Army will order thousands in IRR to muster

[CommunityEditor]

For the first time since the Iraq war began, the Army is notifying thousands from a special category of reservists that they must report this summer for medical screening and other administrative tasks.

The decision to issue “muster” orders for 5,000 members of the Individual Ready Reserve, or IRR, is not a prelude to a new mobilization or deployment of reservists to Iraq, an Army spokesman said. Instead it is part of a new effort to fix an IRR call-up system that failed on multiple fronts early in the Iraq war.

One problem was that the Army simply could not contact many of its IRR members; it had allowed them to ignore the requirement that they notify the Army of a change in residence. Some turned out to be deceased; others were physically unfit for duty or faced personal problems that barred them from serving.

To correct that the Army is now requiring that they show up in person for what it calls a one-day “physical muster.” The idea is to ensure that when and if more IRR members are needed for Iraq or other active-duty deployments the Army will at least know which are fit for duty and where to find them.

Eventually all IRR members will get the order to report for screening; the first 5,000 are considered a test group.

IRR members are people who were honorably discharged after finishing their active-duty service but have not yet completed the eight-year commitment they made when they joined the Army. While in the IRR they are not required to train; they are not paid, and thus many believed they had no further active-duty obligation. Some are former officers who chose not to resign their commission and thus remained on the IRR rolls.

An Army spokesman, Lt. Col. Bryan Hilferty, said the 5,000 who are receiving “muster” orders this month were picked at random, and they are not necessarily in line to get mobilized and sent to Iraq.

The first 5,000 will receive orders to report to one of four reserve centers — in Tacoma, Wash.; Fort Totten, N.Y.; Fort Meade, Md.; or Los Alamitos, Calif. — and will be paid a $176 stipend once they finish the one-day process, Gall said. All 5,000 live within a 50-mile radius of one of the reserve stations, he said.

The reporting is mandatory. It will begin in mid-July and run through August.

Prior to the Iraq war, IRR members were rarely called to active duty — and many believed they never would be called — but when the Army found itself stretched by unexpected combat demands in Iraq in the summer of 2004 it began issuing mobilization orders. Hundreds of surprised IRR members refused to report or simply ignored their mailed mobilization orders, and the Army realized it had lost control of the situation.



Full article: http://www.armytimes.com/news/2007/06/ap_reservists_musters_070612/


Do you think you're one of the IRR mentioned here? Should the Army have done this long ago? Should this have been done before extending tours to 15 months? Whatcha think?

[PRISELAC]

:mad: As a 22 year veteran of the Army Reserve, I have spent nearly 17 of those years in the Individual Ready Reserve. I've always gotten enough points to have "good" retirement years, and have never been passed over for promotion. I've also never had any problems getting to my required military schooling for promotions. The reason why the IRR does not have current information on soldiers who served and where discharged from active duty is because the active duty Army transition points never mention to departing soldiers that they might still have a service obligation. Just to be clear- regardless of your pay grade- every soldier of every rank initially signs an 8 year contract. Even if you serve more than 6 years on active duty, you still have 2 additional years in which you are assigned to the IRR and can still be recalled to active duty during any declared national emergency or war under a partial or total mobilization. Many active duty soldiers erroneously believe their service and honorable discharge from active duty puts them out of the service. WRONG! Just go back and look at your original enlistement date on your enlistment contract (yes, even new 2LTs have to sign these). Then proceed to the middle of about page 8 and you will find exactly what I'm talking about. Additionally, the contract also stipulates you must contact HRC-St Louis after you leave active duty, move, or otherwise have a change in your medical condition, in order to make sure your personal information is correct and up to date. It's a shame that so many soldiers have not lived up to their contractual obligations. It's more a shame that our Army leaders have not held more of these soldiers feet to the fire on this issue. And before anyone says I haven't done anything in the Reserves as an IRR member, I've been in TPUs, RTUs, and two IMA positions for which I was mobilized and spent nearly one and half years on active duty for GWOT. Additionally, I have over 2200 retirement points as well. The IRR can be a good place to be for many soldiers. However, it was never designed to be a "dumping ground" for discharged active duty soldiers to rot in. The IRR is our nations' last land component strategic reserve our ground forces have in the event of an all out war thanks to our Guard and Reserve transforming into an operational force. So, for you deadbeats out there that still have time left on your 8 years, GET SQUARED AWAY!

MAJ A.F. PRISELAC II, USAR (IRR)
CIVIL AFFAIRS

[Unregistered]

I just finished my 8 years and turned in my resignation. I continously updated my address as I moved only receive numerous requests for an updated address. This indicates to me that the Army Personnel Branch is seriously screwed up....no surprise there. It was screwed up when I was active duty. To me, this call-up is garbage. They are recalling people who are clearly unfit for duty. For example, I have read about one guy who was previously kicked out of the Army for a medical condition that was recalled. The Army doctors reassessed him to be fit for duty. What could have changed? What about people that do not meet height-weight standards? Are they allowed to go over to the battlefiled without ever passing an APFT? You bet...even though it is against Army regs. Another thing I have concerns about that the call-ups are being placed in positions outside fo their training. I was a logistician and would have likely been recalled to be a civil affairs person. What training could I possible have to occupy such a position? Knowing how to lead convoys? The last issue I have with this recall is that for an Army that is desperate for personnel to serve in the war, they sure do still have alot of people on their books that have NOT served in Iraq or Afghanistan. I cannot remember the numbers, but i believe it was well over 33%. Until the Army fixes itself and actually figures out what the heck is going on, I will continue to believe this callup is garbage. Last, if you are so adamant about the issue, you can always volunteer and head on over to the sandbox highspeed.

[Unregistered]

the call up is nothing more than a ploy to get people to sign up for the reserves. even if it has to do with updating records the army is going to waste a sizeable chunk of money to do this. even if 5000 people show up at 176.00 that is 880,000 dollars wasted. andthe doctors in this case will bypass any medical condition to pad the army's number. while i do not agree with the attitude of some, i have over 40% disability and they probably won't even consider it and as far as weight goes no one takes care of themselves when they get out. and also why would anyone waste there time going to this muster? the army need to realize that saying all are suppose to be there does not mean they will waste there time. then the army would waste more money trying to find and prosecute these people anyway. the whole situation is a waste. just watch what happens between july and august, two words.....no shows!

