Do I have a choice to choose between reserve and IRR after active duty duration expired?

CPL Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 11 Jun 2023 05:32:08 -0400

I'm thinking to re-enlist as Active duty, but concerning about article which it says I will be transfer automatically to reserve component after active duty duration expires. Does anyone knows transferring to reserve is mandatory? or I can simply switch my position to IRR? I already served in reserve on my first contract, so I really don't want to serve in reserve.

Response by CSM Darieus ZaGara made Jun 11 at 2023 8:09 AM

CSM Darieus ZaGara — Sun, 11 Jun 2023 08:09:03 -0400

You can join the reserves as long as you qualify. Speak to your retention NCO and if you are in the US contact the reserve recruiter in your area.

Response by COL Randall C. made Jun 11 at 2023 9:17 AM

COL Randall C. — Sun, 11 Jun 2023 09:17:41 -0400

You are probably confusing "reserve component" with the "US Army Reserves".

When you first enlist with the military, you typically incur an eight year Military Service Obligation (MSO) that overlaps with your contract. When your enlistment contract completes, you still have to fulfill the remaining MSO, but you can do that in the reserve component and it can be in the IRR or one of the selected reserve components of the Service (in this case, the USAR or ARNG).

So, hypothetically, if you had a three-year enlistment, reenlist for another three years, then you still will have a two-year MSO which can be fulfilled in the USAR, ARNG or IRR (technically the IRR is part of the USAR, but it's often mentioned separately).

Response by MAJ Ronnie Reams made Jun 11 at 2023 10:50 AM

MAJ Ronnie Reams — Sun, 11 Jun 2023 10:50:26 -0400

Uh, IRR stand for Individual Ready RESERVE. So I at loss, do you want to be a Reservist or not?

Response by MSG Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 12 at 2023 10:00 PM

MSG Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 12 Jun 2023 22:00:56 -0400

Your initial contract, regardless of how many years it is for, you owe 8 years. If you do but only x1 4 year contract, you still owe 4 additional years. You have two options. 1) Contact your Retention NCO and inform them that you want to finish out your remaining contract with the Reserves (or Guard). Come ETS from Active Duty, boom you're in the Reserves (or Guard) for 4 years. 2) Tell your Retention NCO that you are NOT re-enlisting Active Duty, nor do you want to go to the Reserves or National Guard. Upon ETS from Active Duty, you are scrolled onto the Roster of IRR Soldiers. Easy Peasy.

There is, however, another COA. You could transfer to the Reserves (or Guard), and then when you get to your unit, you could request transfer to the IRR. It's a tad more paperwork and you have include your Reserve Unit Commander AND Retention NCO into the process.

Regardless, your first step is to figure out what you want to do, then go visit your Retention NCO