Posted on 03/05/2008 10:42:31 AM PST by GATOR NAVY
ARLINGTON, Va. — The Army this week will begin to muster 10,000 Individual Ready Reserve members at locations across the United States.
The muster, which will last through June, is part of a seven-year Army project to reinvigorate the force, Army Human Resources Command spokesman Ray Gall said.
“We’re working on making [the IRR] a viable force that can be deployed as needed,” he said. “We want to get a better handle on how ready these people really are, using these musters.”
IRR members will be paid $190 to attend a muster, which is taxable, Gall said.
The IRR is made up of servicemembers who have left active duty or active reserve service, but still have time left on their eight-year obligation.
The last time the IRR was mobilized on a large scale was during the Gulf War. It then quietly sank to the bottom of the Army’s post Cold War priority list.
But in 2004, stretched thin by a two-front war, the Army announced it intended to issue involuntary mobilization orders to 5,600 IRR members.
With a roster of more than 117,400 troops, this seemed a drop in the bucket, but the process proved painful.
The mobilization process slowed to a crawl as IRR officials discovered that their records were in shambles, Gall said.
Many IRR members had moved without telling the Army. Some IRR members were deceased.
“If a relative didn’t notify us, we still carried them,” Gall said.
And where IRR officials were able to issue mobilization orders, nearly half of the IRR members contacted requested a delay in returning to service, asked to be exempt or simply ignored them.
The truth, Gall said, “was we had a lot of numbers, but not a lot of [genuine] players.”
Army officials realized they had two problems: mobilizing the IRR for war and fixing the system.
About 1,900 IRR members are currently deployed, and another 1,800 IRR members either have or will receive orders between now and Sept. 28, Gall said.
Meanwhile, “over the last three years, we’ve tightened it up,” Gall said of the IRR database.
The roster has been culled to a number that reflects reality, he said: 90,000 members, not 117,400.
“We have a handle on it now,” Gall said.
IRR members are required to keep in touch with the Army annually, but most of them do it using a postcard or a new Web site, Gall said.
But to ensure fewer unpleasant surprises in future mobilizations — like call-ups of dead IRR members — Army officials plan to physically muster no more than 20 percent of “their smiling little faces” each year, Gall said.
Do you think eventually in possibly five years or so we may have to bring back the draft? It will be a shame in so far as you’ll have a lot folks who do not want to be there.
Gap fill measure to cover a visit to Iran?
I would bet there will be a lot of howling from the left and some in Congress will make a political football out of it, the ones that have no idea what the obligation is.
They have to fully fund the selective service system first. They have all the names, but the draft boards etc arent filled, and arent meeting regularly.
IIRC, graduates of the military academies may be recalled to active duty at any time, regardless of when they left active duty.
It’s been a while since I read up on this, so if anyone has current information, feel free to correct me.
I’m all for a muster.
We SHOULD be doing it for the Selective Service as well. Muster the SS (whoops, that is a bad term) during their birth month and while there:
1) in process and update the Selective Service records
2) Give a class on how they will be contacted / called up during a draft
3) instruct them on their obligations to the Selective Service (moving notifications, etc)
4) provide a basic class in first aid
5) provide a basic class on the constitution and bill of rights
6) provide a basic class on firearm safety
7) provide familiarization with the M-16 / M-4
8) out process and provide their check
While not currently part of the NG charter, this could be run rather efficiently by the NG.
I’m not 100% positive myself, but I believe academy grads have a normal eight year obligation after graduation like any one else.
It’s retired officers that can be recalled to active duty at any time. Retired enlisted can be also recalled up to the 30 year mark.
I’ve never heard that.
I know at least two IRR folks who work in the Green Zone.
I think its an 8 year recall; not sure, though.
(I was in the IRR for 8? 7? years because of some quirk in pilot training. Never did anything but fill out a postcard when I moved — later a website.)
As they say, “Read the f****** contract.” It’s there in clear print when you enlist or accept a commission. Don’t like the contract? Don’t sign up. I am SO fed-up with IRR whiners.
The Army this week will begin to muster 10,000 Individual Ready Reserve members at locations across the United States.
Wow! I had not heard this. These are folks that finished honorably but are standbys going through college or working a new job. I wonder if any will get fat to stay out. I don’t know why they would run to Canada when all you have to do it gain 50 pounds. lol.
Nothing new...
Went through this in the late 80’s, myself...
As far as gaining 50 lbs goes, I'd have to dig them out and look but I'm pretty sure my orders transferring me to the Fleet Reserve say something about my obligation to keep myself in reasonable shape because I am subject to recall. I'm sure these guys get something to the same effect when they are discharged from active duty.
Nope - I am on the draft board for my little town, and we meet once a year.
And no, we don’t get paid.
“Do you think eventually in possibly five years or so we may have to bring back the draft?”
YES — If either BO or Her Heinous is elected POTUS. I have heard that those who are in now won’t re-enlist or will retire, and no one is going to want to serve under either of these RAT/lib/socialist/commies.
As far as gaining 50 lbs goes, I’d have to dig them out and look but I’m pretty sure my orders transferring me to the Fleet Reserve say something about my obligation to keep myself in reasonable shape because I am subject to recall.
Wow! I am surprised that they expect that. I never was IRR because I am still in after 20, but does that mean they can’t take drugs and things like that too? lol.
I can tell you the boards arent filled in SoCal.
Neither is our board filled - but, we have a quarum.
Volunteer! It is a presidential appointment, in exchange for about 1 day per year.
(Caveat - you cannot be retired military, or active duty. Prior service, no problem. Like me.)
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