[Unregistered]

Wow...a Field Grade Private with no field time loud mouths about his (lack of) experience, and tells other people to get squared away. People like him are why people like me (good leaders with technical abilities) get the hell out of the Army.

I just got a call for this muster, and I have 6 months left in IRR time. I did 6x2 in the National guard, deployed overseas once, and served approximately 2 years worth of stateside duty. I'll go, i'm out of height/weight standards, and they'll tell me that.

What I will say about the IRR is that it's not a feasible way to get good soldiers back. I resent the Army, as they've come back to collect the money they paid for my college tuition. This month I finish paying them off..as I see it, the army needs me more than I will ever need them. If they were to call me up, I'd serve until the last day of my original 8 years contracted, and walk away, regardless of where I was.

They've burned so many people that it's impossible to believe that people are still enlisting.

[Unregistered]

As usual, the Army is giving out false information. I live 2528.32 miles from Tacoma, 410.97 miles from Ft Totten, 310.09 miles from Ft Meade, and 2412.57 miles from California. It's really not worth my time for $176, even if I did live closer. In all honesty, if hte Army wanted to reactivate soldiers they would just do it. Physical readiness has nothing to do with it- I've seen many reserve soldiesr that drill once a month that were so physically unfit or just plain unprepared for whatever they would be doing and they were activated regardless.

[Unregistered]

Wow... I am surprised by the venom in some ofl those previous posts. I am way out of my league, but feel the need to comment about some of the other posts. My son served 3 years active duty, in the 3rd Infantry Division, one of those years deployed to Iraq. When he signed up he completely understood that he was signing up for 8 years. He was only 18 at the time, but seem to be able to "wrap his brain" around his committment. He received an honorable discharge after three years, after repeated attempts to get him to reenlis, all of which he declined, he received an honorable discharge. He is now an IRR. He is curently a full time student in college using the $36,000 from his GI bill. He has a steady, physical job, but has been testing with local law enforcement agencies to become a police officer. He would be the first to tell you that he does not wish to be called up for active duty, but should that happen, he is physical fit to perform in the military. I believe that he would rather continue to complete his BA degree and continue with his goal into the law enforcement field, but would not ever complain about a call to active duty. He says he has no nightmares from serving in Iraq and while injured when deployed, says he is not disabled, and that he was honored to serve. So, not all men (boys) have to same attitude. I suppose the ones that complain in the IRR about an potential for call to active duty should have considered an alternative to their careers when they signed up. All you boys and girls have a brain and can read, I presume, and if you didn't want to make the committment, you should have planned and did something else. Why attack the military for attempting to recruit reserves, they like a private sector cooperation, have a right to recruit. I hope the IRR candidates that can't service don't. God bless our all our soilders.

[Unregistered]

That's great about your son, but I'm afraid you've missed the fine print yourself. He can go through all 8 years, be in IRR waiting out the last month before his ETS date, and get called back up under STOP-LOSS. Read the fine, fine print, it states that, in the case of war or conflict, stop-loss can take place (even after the 8 year obligation is coming to an end). The beauty of that part of the fine print is that the definition of "war" or "conflict" does not mean that it needs to be a situation where Congress has declared official war. So, as long as this ideological "War on Terror" is going to go on (and, last time I checked, we haven't won a war on an ideology yet - ex. - war on hunger, war on poverty, war on drugs, etc), this could apply to any soldier called to active duty. If stop-loss happens to your son, he can't get out 90 days before whatever unit he is attached to leaves and has to stay on at least 90 days after the unit is sent back (or after the war ends, which - let's face it - isn't happening anytime soon). So before you go off on people for being upset about the IRR call ups, think about that scenario. I already was called up to serve back in 2004 in Iraq, and I'm in that exact situation now. How can you respect a "contract" that is so flexible that one side can simply extend the obligation forever based on completely undefined terms?

[Unregistered]

I got an idea you join up and quit telling our youth to do the job you should have done. We wouldn't be here in thir situation tody if the previous generations had stepped up and done their duty and not been GREEDY! Corporate greeed! ERON! Comeon man Wake up!

Wow... I am surprised by the venom in some ofl those previous posts. . . Why attack the military for attempting to recruit reserves, they like a private sector cooperation, have a right to recruit. I hope the IRR candidates that can't service don't. God bless our all our soilders.
WOW, did you ever serve in the military? Did you ever serve 18 months in Iraq? Have your friends killed, maimed? I was once one of those guys who believed in his country and it's leadership. But I saw too many things while over there that didn't make sense.
Do you still use oil from overseas? Gas? Then you support terrorism and the men who created this war and enlisted our young men to fight their war as their "corporate security force". They made billions in profits last year and didn't have to pay anything for the "private american military/security" protecting their ass.
Have you ever been to Kuwait or Saudi Arabia and seen the gold palaces they live in? From our wealth. Their children will be living off our dollars for generations to come.
WAKE UP AMERICA! YOU GOT SOLD A BILL OF GOODS! We lost our jobs to Mexico and China. When was the last product you bought made by your neighbor, really made in the US? ALL YOUR CONGRESSMEN AND SENATORS AND ADMINISTRATION ARE SELL OUTS!
I got a letter last week from the NC Commerce Dept saying they are having a furniture show in Shanghi, China. What the hell is going on?
I wouldn't have said this 5 years ago. But the truth when really looked at and accepted hurts. ANd this IS the reality, there's nothing we can do.
So I and trying to be the best husband and father I can be praying this war will be over and my friends can come home to their families alive and well.
And why are we losing this war, because POGUE officers like the one above who said their little statement. How about when Shinseki's of the Army who wanted more troops and Rumsfeld said no. Then they "got rid of him". have you noticed that there is a new general every 6 months now? because they can't fix it, then they get fired. So sad, so sad. When will we put Rumsfeld and others like him. . .their feet to the fire!

[Unregistered]

Dear Mr. Albert F. Priselac
albert.priselacii@us.army.mil

You and people like you are the reason I left the military. My enlistment was in 2001 (pre September 11) and this state of war we are currently in was years away. The plan was to get in, learn a trade, earn college money and get out. If I had the foresight to see we would be in this awful position today I would have never joined. I don’t believe in this GWOT one bit and I have lost family to terrorist acts. Protect the home land from terror… not the planet. We can’t live civilized in our own country (high murder rate, rapes, sexual predators etc…) and we are going to be the ambassadors of freedom and good will in other countries? I would honor my 8 year commitment if the cause was justified. I’m sure you would risk your life to help out a poor Iraqi child but what would you do for the American child who lives on the streets? We have far too many problems at home that need our attention, care and funds then helping nations with such extremist views.

