04/29/2026
Navy Reserve History: Ready Then. Ready Now.
When the Federal Naval Reserve was established in 1915, it was built around a simple but vital idea: the nation needed trained Sailors who could answer the call when needed. That call came quickly. On April 6, 1917, the United States entered World War I, marking the Navy Reserve’s first major wartime test.
At the start of America’s involvement in the war, the Naval Reserve Force had about 8,000 Sailors. By the end of the war, more than 250,000 reservists were serving, making up more than half of the Navy’s wartime force. These Sailors filled critical roles across the fleet and ashore, helping the Navy meet the demands of a global conflict and proving the value of a ready Reserve force.
More than a century later, that legacy continues through today’s Navy Reserve Sailors. Across the force, reservists bring civilian experience, military training and operational readiness to support fleet operations, mobilizations, crisis response and mission requirements close to home.
From World War I to today, the mission has endured: be ready, answer the call and serve when the nation needs us.
Ready then. Ready now.