Rare Reserve Call Up

StrategyPage.com ^ | May 24, 2004

[Cannoneer No. 4]

The U.S. Armed Forces are calling to active duty the Individual Ready Reserve (IRR). These are soldiers in the reserve who are not assigned to a unit (and are thus not paid), but are still serving out there remaining time (that they signed up for) in the reserves or active duty. Until their time is expired, they are liable to call up. Some are going to be called up. This is rarely done.

There are 118,000 men and women in the IRR. All have received their military training, served on active or reserve duty and been honorably discharged, but still have several years of military service remaining to serve. When you join the armed forces, you agree to a certain number of years of active service, plus some more in the inactive reserve. There are also soldiers who joined the reserves and ended up in the inactive reserve. This is because they moved and could find no reserve unit near where they lived, or none with a need for their particular skills. Those in the IRR are supposed to keep the military aware of their current address and health status, but this is often not done. The National Guard has a similar category, the Inactive National Guard (ING).

By law (10 USC 12302), the president can declare a partial mobilization (which he has done) that allows putting reserve and National Guard troops on active duty for up to 24 months. The president can mobilize up to a million personnel this way. To mobilize more personnel requires a full mobilization, and only Congress can do that, at the request of the president. With a full mobilization, an unlimited number troops can be called up for the duration of the war, plus six months. A full mobilization allows the use of the Standby Reserves (former active duty or reserve troops who volunteer to make themselves available for wartime service) or the Retired Reserve (all retired military personnel automatically pass into the Retired Reserve.) The Standby and Retired reserves provide over 100,000 well trained and experienced personnel. The number is vague because eligibility for active service depends on whether the reservists could pass the active duty physical exam.

[section9]

These call ups are "expensive" in the short term. There is no will to take regulars from Korea and Germany. Also, increasing the size the army and Marines a few or more active divisions is a long term cost - which would require taking money out of Star Wars and other lucrative techy stuff whose industries return big bucks as political contributions.

I strongly suspect that you are wrong about Korea and Germany. We have already decided to pull the 2nd ID away from the DMZ towards locations south of the Han. I don't think you'll see U.S. troops in Krautland for much longer, either. No strategic need for them, although Rhein-Main is a nice base. A lot of U.S. assets will be returning to CONUS over the next five years from Europe, as the sham alliance known as NATO begins to wither away.

One of the things you will see in a second Bush term is an increase in end-strength of the leg infantry. The war aganst AQ is an intelligence war, but there are times when, as in the Northwestern Frontier states, maneuver battalions of leg infantry will be able to pin and destroy Al Qaeda personnel.

We may also have to deal with the Iranians over the next couple of years. The mullahs have chosen to cast their lot with AQ, and there will have to be consequences for that.

It's an expensive war. I'm not surprised that they are thinking of going the IRR, at least for "codger companies".

Be Seeing You,

Chris

[Alas Babylon!]

Found this on AFPC web site:

Retired Recall Program
As of Aug 03, the Air Force has closed the enlisted retiree return to active duty program for the forseeable future. AFPC will no longer be accepting applications for this program. Thank you for your interest.

Awww, shucks!

[dts32041]

"Retired Reserve (all retired military personnel automatically pass into the Retired Reserve.) The Standby and Retired reserves provide over 100,000 well trained and experienced personnel. The number is vague because eligibility for active service depends on whether the reservists could pass the active duty physical exam."

Damn haven't lost all the weight I need to to qualify, six months more come on six months more.

[Cannoneer No. 4]

Prairie Dog Be Gone!

[CholeraJoe]

There's only a 30 year Federal requirement for retirees? I figured I was on the hook until I turned 65. I was medically retired in 1991 after an unfortunate humvee rollover but I'm long since over that. I'm leaner and meaner than I was in 1991, but don't have the same endurance.

I'll go. I'll even bring my own sidearm. I wonder if I can have that promotion to O-6 that I had a line number for when I was medically retired. Probably not.

[Alas Babylon!]

There's only a 30 year Federal requirement for retirees?

Sorry, Joe. That's 30 years for enlisteds. Don't know 'bout occifers....

[ExSoldier]

"I can't be called back, but I'll damn sure see if I can volunteer."

I tried right after 9-11 and for sometime thereafter. "Thanks but no thanks." I guess they're all flush on Armor branch majors. I just now told a buddy of mine who is the district director for a congresscritter to tell the military to go back and ask former IRR soldiers like me, to volunteer. Make it an easy, no hassle enlistment or direct commission. Offer a promotion and waivers on certain PT/physical limitations. Nothing too serious, but you'll get seasoned soldiers who require only minimal upgrading on skills primarily in the weapons dept and not tactics or leadership. You'll also get logistics experts who will need virtually zero trainup time, cause that stuff doesn't change too much. I told my wife two things, I wouldn't outright volunteer like I did before but if they come calling I won't turn them down with the scenario as I've just outlined.

[U S Army EOD]

Its a bench mark situation Joe, anybody in the Airforce is a gentleman compared to the Army.

[HoustonCurmudgeon]

I can't be called back, but I'll damn sure see if I can volunteer. I can still drive a truck or work a desk.... or shoot, as long as I don't have to run.

EXACTLY how I feel. I can't run or carry a 100#'s for miles but I can still blow you away at several hundred yards, I'm right with my God, and I have so many aches and pains they really can't hurt me too much! Let's GO! ;-)

[CholeraJoe]

The President (actually the SECAF) made me an Officer. It took an act of Congress to make me a gentleman. The bill failed 432-3. The Senate was divided 54-43, with 3 abstaining because I had slept with their daughters or wives.

[Frohickey]

What if you are the shift supervisor at a plant that is churning out armor panels for the Stryder and Humvees?

[Cannoneer No. 4]

Stryder?

[An Old Man]

"Saddle up."

Aye Aye Sir!

Secret Clearance? Yes

Explosive Ordinance Training? Yes

Critical MOS? Yes

Can you still shoot? Yes, and I will bring my own weapon!

Age? 65 going on 70

Rank Anything you have open. (At my age, one cannot be choosy) Can I still draw my social security?

Semper Fi

[MindBender26]

Will get a telco # and post it here in AM. Everything of any importance was closed when I called tonight. You looking for 26000 Page Blvd?

[MindBender26]

Will get a telco # and post it here in AM. Everything of any importance was closed when I called tonight. You looking for 26000 Page Blvd?

[CGVet58]

ditto - but i don't do the bike, smoke a pack a day, and where once existed a six pack, now resides a PFD.

I can still rock and roll with a '16, though... so just tell me where, when & how fast can u pass me the ammunition?

retired Coastie

[dts32041]

I can do the same thing and I have touched one since 1971, I still prefer an M-60 and what to try an MK 19.

[Frohickey]

Stryker... damn fingers.

[FlyVet]

I am 5 foot 10 and weight 155 pounds and cycle on my bike over 25 miles per day. I did 48 yesterday in 3 hours with 7 very intensive hill climbs.

I could have written that about myself (except I don't ride that much daily but I went 75 miles last Thursday).

As soon as those planes hit the towers, the first thing I thought was "re-call" and I'm surprised it hasn't happened yet. I re-tired three years ago after 20 yrs but....Maybe time to get off my butt and prove I deserve my freedom and deserve to live in this great country? Ok. Can't complain.

[11th_VA]

Holy crap - I better check my status - I'm awaiting retirement ...