[Unregistered]

wow! i was just looking to get info on this subject and look what i turned up. so here is my question: can anyone give me a good reason to show up for this muster? anyways i wouldn't show up in uniform or shave my gotee anyways. so can anyone give me a reason? or am i just like the army wasting my time?

[Unregistered]

you guys make me sick, if you are in the IRR get your sloppy ass off the couch and show up, it's one day.

[Unregistered]

I was in the Infantry for 4 years and have been out now for a year. I spent a year in Iraq and lost a lot of great friends including Tommy whom I was with ever since basic training. However, I tell everyone that those years were the best of my life. I don't regret serving, I'm not resentful about anything, & I actually still support the war and what we're trying to do. I know it's gotten to be a mess, but I hope some good comes out of it and all this hasn't been for nothing. Anyway, I received "muster orders" myself. I live in Ohio by-the-way, which isn't anywhere close to where they were talking about. But anyways, I'll just ignore this like I've done with the other IRR stuff I've gotten. I'm not to worried about it. If they really want to send people out to track me down and deploy me, then I guess they can, but I've moved on with my life and i'm not going to waste anytime helping thim out. I have a full time job, I just set up a real estate investment business, & my wife and I will have a kid soon. Like I said, I loved being in the Infantry and I'll never forget what I did and the people I served with, but I'm done now. So I'm not going. Really I don't think it matters. For anyone that was ever in Active Duty you know paperwork & accountability is a nightmare and most people don't do there job to figure it out anyways.

[Unregistered]

"Do you still use oil from overseas? Gas? Then you support terrorism and the men who created this war and enlisted our young men to fight their war as their "corporate security force". They made billions in profits last year and didn't have to pay anything for the "private american military/security" protecting their ass. "


The ironic thing about this. You are criticizing everybody for using the gas from overseas. Yet, you are on a computer typing on this forum. You do realize that the oil from overseas is used to make the computer components and transport them to the store where you bought them, right? So, I guess you support terrorism as well my friend. Although I agree with you that this war is fueled predominatly by greed, I believe you need to change your angle on it. You make yourself sound like a fool. I honestly thought Cheech and Chong were the ones typing your post.

[Unregistered]

I Agree...piggy Backing Off The Last Responce. America Does Not Know The Half Of What Is Going On. I've Been To Iraq And Spent A Wasted 365 Days Over There Doing Absolutely Nothing, But Looking In Other Lonely Soldiers Faces. Just Imagine...leaving Your Family, Go Off To An On Going War That No One Knows What The Hell We Are Fightng For And The Reason Has Changed About Three Damn Times, And Just While Sitting On Your Ass Getting Fat, You Get Killed For No Damn Reason At All. The Army Is Playing A Game With People's Lives, Especially Young Soldiers. Notice, The Same People Who Are Over Your Young Soilders You Call Your Children, But The Army Call Privates And Specialist,comes Home Before You Baby Doand Your Child Who Is Just 18 Years Old Dies Before His Or Her Own Overseers...and They Are All Below The Ages Of 24 Years Old, Babies!!!!! Believe Me, I've Seen Someone Get Blown Up Infront Of My Own Eyes And I Was Only 19....that's Bull Shit. If You Have Not Been In The Army, Please Keep Your Comments To Yourself And From What You Have Said About Your Son, He Sounds Pretty Educated, Let Him Speak For Himself.

[Unregistered]

My husband got his letter yesterday 6-18-07. I didn't know what it was until I looked it up online myself. He got out in March of 2006. What I don't understand is, at the top pf the letter it states "IAW TITLE 10, SECTION 12319, YOU ARE ORDERED TO PERSONNEL ACCOUNTABILITY MUSTER FOR THE PERIOD INDICATED. " this next line is what gets me, what does this mean----> "UPON COMPLETION OF THE PERIOD OF DUTY YOU WILL RETURN TO THE PLACE WHERE YOU ENTERED DUTY" ... do you think it means Ft. Bragg ? or do you think it means the office where he intially enlisted?

[Unregistered]

I also wanted to add that he has already been to Iraq and Afganistan....total of a lil over a year. He is planning on showing up to the muster and if they choose to send him back... he says he's ready to go.

[Unregistered]

I am one of the 5,000 to be mustered and I have 3 months left in my obligation. Unlike this article my orders were not for any of those locations. It was, instead, at a reserve center nearby. I received my letter lastnight and have not responded yet. I, like most IRR soldiers, have not remained in Army regs. As far as Height/Weight standards go, anyway. I also am not qualified to perform my original MOS any more. I was a Medic for 4 yrs on active duty 1 of which was spent in OIF. That was my biggest reason for not re-enlisting. I was lucky enought to have a window between deployments that allowed me to ETS. After I got out I let all of my medical certifications expire. After all, if the Army wants me to maintain them they can pay for the schooling. I am currently enrolled in College to complete my RN degree and would like to be able to finish without being recalled. Like so many of you, I feel that this is a recruiting ploy to get you in front of a recruiter. I have researched the "Title 10" and found out that you are subject to UCMJ while at the muster. I wonder if I will get an Article 15 if I don't pass the Weigh in? I would hate to be on extra duty! What I am more concerned about is refusing service. If I go to the muster and tell them I'm in school and have a medical issue that the Army doen't want to pay for will the Court Martial me since I am subject to UCMJ? Thats sounds like an ambush to me.

Like a lot of OIF vets I have often thought about returning to the Army just because it was what I knew. It was where I was the last time the world made sense. I have to admit that the "Real World" was a little difficult to adapt to. However, I have made my decision to stay out and I will stick by it. But, the recruiters will feel no shame in exploiting these feelings in order to satisfy their greedy masters. They will make you feel like you are a failure for not going back. Like you are letting you brothers down. They will pile the guilt so high you will think the only way to make it right is to give in.

I cannot afford to not show up to this muster. I can only hope that they will not mobilize me this late in the game.

