When was the Naval Reserve officially formed?

The Naval Reserve was officially formed in 1916, when the Act of March 3, 1915, was passed to establish a reserve force for the Navy. This created the United States Naval Reserve, which was intended to provide trained personnel for the Navy during times of war and national emergency. The establishment of the Naval Reserve was crucial as it allowed the Navy to expand its ranks without the need for an extensive peacetime standing force, thus enabling more flexibility in personnel management.

While other years are significant in the context of the Navy's history and development of various reserve units, 1916 marks the formal creation of the Naval Reserve as a response to the strategic needs of the country, especially as World War I loomed on the horizon.