[Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents Volume 35, Number 17 (Monday, May 3, 1999)]
[Pages 753-754]
[Online from the Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

<R04>
Statement on Ordering Reserves to Active Duty To Support Military Action 
in Kosovo

April 27, 1999

    Today I authorized the Secretaries of Defense and Transportation to 
order to active duty up to 33,102 essential members of our Reserve 
component to support NATO and U.S. operations related to the conflict in 
Kosovo.

[[Page 754]]

    The Secretary of Defense has informed me that he intends to exercise 
that authority immediately to recall approximately 2,000 essential Air 
Force Reserve and Air National Guard crews from eight States. These 
reservists will support refueling operations for our intensifying air 
operations in Kosovo. I expect that over the coming days and weeks, 
Secretary Cohen and General Shelton will call upon additional personnel 
from all branches of the service to fill critical support positions in 
our humanitarian and combat operations in and around the former 
Yugoslavia. These Reserves are essential to America's military strength; 
they are part of the total force we bring to bear whenever our men and 
women in uniform are called to action.
    All Americans are proud of the commitment these citizen soldiers 
make to their country. On behalf of all Americans, I thank each 
reservist, their families and loved ones, and their employers here at 
home for their service and sacrifice in support of our important mission 
in Kosovo.