"We are going to mess with the basic structure of the army reserve," said O'Brien, known for his blunt manner. "It isn't about closing more locations or getting smaller -- it's about getting more efficient."

[Murray Burt] said it's this loss of identity that reserve proponents fear, along with the resulting disconnect from the community: "There are suspicions they'll eliminate the names of the reserve units and replace them with numbers."

O'Brien's comments may simply be a trial ballon, [Robert Darling] said, sent afloat by O'Brien's boss, Gen. Andrew Leslie, the chief of land staff and commander land forces command.