How do you feel about the plan to make IRR more active?

Cpl Sarah Mast — Mon, 26 Oct 2015 13:02:48 -0400

http://www.militarytimes.com/story/military/pentagon/2015/10/26/irr-review/74274560/

The Pentagon seems to be planning to make it a common occurence to activate the IRR for missions. My thought is that a volunteer force can only work if the 'volunteers' are willing to do the work. When a servicemember gets out completely instead of active reserves, they generally have a reason to do so. This is usually starting a family, building a career, going to school, or just a generally refusal to continue with the military.

Thoughts?

Bringing the IRR into the 'total force'

The Pentagon may begin looking at major changes to the way it manages the Individual Ready Reserve in an effort to make the force-of-last resort into

Response by SSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 26 at 2015 1:05 PM

SSgt Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 26 Oct 2015 13:05:08 -0400

The counter to that would be that the contract you signed included the obligated service. You volunteered knowing that being recalled to active duty could be a possibility. The goal seemed to be that the IRR needed overhauled and better top level management. I don't see a problem with much of what they suggested. My only problem was Arnold Purano suggested that members of the IRR were lazy.

Response by SGT David T. made Oct 26 at 2015 1:22 PM

SGT David T. — Mon, 26 Oct 2015 13:22:20 -0400

More trouble than it is worth honestly.

Response by CPT Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 26 at 2015 1:26 PM

CPT Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 26 Oct 2015 13:26:11 -0400

Will an IRR reservist be less willing to "do the work"? Absolutely. I think a certain attrition or atrophy of dedication to military service is expected in the IRR, especially when a servicemember has transitioned from AD but not into the Reserves or National Guard (i.e. has basically communicated the intent of discontinuing service altogether - a de-facto separation). Hopefully, barring extraordinary circumstances, IRR reservists can "serve out" their MSOs.

That said, the chairman quoted in the article is right to point out that the IRR represents a lot of investment by the military, and that "pool of pre-trained, high-quality manpower" is obligated.

Response by Sgt Aaron Kennedy, MS made Oct 26 at 2015 2:40 PM

Sgt Aaron Kennedy, MS — Mon, 26 Oct 2015 14:40:55 -0400

I'd go back to IRR right now honestly.

I think we need to "evolve" the concept of service from 4 (+4IRR) into something more like Service for Life where we pull folks back in when contingencies arise.

I know it sounds strange to some of our younger members, but if they put out an "All hands call" for MOS XXXX, ranks EX-Y I'm willing to be we could back fill some of these shortfalls pretty quickly without having to have "involuntarily" or "voluntold" folks.

Especially with the new retirement system coming online.

Response by 1SG Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 26 at 2015 2:45 PM

1SG Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 26 Oct 2015 14:45:46 -0400

Good luck.
Trying to mobilize the IRR for GWOT operations was an abysmal failure. The personnel in there are just not maintaining a military standard, and most have moved on with their lives.
The IRR is meant for national emergencies, not routine missions. This is an attempt to justify even more cuts to the AC/RC/Guard force.

Response by CPO David Sharp made Oct 26 at 2015 4:03 PM

CPO David Sharp — Mon, 26 Oct 2015 16:03:38 -0400

My experience is that they are involved in civilian careers which limits them from keeping Military skills crisp. Physical conditioning also comes into play. How dedicated are these people to not be in the Reserve program instead of IRR? Nothing against them but if the Government wants to bring them up, why continue any draw down of forces in place?

