CRS INSIGHT
The Army's Sustainable Readiness Model (SRM)
March 31, 2017 (IN10679)
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Andrew Feickert, Specialist in Military Ground Forces (afeickert@crs.loc.gov, 7-7673)
The Army's Definition of Readiness
The Army defines readiness as the capability of its forces to conduct the full range of military operations, including the
defeat of all enemies regardless of the threats they pose. In this regard, readiness is a function of how well units are
manned, equipped, trained, and led.
Past Army Readiness Models
Readiness models are the means by which the Army generates the forces that are then made available to Combatant
Commanders for operations. From the 1980s until 2001, the Army employed a Tiered Readiness Model with units
manned, equipped, and trained at different levels (tiers) and was focused on fighting potential overseas adversaries with
Reserve Components (RC) (Army National Guard and U.S. Army Reserve) relegated largely to the role of strategic
reserve (i.e., to be employed in the event of a crisis or emergency that exceeded the Regular Army's capacity). In the
aftermath of September 11, 2001, and the subsequent wars in Afghanistan and Iraq, the Army adopted the Army Force
Generation Model (ARFORGEN), designed to provide fully manned, equipped, and trained forces for the conflicts in
Afghanistan and Iraq. In 2014, as the United States began to substantially decrease troop levels in Iraq and Afghanistan
and focused more on threats from Russia, China, North Korea, and Iran, the Army determined ARFORGEN was no
longer an adequate readiness model. The Army began implementing the Sustainable Readiness Model (SRM) in
FY2017.
Army Force Generation Model (ARFORGEN)
ARFORGEN was a progressive force generation model designed primarily to generate ready forces to meet predictable
deployments in Iraq and Afghanistan. ARFORGEN consisted of three distinct cycles through which all units progressed
in order to achieve a prescribed level of readiness.
The post-deployment Reset cycle in which units returning from extended deployments would adopt a minimal
manning and equipping profile and then begin to increase manning, equipping, and training, thereby improving
overall readiness incrementally.
During the Train/Ready cycle, units would continue to receive additional personnel and equipment and train up
through squad/section, platoon, and company levels, with the goal of reaching either a battalion or brigade level
of proficiency. Units in the Train/Ready cycle could be deployed in the event of an unforeseen requirement,
depending on the mission and the unit's level of readiness.
In the final cycle, the Available cycle, units were considered fully ready and available for deployment for known
requirements such as Iraq or Afghanistan, as well as for contingency operations and major training exercises.
Under ARFORGEN, most Active Component (AC) units operated on a three-year cycle and RC units were on a five-
year cycle (AC: two years preparation, one year available. RC: four years preparation, one year available). Low-density,
high-demand units—Aviation and Civil Affairs, for example—cycled faster.
