U.S. Navy Reserve Turns 100

The U.S. Navy Reserve will mark its centennial anniversary on Tuesday, March 3, hosting a series of events in the nation’s capital and at facilities around the country throughout the rest of the year, according to a press statement.

“Our Centennial commemoration is a truly a once in a lifetime opportunity to highlight the Reserve Sailors for their service, and that of their families, to America,” said Vice Admiral Robin Braun. “We want to recognize our rich history and heritage with all of our Sailors, both past and present.”

The U.S. Congress authorized the establishment of the Federal Naval Reserve on March 3, 1915, initially for sailors that were enlisted as veterans. In 1916, due to the impending World War I, the organization was altered and redefined. In World War II, the Reserve “contributed 84 percent of the Navy’s manpower,” including future presidents John Kennedy, Lyndon Johnson, Richard Nixon, Gerald Ford, and George H.W. Bush. More than 22,000 reservists were mobilized for the first Gulf War in the first post-Cold War test of the force, according to officials. “More than 70,000 Selected Reserve mobilizations, along with an additional 4,500 deployments by Full Time Support Sailors, including more than 8,000 who have done a second combat tour,” have occurred since the Sept. 11, attacks, according to the statement.

To find out more about the celebrations, visit navyreservecentennial.com.