Ordering the Selected Reserve of the Armed Forces to Active Duty

President Clinton authorized the Secretary of Defense (and Secretary of Transportation for the Coast Guard) to order Selected Reserve units and individual members to active duty to augment U.S. forces for operations in and around Southwest Asia. The order invoked statutory authorities under sections 121 and 12304 of title 10, U.S. Code.

Federal Register Open PDF 63 FR 9719

Key directives

Determine necessity to augment active armed forces for Southwest Asia operations
Authorize Secretary of Defense to order Selected Reserve units to active duty
Authorize Secretary of Defense to order individual Selected Reserve members not assigned to units to active duty
Authorize Secretary of Transportation to order Coast Guard Selected Reserve to active duty when Coast Guard not operating under Navy

Who is ordered

Timeline

Immediate

Authorization to activate Selected Reserve takes effect upon signing

Near term (90d)

Potential activation of specific units and individuals as determined by Secretaries

Long term

Sustained augmentation of active forces for Southwest Asia operations

Risks & tensions

No numerical cap specified on reservists to be activated—scope delegated entirely to Secretaries' discretion
Vague geographic scope ('in and around Southwest Asia') without defined operational endpoints
Standard 'no private right of action' disclaimer limits judicial recourse for affected reservists
Timing in February 1998 coincides with heightened Iraq tensions (weapons inspections crisis), suggesting potential large-scale activation