Biden Activates U.S. Military Reserves in Response to Ukraine War

WASHINGTON, DC — The Department of Defense this afternoon announced the Biden Administration issued an Executive Order activating military reserves as fighting is “severe” in the Ukraine war with Russia.

According to Lt. Gen. Douglas A. Sims II, Joint Staff director of operations, "This [executive order] reaffirms the unwavering support and commitment to defend NATO's eastern flank in the wake of Russia's illegal and unprovoked war on Ukraine.”

Eucom, the joint command of our military in Europe, downplayed the mobilization by stating that the new authority to activate the reserves will be useful in keeping the U.S. commitment to NATO’s collective security.

The Executive Order mentions the Ukraine War indirectly by stating that the activated reservists will be used for Operation Atlantic Resolve. That operation, though not officially named until now, is specifically in response to the Russia-Ukraine war and has been active, so to speak, since the original 2014 Russian invasion of Ukraine. This EO is the first official government designation of Operation Atlantic Resolve.

The EO stated that, “I hereby determine that it is necessary to augment the active Armed Forces of the United States for the effective conduct of Operation Atlantic Resolve in and around the United States European Command’s area of responsibility.”

Biden’s order stated that the activation cannot exceed 3,000 total reservists, or which 450 can be from the Individual Ready Reserve.

Politico guessed that, “The move suggests that the U.S. military’s training mission in Europe, along with the deployment of several new brigades after the invasion, has stretched active-duty forces.” At a NATO summit in Lithuania this week, member nations agreed to make 300,000 troops ready for rapid deployment.

We asked Congressman August Pfluger what his take on the reserves activation was. He said, “This week I voted to require President Biden to produce a report on a strategy for U.S. involvement in Ukraine. I will continue pushing to ensure the first priority of this Administration is the safety of American citizens.”