[Unregistered]

You know we all can read(those of us who signed up). We all knew what we were getting ourselves into. We all knew about stop loss and the 8 year obligation. We as Americans need to suck it up. I just got orders myself and although I am not real happy about it I will go and fufill my obligations like a man. I too was in Iraq I too had it bad and no I don't want to go back but I will if thats what I have to do. So I guess to all the cry babies out there Deal with it. Why else did you sign up to the military for you knew it was bound to happen. Take it easy all

[Unregistered]

I too was a little concerned, but after looking around on the web, this is something that the other services regularly do. Difference being, the other services don't have as large of an IRR group to check up on. I plan on going to my muster, update my infomation, and voice my concerns about what's going on in the Army today (like why I decided to pop smoke and get out).

Iraq Vet 03-04
Ar Ramadi

[Unregistered]

what do the orders say to do and what to bring? i mean do they expect us to show up in uniform or something and take a PT test?

[Unregistered]

Former Iraq vet here too. I got the orders too and they specifically say that military regs for hair and height/weight aren't being enforced.

I'm moving to the other side of my state before the muster and starting law school. The phone number on my orders is a wrong number, and after calling a few other numbers, still haven't been able to straighten things out.I've already updated my info online. Not sure if I'm going to go out of my way when they can't get their shit together. I don't mind Uncle Sam keeping tabs on me for a just in case scenario, but I'm not willing to get called up for this mess we're currently in. When I signed up I wanted to go to Afghanistan, but as you all know, you don't get to pick where you go. Well, in Iraq it's pretty easy to see that while I'm more than willing to die for the freedom of people I love, I'm not willing to die for a bunch of people that are too lazy to fight for themselves.

Wow, that was a bit of a rant. I think my point was I don't mind doing crap for the Army still, but I'm not going to jump through all these hoops so they can maintain "accountability".

[Unregistered]

I haven't called them yet, but all the other information on the web shows the other services go civilian clothes and then talk about opportunities available, for those out there that want back in and have a hard time adjusting to civilian life. They also had presentations from the VA and other organizations (VFW, American Legion, etc...).

I'll post what I find out about my muster.

Iraq Vet 03-04
Ar Ramadi

[Unregistered]

The military forgot me.... I was in the National Guard did my time.... then I was promoted to E-5 but I was having trouble getting paid...as usual the personal had trouble getting my paperwork.. and they told me I needed a security clearance...which I sent seven times....and yet just a couple of days before I ETS one of the Sgt. came and told me that I couldn't wear my E-5 because they haven't received my security clearance of course I was angry and then he told me if I re-up they could help me….of course I decline then another NCO told me that they we’re going to try to help me get paid because in fact I did earn the grade but it’s been a year already… so they forgot me but now they want me to show up at a MUSTER….ha! Also as members of the military we received the G.I. Bill but what they didn’t tell me was once you get out of the Guard you no longer qualify for the G.I. Bill so now I’m in financial debt because I received the G.I. Bill after I ETS and I was deployed twice which didn’t really give me a chance to receive my educational benefits…and now they want to pay me 176 to go see if I qualify to get deployed.. you may think this only happend to me but it also happened to my friend he received the G.I. Bill after he ETS and now he is also in debt... he already told me that he isn't going to show and to tell you the truth I'm think the same thing... The Military forgot me...so I'll forget them..

[Unregistered]

I hear ya! I go on a rant too. Lazy people is about right. And my wife wonders why I get angry when I turn on the news... ;-) . Still, you and I have seen what happens when folks don't believe in individual responsibility.

Iraq Vet 03-04
Ar Ramadi

[Unregistered]

And you shouldn't have to. No one should. We've got alot of issues over here we need to straighten out before we can tell anyone else how to live. Write your congressmen/women, tell candidates what you want to see happen, ask those hard questions, and vote dammit. As a country we've been giving our leaders a pass for too long.

Iraq Vet 03-04
Ar Ramadi

[Unregistered]

if you don't mind me asking...what else did the muster orders say? and did you receive it in the mail certified or fedex or something. and also how can they say height and weight standards are not being enforced? sounds like a ploy to get you to sign up or something.

[Unregistered]

Mine was just normal mail. I didn't see anything about uniforms or pt clothes. I'm thinking they're trying to figure out where everyone is AND recruit those that miss Army life. Yeah, some people do miss it.

Iraq Vet 03-04
Ar Ramadi

[1LT]

Hey, I'll readily admit that I miss it. But the reason I got out is that I wanted to start a family and do other things with my life. The gone for over a year, back less than a year optempo isn't something that I want to sign up for again. 14 months in the hellhole with the "honorable" peoples of Iraq was enough for me.

[Unregistered]

Bingo. I was married for a three years but gone for half that when I got out. I saw the writing on the wall and told my soldiers to expect the same, "Remember, we're still in Germany & Japan...and we won those wars."

Iraq Vet 03-04
Ar Ramadi

[Unregistered]

They could not drag me back.... Perhaps one day Army leadership will wake up out of their fantasy world they live in, including that guy who started this thread. Basically, he called all of us that did not re-enlist, but still had IRR time "deadbeats". I signed a 8 year contract, 5 active and 3 IRR, I was basically forced to extend to searve active duty six and a half years, which is fine because it worked out for me. However, I am in better shape and sure as hell better paid now that I am out of the Army. Get a clue, fella; it is because of Officers like you that I got out in the first place. Take your piss and vinager pep talk somewhere else.

[Unregistered]

muster duty what a joke. iam a combat vet served i year in iraq under the stop loss clause and still have alot of time to serve in the irr. this war in iraq is so disgusting as far a ROE, SOP's go im actually embarrased to be an american, i wont show up for the muster and if the department of the army decides they want to activate me i have no problem fleeing the country and being a patriot to a different flag.

[Unregistered]

My opinion is that we have too many problems in our own country. We are quick to run to the rescue of another country but took almost a week to help the victims of katrina. I served over two years in Iraq. The second time I was deployed I was Stop Lossed so I couldnt leave the military, I was forced to continue serving. I lossed many friends and seen alot of things that I will never forget. But you have soldiers that have been in fifteen years or more that have not served in Iraq. Whats the point of this was besides making our economy worse then what it is. This Irr is ridiculious because we are trying to fight a war that we will never win. The Iraqi people do not want us in their country.So what make people think that they would ever give up. Just think about it, would you want another country to come kick in your door and put you out of your house. We were supposed to save the Iraqi people from Saddem and his executions but lets not forget when President bush was govenor of Texas he had the highest execution rate in the U.S.

