The United States Army presently lacks a strategic reserve. As the Army transitioned to the modern force and undertook continuous stability operations in the Global War on Terror, the Army operationalized the Reserve Components to meet ongoing requirements. The operationalization of the Reserve Components left the United States lacking a strategic reserve for the land domain to counter a near peer or peer threat in future large-scale combat operations. The Army's new Security Force Assistance Brigades (SFABs) could provide a strong core to build a future strategic reserve force for large-scale combat operations. The Army already proposed using the SFAB as a part of an expandable ground force, but current Army proposals suggest the SFAB transition into a combat brigade. This monograph argues proper planning and preparation could transform the SFABs into a division-sized element providing greater capability and flexibility versus near peer or peer threats. The SFAB is built around a core of capable tested leaders like the cadre used to create new divisions in World War II. To fill the role of strategic reserve, this monograph recommends the consideration of using the SFAB to form the core of a new Army formation, the Strategic Reserve Division (SRD), rather than the currently planned expansion to a Brigade Combat Team (BCT). The transformation of the six planned SFABs into SRDs during national emergency could increase the number of Army maneuver battalions by 24% (54 battalions). Army planners should build and iteratively hone an expansion plan for the land component, the SFAB to SRD conversion should be part of their conversation.

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