with this instruction, Under
Secretary of Defense for Personnel and Readiness (USD(P&R)) Memorandums (Reference (i)
and (j)), with respect to accessing, utilizing, and managing RC forces.