[Hell No]

I'm so grateful for this forum. I received my muster orders yesterday (5 year, Iraq war vet) and I was all set to call up and attend my muster appointment until I read this forum. I was called out of the IRR for my last Iraq deployment where I was reclassed and activated for over a year. If they want to send me deployment orders fine, I'll show up and sit in one of those god-forsaken shitholes for another year, but I will not assist in what has and continues to be a completely fucked up administrative system.... fuck them, oh and to the first poster, maj. whoever the fuck.... I completely agree with the other posters, it is due to idiot asshole officers such as yourself that intelligent, motivated individuals such as myself get as far away from the army as quick as we can. I hope you have plenty of wonderful deployments ahead of you where you can "influence" other soldiers to regret their decision to serve their country.

[Unregistered]

Well, God Bless the troops and all that jazz but I'm not even giving my husband the muster letter. Okay, just kidding. He is honorable enough to show up for the muster but it reeks to me. He only has 8 months left on his IRR, has nightmares of seeing his buddies killed, is now 50% disabled.....and the Army is mustering him why again? The whole thing reeks of b*llsh*t, and if they call him up you better believe that CNN, FOX NEWS and any other media outlet willing to hear about this will find me screaming obscenities and lawsuit against the good ole U.S. Army. My husband did his part and if he had more than a year left on his IRR I would be the first to say "Fullfill your obligation" but EIGHT MONTHS and NOW they muster him. Like I said, B*LLSH*T!!!!!

[Unregistered]

Oh, and this crap about all 5,000 living within a 50 mile radius of one of four bases is not true. We do not live anywhere near Washington, New York, Maryland OR California! The letter specifies my husband report to El Paso, Texas!!! Furthermore, if the Army is having such a hard time tracking down their IRR soldiers then how the hell are they managing to get these muster letters to the right people??

[Unregistered]

I have a question for anyone familiar with the IRR procedure and would appreciate any light that can be shed. My fiance just received an order to appear this summer at Fort Totten for physical testing. Does this mean he will definitely be called back to serve or is this just a formality? He just discharged from the Army 6 months ago after serving his 5 years after West Point. He has completed two deployments in Afghanistan and Iraq, respectively. I'm just wondering exactly what all this means and I've been scouring the internet looking for answers without any success. Can someone kindly help me? I'd appreciate it greatly.

[Unregistered]

First of all to the goddamn major who bragged about his 17 years in the fucking IRR. How about you lead by example and volounteer your sorry ass for deployment, or at least Active Duty.

I signed up after we invaded Iraq, and while my motivation was entirely self-serving (college, training) I attempted to serve my time.

I signed up for 5 years and after being shitted on for a year and a half about my weight (I only failed a Record PT once and have always had problems with weight) they chaptered me out due to weight in December because I was "bad for morale" knowing that I was set to be deploying this year and now they want me to "muster"? They can kiss my ass.

As far as for Iraq, I was stationed at Walter Reed for 6 months and got to see our casualties of this GWOT. It is not worth shedding a drop of American blood for people who are not willing to fight for their freedom. Our troops deserve to be doing worthwhile things such as stopping the Genocide in Darfur not spreading democracy across the world. Freedom is an idea, and like an idea you cannot force it onto people. And forget about freedom what about poverty? Terrorism, like poverty, freedom and 'war on drugs', is an idea, and like any idea you can't ever defeat it.

Oh, and for anyone who wants to argue the case for the Iraqi's, take a look at this quote (and video at the website - not sure which one it is)

"Smith goes on a joint U.S.-Iraqi raid on a weapons cache belonging to Mahdi Army. The soldiers recovered heavy munitions. The Americans celebrated the raid as a great success. But then FRONTLINE's cameraman caught some Iraqis soldiers having a discussion about another, larger cache of weapons that is "with the sheikh" -- information they never shared with the Americans."

http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/gangsofiraq/view/

As far as this muster is concerned I will not be attending. Anyone reading this know that the Army will use any tactics to get you to re-enlist, naming the one's I've personally heard about from soldiers themselves: lying, threatening, goading, quid pro quo, and baiting. The Army has been trying to recruit me into the Reserves ever since it kicked me out of Active Duty. Does that make any sense to anybody? Because it sure as hell makes no sense to me.

[Unregistered]

To the young lady asking about his husband - the Army will go balls out to re-enlist and recruit people. If you can at all convince him not to attend do it because they will use any form of coercion to force him back to Active Duty or deployment.

[PRISELAC]

OK already. Believe me, I understand the frustration of many soldiers with regards to the system. Certainly, I respect the service to our country that all of you have given already. Obviously, many are very upset by stop-loss orders, etc. To those of you who bad-mouth my service, shame on you. I have not bad-mouthed yours. I only advised what obligations and duties we all signed up for when we raised our right hands. Additionally, many of the thread responses indicate a level of anger towards me and words that indicate what you think you know about me and my career. There are many ways to serve in our nation's great military. Folks, it's what you make of it. Obviously, many of you never wanted to be full-time active duty- neither have I. That's why, years ago, I chose to remain in the Reserves. Additionally- for all who think this old timer never did anything, I was once enlisted (yes, an 11B for two years and nearly two more as an officer). Sorry for any misunderstandings. It is obvious that the system is broken, but the folks at HRC-St. Louis are finally beginning to get the neccessary funding to fix the darn thing. Finally, I'm one of those folks that's been saying for the last five year to no avail that we need a military that's nearly three or four times the size we are. That includes the Guard and Reserves. To all my fellow Guard and Reservists still serving proudly- thank you for your continued service and God bless you!

[Unregistered]

I am currently looking at getting called up for the recent muster. I was an active duty soldier for 5 years and served time in Iraq. I have since always given HRC my current information and have followed thru on my physical. Do I want to get called back to active duty...absolutely not. But, if the situation comes down to it I will perform my duty. I signed that contract knowing full well what I was getting into. I will be finished with my 8 years in a few months, but I know and have known for a very long time the possiblity of getting called back and stop lossed. We volunteered, no one held a gun to our heads. Suck it Up!!!!

