What can I do or not do on inactive duty?

2016-06-10T03:09:49-04:00

I'm about to leave active duty and trasition back into civilian life, but it doesn't really end there, does it? I'm trying to set myself up with a PMC right now, but I'm sort of wondering if I should try given I have no real information about how inactive duty even works. If I do get onboard with a PMC, would they end up turning me away because of my contact? Can I even leave the US? Do I still need to get haircuts weekly? Haha I honestly have no clue what's about to happen to me. I'd ask my command (and probably still will), but they'rer pretty busy trying to get people to re-up right now haha. I've been training so much lately I've hardly had time to do my TRS prework. This community is so awesome that it has helped me learn more about the military in the year I've been on it than the entire four years I've been in the infantry. Any answers provided would be greatly appreciated. Thank you!

Response by SN Greg Wright made Jun 10 at 2016 3:26 AM

2016-06-10T03:26:15-04:00

Well the first thing that came to my mind upon reading your post is, 'if you like it so much...why leave it?'

Response by PO1 John Miller made Jun 10 at 2016 3:29 AM

2016-06-10T03:29:46-04:00

What is a PMC?

Response by SrA Matthew Knight made Jun 10 at 2016 4:10 AM

2016-06-10T04:10:47-04:00

Inactive Reserve status doesn't mean a whole lot. Basically it's a way for the government to increase numbers of personnel should an emergency arise. I allows them to fill needed positions with people who have already gone through military training rather than trying to increase manning numbers through new recruits who will of course need to go through boot camp, specialty training, etc.

Right now at most you may be called in for a muster occasionally. Musters are usually just information events. They have you come in, make sure all of your contact info and what not is up to date and give you information on job openings and things like that. If you get a muster notification it's essential to at least get a hold of someone. You can miss a muster if you have a good reason, however, if you skip them continuously without notifying anyone you could lose your VA benefits, I.E. your GI Bill.

Otherwise there is no restrictions placed on you. You can travel if you want, just explain that you are away if they muster you while you are on vacation. You can grow your hair out, grow a beard, get fat. You are a civilian so you don't have to follow military regulations such as appearance and what not. The only affects appearance changes will have is if they decide to actually call you back to service and you are overweight or have excessive tattoos they may just thank you for showing up and let you go.

Everything should be explained to you in time in regards to what Inactive Reserve status means for you. It's nothing to really be too concerned about though.

Response by Cpl Justin Goolsby made Jun 10 at 2016 9:40 AM

2016-06-10T09:40:44-04:00

Yeah Inactive means you've got almost all the perks of being in the military without any of the drama. No haircuts. No shaving. No PFT/CFT, height/weight, all hands urinalysis, safety standdown powerpoint classes. You're "free". You can still shop at the exchange and commissary. You can still utilize base facilities if you live near a base. Like it's been said, you're just technically attached to someone in the off chance it hits the fan and we have to be activated. So enjoy yourself.

Response by SSG Pete Fleming made Jun 10 at 2016 12:51 PM

2016-06-10T12:51:16-04:00

Are you already in the discharge process? If it isn't too late, don't get out. The job market and the economy sucks right now. Stay in, you have a job right now. Perhaps things will improve in the next couple of years but now isn't the right time to test the waters.

Response by CPT Pedro Meza made Jun 10 at 2016 4:45 PM

2016-06-10T16:45:58-04:00

Start by concentrating on your education, because most individuals that get out (individual once your are out), wait to long to apply for education and soon get trap into life, best to get trap into educating so that you can have a life.

Response by PFC Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 10 at 2016 6:08 PM

2016-06-10T18:08:19-04:00

go to school in nyc. BAH is nice

Response by Sgt David Hesser made Jun 10 at 2016 9:03 PM

2016-06-10T21:03:55-04:00

when I went inactive in 77 it meant I had no privileges of active duty military but they could call me back active in a national emergency.

Response by Cpl D L Parker made Dec 7 at 2016 11:32 PM

2016-12-07T23:32:40-05:00

I was IRR. Didn't do much of anything. I was pretty much a civilian...then Desert Sword/Storm happened. While the US committed huge forces to Kuwait; the military needed to maintain a force for the rest of their obligations. The US Government start calling back to active duty military members that had been EAS for several years. All of these members were IRR. I got out in May and by January I was in Camp Pendleton for 44 days. The US had never done this before and it showed. It was a complete cluster.

Response by MSgt Dan Calhoun made Jul 10 at 2017 4:29 PM

2017-07-10T16:29:07-04:00

I spent a short time in IRR after leaving AD and prior to enlisting in the reserves. I got one of those old school green ID cards that said Reserve on it, it alloweded me access to the base gym...that is about it (we are talking '06). In short, you do not have to worry about a hair cut or anything like that. They informed me of a muster but i did not go...never heard a thing about not going. Basically you are subject to recall to AD if poop hits the fan in world events, they would hit up IRR prior to going to the draft. Aside from keeping your info up to date, no restrictions. If you want to travel Europe, Asia or wherever they cannot stop you, no leave paperwork required once you separate from AD.

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made Jan 13 at 2018 4:14 PM

2018-01-13T16:14:32-05:00

What happens to your SGLI/SGLV/Blended retirement while in the IRR?

Response by CPT Robert Holden made Oct 24 at 2019 5:25 PM

2019-10-24T17:25:13-04:00

While I’d suggest staying in. If your going trump become a contractor you follow whatever rules they have

Response by SGT Bobby Floyd made Oct 24 at 2019 6:03 PM

2019-10-24T18:03:20-04:00

Don’t leave. I wish I hadn’t

Response by SPC John Decker made Dec 1 at 2019 4:35 PM

2019-12-01T16:35:33-05:00

I would imagine that the various PMC's out there would each have their own standards.

Response by Sgt Dale Briggs made Oct 25 at 2020 11:31 AM

2020-10-25T11:31:58-04:00

When I was in I did 4 yrs active, 2 inactive, I went back to school and never heard from anyone after that. Inactive means just that they don’t expect anything out of you at all, once you hit your EAS your essentially done. And my time up front before I went to PI counted against that inactive time, so that was like 3 months on the delayed entry program. PI in July and Aug is decidedly horrendous, I didn’t sweat I just oozed goo, it was hot damn hot, lol.

Response by SN Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 29 at 2020 12:56 PM

2020-10-29T12:56:07-04:00

I’ve been on IRR for 3 years and not once has anyone reached out to me.