Response by MSgt Keith Hebert made Oct 26 at 2015 6:00 PM

MSgt Keith Hebert — Mon, 26 Oct 2015 18:00:58 -0400

Interesting
I think it would work especially for back fill positions I wonder if they are considering retired reserve

Response by COL Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 27 at 2015 12:52 AM

COL Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 27 Oct 2015 00:52:46 -0400

Right after 9/11 I worked for Army G-1 as a mobilization officer and one of my main tasks was to mobilize IRR and IMA soldiers. For the first few months, every single IRR was a volunteer, that wanted to get into the fight. Totally understandable given what had just happened. Also, many were still in good shape and wanted to help with the fight in some capacity. However, bringing the IRR into normal rotations or training will have a negative impact in the overall scheme of things in my view and defeats one of the primary reasons for the IRR. The IRR is not a operational reserve like the NG/USAR but a strategic reserve.

Response by SGT Sharon Olden made Oct 27 at 2015 4:52 PM

SGT Sharon Olden — Tue, 27 Oct 2015 16:52:01 -0400

I yes. I wasted too much time in the IRR and didn't get enough points for retirement. Wanted to be deployed and didn't go. Sometimes it is a joke and those people need to be made to go on a mission for 30 days if they are going to stay in. It is a form of the military.

Response by LTC John Paul Cook made Oct 29 at 2015 4:57 PM

LTC John Paul Cook — Thu, 29 Oct 2015 16:57:08 -0400

CPL Mast, Thank you for raising this question. You are perceptive to recognize the direction the military is heading. Please note that the middle name of the Individual Ready Reserve is "Ready".

This is going to be a paradigm shift, and should therefore not be viewed according to the current IRR population, but the IRR that will be ushered in as the Future Force takes shape.

Individual "fillers" are going to play an increasingly important role in the Future Force. The Army uses "Tour of Duty" to list and fill individual requirements across the Total Force. Ultimately, Reserve Component (RC) Service Members will be able to choose between:
1) Active Guard/Reserve (AGR) Program: Full Time Active Duty supporting RC activities
2) Troop Program Units (TPU): units organized like their Active Component Counterparts
3) Individual Mobilization Augmentation (IMA): Individuals assigned to the organizational structure of Active Component activities to perform duty on a regularly reoccurring basis.
4) Individual Ready Reserve: Individual Service Members who apply and are accepted to support an organization for a specified task/mission and for a specified period.

This is actually keeping in step with civilian work force trends where companies hire talent for short periods to complete a specific task. It is expected that this type of flexible duty option will become increasingly attractive to future Service Members who do not want to have their careers paths "constrained" by the traditional TPU structure. Additionally, it should reduce the "breaking of units" (ie Service Member assigned to a TPU but wishes to gain broader experience by taking a "short tour" on Active Duty leaving their unit short).

As the article points out there will have to be some legislative and policy adjustments before this is fully implemented ... but it is coming.

Hope this helps.

v/r
John Paul

Response by LTC John Paul Cook made Apr 27 at 2016 4:16 AM

LTC John Paul Cook — Wed, 27 Apr 2016 04:16:51 -0400

CPL Mast, you are very astute to have noticed this plan. It is still a concept that many are not quite ready to embrace, but it offers and effective way to efficiently utilize the Total Force while also providing flexible duty options to Servicemembers.

First off, lets remind ourselves that IRR is the Individual Ready Reserve.

The Army's first step in this direction is "Tour of Duty" an online portal that allows units to post their manpower requirements and for Soldiers to find assignments to meet their personal and professional needs.

Historically reserve members would transfer out of their units for active duty opportunities. This was often done at inopportune times leaving the unit short handed. Likewise the Army would mobilize a unit, detach the needed talent, and then send the rest of the unit home. This was a terribly inefficient way to access talent because the unit could not be re-mobilized, the Servicemembers who returned home were often demoralized, and civilian employers while happy to have them home often had hired replacement workers.

Having a Ready IRR will enable the Services to hire the right talent, and the right time, for the right duration. Likewise it will allow Servicemembers to choose their next assignment at the time/place and for the duration that best suites their personal and professional needs.

As for that "general refusal to continue with the military" ... remember a contract is a contract, and as long as there is a Military Service Obligation there is a chance for reactivation.

I hope this helps, let me know if you have any specific questions.