[Unregistered]

READ THIS VVVVVVV

Hmm, You know at first after reading some of these post, I now understna dthat some of you are going about this all the wrong way. I served 4 years and am at my last 8 months until i'm finished with my ob"blow"gation. For the past 3 years I have been getting these letters in the mail about updating my information. I for one was not going to. Now I get this muster duty crap, and am required to go. I am not going to fight for a cause that can't possibly be won. The only way this will end is by Civil War.

With all of that said above I look at it like this: by law a recruiter can "not" send you orders to attend a day so they can lay their crap on you. They can only gain access to your phone number to call and request you come in. This letter tells me "business". If they want me to come in and update my information, whats the point? You already have it considering you sent me the letter.

After I got this letter I called a few close buddies in high places still in, and what did they say? Army is planning on bulking up 90+ thousand. Where are they getting these numbers? your guess is as good as mine. I was also told and pretty much had the idea already: Uncle Sam has a reasoning behind everything he does.

I have called the retention officer here at the number on my orders, and he said by no means is this a way to get people here to mobilize them. Do I believe him? a little, he isn't worried about numbers like recruiters.

What am I doing? I for one am going to attened this. I'm too close to being totally done to spend 10 to 15 years behind bars because I chose not to. Whats the wosre that coukl happen? Mobilization? Naw if so that falsifying legal documentaion. if you do attend just remember to read everything......... EVERYTHING even if it takes 6 hours. Do not let them make copies of personal information, ie: drivers license, or social security card. Never sign until you fully understand. Even if you need to come back.

People who are close to being totally done, I have lookad at a few options. If you sign up for the reserves, you can get a 12 month no mobilization contract. This will eat up the rest of your time making certian you stay in country. When moving to the reserves you are not required to reenlist. Basically you go to drills once a month and if you do not like it at the end of you ob"blow"gation, you can get out. Remember your still in country because of the 12 month no mobiliztion crap.

Things I don't know: Can they stop loss you hold you in the reserves just to deploy you because of the 12 months.

Thanks for the time.

angry

[Unregistered]

Did anyone see the article yesterday that said the Army will start to rely more on their IRRs in order to give the active duty soldiers more home time. It said active duty soldiers are only receiving 12 months of home time for every 15 months of war time. They want to activate more reserves to alleviate the problem. Somehow it seems quite a coincidence that they announced this muster right before this article came out. Anyone think that those who pass the physical will recalled? I spoke to another family member still in the Army and he thinks that those being called to the muster will be recalled to active duty...what do you think?

[Unregistered]

they need to start using other branches of the military. i know alot of navy and air force people who have never deployed. so they need to start sharing the load. as far as using the reserves and national guard as a relief effort for the soldiers there, that won't happen because no one will show up for this muster. and by the way to the poster who said no one held a gun to our heads and that we should suck it up....go screw yourself....what are you gonna do when an insurgent holds a gun to your head, think about patriotism? i think not!

[gunner]

Tobe honest im not going. It seems alittle odd that they want us to show up in person just to update our info. Why in person? Why not over the phone as usual? Unless they are trying to figure out if we look "fit" to be recalled back. Plus a couple of weeks ago ABC News reported that the ARMY didnt meet its recruitment quota for May of this year. Like a said very odd. But ill tell you this if i do get mobilization orders ill go but not without a fight first. God bless our troops.

[Unregistered]

WASHINGTON (Army News Service, April 4, 2006) – Individual Warriors will be the new label for Soldiers serving in the Individual Ready Reserve.

Simultaneously, the new name will lead to a cultural shift away from the unstructured group of inactive individuals into a cohesive group of Soldiers who are trained, aware and ready to augment Army missions when called upon.

Secretary of the Army Francis J. Harvey endorsed the move to reset and reinvigorate the IRR through several programmed initiatives to transform the Army’s leading prior-service talent bank.

“Senior Army leadership is committed to providing the necessary funding required to shape the IW initiative,” Harvey said. He added that Soldiers in the IRR will be a “viable pool” of individual warriors “trained and employable to meet the needs of the Army.”

Presently there are more than 100,000 Soldiers (enlisted and officer) in the IRR that represent more than 200 Military Occupational Skills ranging from combat arms and support to combat-service support specialties, but that could potentially be reduced to 60,000 ready and available Soldiers.

“While the mission of the IRR is to provide a pool of previously trained Soldiers who are ‘individually ready’ for call-up, our culture and past management of the IRR has made it difficult for many to accept that call-ups will become common practice,” said Maj. Nadine Kokolis, a mobilization officer in the Army’s G-1.

“In order to establish realistic readiness reporting, the Army is conducting a systematic screening of the IRR database to reconcile existing records and identify non-mobilization assets, and separate those Soldiers who no longer have further potential for useful military service,” added Kokolis.

The Army will institute an annual screening and training program for all assigned IWs who align with the Army Force Generation model – Reset/Train; Ready; Available. This program will be developed and carried out in order to maintain positive contact, administer refresher training as individual skills degrade and ensure the deployable readiness.

“Annual readiness screening is the heart of this initiative to ensure IRR members are deployable,” said Kokolis. “The Army will execute a pilot screening for approximately 5,000 Soldiers in fiscal year 2007; the goal is to institutionalize the entire screening and training program by fiscal year 2013.”

Recruiters and career counselors will brief all Soldiers entering the service and transitioning between components so they understand service obligations and training requirements in the Army Reserve.

[Unregistered]

I read that article. Seems like they're trying to convert the IRR into another pool of reserves they can tap. I for one am not going to help them.

[gunner]

Has anyone even gone to one of these musters? What are the consequences of not going?

[Unregistered]

OK enough is enough, either you signed a contract for 8 years or you didn't which is it? The muster is only for accountability, yes you may be briefed on the Army reserves however who here would like the opportunity to cut their MSO by 1/2? Or receive a mobilization deferment for up to 2 years? Or have the opportunity to continue service with a bonus, and lastly reclass to an MOS that you would like? If you are on here making an ass of yourself you probably are not what today's Army wants, once a cryin ass always a cryin ass. I would prefer to serve with soldiers who give a shit and do not feel they are entitled to something all of the time. Just take your time you served and live with it. I have been AD for 19 yrs so shut the hell up with the whinning. Further more if you really want to know the real deal with the Muster, call HRC St Louis 1-800-318-5298 Otherwise have a nice cup of Shut the Hell Up and be un informed.
SFC
AD

[Unregistered]

1st off, you don't know any of us.

Second of all 'give a shit' about what? Our soldiers? Yes. 'Spreading Democracy?' 'Toppling the Evil Saddam Hussein'? 'WMD'? 'THE BIG BAD TERRORIST'? As bad as 9/11 was we have lost over 3,200 military servicemen, more than what was lost on that date, to physically fight a war that can't ever be won and can only be fought with intelligence. Not to mention the occupation of a country that has been dragging their feet for the past 4 years. And whatever happened to finding Osama Bin Laden, you know, the mother fucker actually resposible for this whole mess. Furthermore I'm surprised that having served 19 years you apparently don't know squat about terrorism otherwise you would know that it can only be fought with INTELLIGENCE. The physical presence of soldiers in Iraq are nothing but targets. The Army and this 'war on terrorism would be infinitely better off training half the Active Duty army as Intelligence Operatives.

Don't get it? Go read "SEE NO EVIL" by Robert Baer, that is if it's not too high above your reading comprehension level.

[Unregistered]

Anyone know of the Navy Reserve involuntarily grabbing members of their IRR? I've heard rumblings, but nothing specific. Just like to be prepared.

[Unregistered]

Apparently this is legal and the other branches have indeed been doing it.q

http://uscode.house.gov/uscode-cgi/fastweb.exe?getdoc+uscview+t09t12+3383+0++%28%29%2 0%20AND%20%28%2810%29%20ADJ%20USC%29%3ACITE%20AND% 20%28USC%20w%2F10%20%2812319%29%29%3ACITE%20%20%20 %20%20%20%20%20%20

-EXPCITE-
TITLE 10 - ARMED FORCES
Subtitle E - Reserve Components
PART II - PERSONNEL GENERALLY
CHAPTER 1209 - ACTIVE DUTY

-HEAD-
Sec. 12319. Ready Reserve: muster duty

-STATUTE-
(a) Under regulations prescribed by the Secretary of Defense, a
member of the Ready Reserve may be ordered without his consent to
muster duty one time each year. A member ordered to muster duty
under this section shall be required to perform a minimum of two
hours of muster duty on the day of muster.
(b) The period which a member may be required to devote to muster
duty under this section, including round-trip travel to and from
the location of that duty, may not total more than one day each
calendar year.
(c) Except as specified in subsection (d), muster duty (and
travel directly to and from that duty) under this section shall be
treated as the equivalent of inactive-duty training (and travel
directly to and from that training) for the purposes of this title
and the provisions of title 37 (other than section 206(a)) and
title 38, including provisions relating to the determination of
eligibility for and the receipt of benefits and entitlements
provided under those titles for Reserves performing inactive-duty
training and for their dependents and survivors.
(d) Muster duty under this section shall not be credited in
determining entitlement to, or in computing, retired pay under
chapter 1223 of this title.

-SOURCE-
(Added Pub. L. 101-189, div. A, title V, Sec. 502(a)(1), Nov. 29,
1989, 103 Stat. 1436, Sec. 687; renumbered Sec. 12319 and amended
Pub. L. 103-337, div. A, title XVI, Secs. 1662(e)(2), 1675(c)(10),
Oct. 5, 1994, 108 Stat. 2992, 3018.)

-MISC1-
AMENDMENTS
1994 - Pub. L. 103-337, Sec. 1662(e)(2), renumbered section 687
of this title as this section.
Subsec. (d). Pub. L. 103-337, Sec. 1675(c)(10), substituted
"1223" for "67".

EFFECTIVE DATE OF 1994 AMENDMENT
Amendment by Pub. L. 103-337 effective Dec. 1, 1994, except as
otherwise provided, see section 1691 of Pub. L. 103-337, set out as
an Effective Date note under section 10001 of this title.

http://www.homestead.afrc.af.mil/news/story.asp?id=123048971

IRR muster gathers veterans, provides information and opportunities
IRR Muster
Jordan Roman, a former crew chief and senior airman, talks with Senior Master Sgt. Katdo Robinson during an Individual Ready Reserve muster at Homestead Air Reserve Base April 14. Sergeant Robinson represents the 482nd Maintenance Group, and was on hand to provide vets with information about job opportunities at Homestead ARB. Mr. Roman is one of approximately 80 former service members who reported to the base for the annual muster, which gave them the opportunity to receive updated information about the military while fulfilling their obligation to keep their military records updated. (U.S. Air Force photo/Jake Shaw)

by Jake Shaw
482nd Fighter Wing Public Affairs

4/16/2007 - HOMESTEAD ARB, Fla. -- 4/14/2007 - HOMESTEAD AIR RESERVE BASE, Fla. - the 482nd Fighter Wing conducted a muster here today for 80 Individual Ready Reservists.

The IRR Muster Program, mandated by Title 10 United States Code Section 12319, ensures the Air Force can "reach out and touch" the IRR population when necessary. IRRs are mostly military personnel who have served on active duty but have a military service obligation remaining.

Annually, the Air Force Reserve Personnel Center in Colorado orders IRR Airmen to report to a military installation within 150 miles of their residence. Upon arrival, their records are updated and they receive a basic medical screening and several briefings. IRRs are paid for their time in accordance with Title 37 U.S.C., Section 433. Homestead Air Reserve Base volunteered to host the annual muster for South Florida Veterans.

After arriving, the IRRs were welcomed by 482nd Maintenance Group Commander Col. T. Glenn Davis, who thanked them for participating in the muster. He also gave them an update on opportunities available if they are interested in joining the 482nd Fighter Wing.

The colonel started with a question; "Why would you want to come here? Well, this is the finest F-16 unit on the planet, and we've got the numbers to back that up. We have the highest mission completion rate in the entire Air Force right now."

Col. Davis added that the 482nd Fighter Wing is gaining 9 jets this year and needs more people. For certain jobs you can receive a $15,000 bonus and full-time maintenance positions start at about $24 per hour.

After the welcome brief by Col. Davis, the vets talked with representatives from the Miami Vet Center, received medical screenings, updated their ID cards, employment and education information and talked with Air Force Reserve Recruiters who also attended the gathering.

Air Force Reserve recruiters attended the muster for a specific reason; to provide information. According to 482nd Fighter Wing senior recruiter Senior Master Sgt. Alex Vazquez, "This is not a recruiting event, but people leave the military for various reasons, and we are here today to let them know about the options available to them in case their life situation has changed recently."

For many of the attendees, their life situations had changed, but they were concerned about the muster, given the current military situation.

"I wasn't surprised when I got the letter in the mail informing me of today's muster, because I understand why we're doing this. This will help make the mobilization process easier if it's necessary, and besides, this is what we all signed up for," said Nathan Christar, a former senior airman who spent four years as a security forces member.

"There's no chance I'll sign up today, but I have no problem showing up to fulfill my obligation," he added.

Others felt differently about the muster.

"I was shocked to get a letter in the mail telling me to come to a muster at the base," said Jordan Roman, a former senior airman who spent four years as a crew chief before leaving the military about one year ago.

"But I showed up despite my shock and concern, and I'm glad I did. I asked a lot of questions and got some good information and now I'm thinking about joining the unit here," said Mr. Roman.

Capt. Paul Hubenthal, 482nd Fighter Wing Military Personnel Chief, summed up the day's event for all who attended, "Today we provided an easy opportunity for IRRs to fulfill their responsibilities, and we also paid them for showing up. I believe we delivered a service to everyone and gave them some good information, despite much of the apprehension they expressed about participating in this event."

Of 80 attendees, 20 expressed interest in joining the Air Force reserve, according to Sergeant Vazquez.

[Unregistered]

READ THIS VVVVVVV

Hmm, You know at first after reading some of these post, I now understna dthat some of you are going about this all the wrong way. I served 4 years and am at my last 8 months until i'm finished with my ob"blow"gation. For the past 3 years I have been getting these letters in the mail about updating my information. I for one was not going to. Now I get this muster duty crap, and am required to go. I am not going to fight for a cause that can't possibly be won. The only way this will end is by Civil War.

With all of that said above I look at it like this: by law a recruiter can "not" send you orders to attend a day so they can lay their crap on you. They can only gain access to your phone number to call and request you come in. This letter tells me "business". If they want me to come in and update my information, whats the point? You already have it considering you sent me the letter.

After I got this letter I called a few close buddies in high places still in, and what did they say? Army is planning on bulking up 90+ thousand. Where are they getting these numbers? your guess is as good as mine. I was also told and pretty much had the idea already: Uncle Sam has a reasoning behind everything he does.

I have called the retention officer here at the number on my orders, and he said by no means is this a way to get people here to mobilize them. Do I believe him? a little, he isn't worried about numbers like recruiters.

What am I doing? I for one am going to attened this. I'm too close to being totally done to spend 10 to 15 years behind bars because I chose not to. Whats the wosre that coukl happen? Mobilization? Naw if so that falsifying legal documentaion. if you do attend just remember to read everything......... EVERYTHING even if it takes 6 hours. Do not let them make copies of personal information, ie: drivers license, or social security card. Never sign until you fully understand. Even if you need to come back.

People who are close to being totally done, I have lookad at a few options. If you sign up for the reserves, you can get a 12 month no mobilization contract. This will eat up the rest of your time making certian you stay in country. When moving to the reserves you are not required to reenlist. Basically you go to drills once a month and if you do not like it at the end of you ob"blow"gation, you can get out. Remember your still in country because of the 12 month no mobiliztion crap.

Things I don't know: Can they stop loss you hold you in the reserves just to deploy you because of the 12 months.

Thanks for the time.

angry

My mistake its 24 months.... Might be the best option for those not willing to go back over seas like me. why the hell would I do this? Well I look at it like this: 1. Do nothing and either a. complete my ob"blow"gation with out deployment. or b. be 2 weeks from being out and get some orders for 14 months over seas. !@#$ that. or I could 2. enter the guard or something like that and stay here under the 24 months stabilization rule. finish out my ob"blow"gation of around 7 to 8 months and be totally done with it.

This is getting old. I'll take charge of my own faite, you guys can choose not to go and think nothingof it, but there are consequences.

Thanks again

Angry IRR

[Unregistered]

To the wives and any other wives reading this, the "not even gonna show him the letter" was not as much of a joke as it seems. I wish my wife had done that, now I wouldn't be at war with myself over this. Seriously, if there are punishments for no-shows (more on this later) I don't see how someone who really never knew wouldn't have an airtight defense if they wanted to change his discharge status or something. And you wives of course aren't subject to the UCMJ, so the army's got nothing on you.

So here I am, muster orders in hand, torn in half... half of me is of course on the side of those saying "man up, it's probably just an effort to recruit you anyway, not worth changing discharge status over (esp. with federal law enforcement in my future)". The other half of course, says remember how bureaucratically jacked up the army is, like last time they tried to call back some from the IRR those who didn't show up just slipped through the cracks, and so just because they have your address doesn't mean showing up won't mean fucking yourself by getting yourself on a "list", etcetera. The argument of helping out the active duty guys sounds good on paper, but when you've spent more nights sleeping in the dirt of a combat zone than half of those guys have days in which they handled a weapon... and that the army nearly killed my marriage during both of my year long combat tours... and hell, I'm educating myself to REALLY fight terror, instead of just riding around behind a machine gun until someone decides to blow me up.

Well now to the point... I know it's a little hard to ask this, since this is the first time, but what do you guys see happening to no-shows? Apparently about 90% who've received the letter think nothing much, but anyone got any evidence or military law experience to wager an educated guess? Secondly, any evidence about what to expect? Is this just the exact same thing the other services do regularly, or will this be different? Not to worried by what the Navy and Air Force do, but if this is an "Individual Warrior" transformation experience and they tell me when I can show up to an Infantry refresher course, I'll shit a brick.

Ok, one more question, just for those that have received the muster orders, what MOS? 11B here, and it seems like mostly that and just a few others so far, which is bad- last time IRR called it only attempted to produce certain MOS's that were lacking. So is there a big range of MOS's here? Thanks.

[Unregistered]

25C here. I guess thats what it is now, that they changed my MOS 2 years after being out. ?.?.?.? I don't !@#$ing know.

Can they punish us for not showing? I talked to a long time friend still in, in high places,(as stated above) he said orders like these will not get taken lightly. granted the callups of a while back people slipped through the cracks, but this is different. Army is trying to fix it's mistakes. Leaving me to believe they won't take no shows lightly.

What do I think about this? your guess is as good as mine, but i'm not going to wait for orders after I update my info. I'll do the guard for 6 months and be gone with my 24 months stabilization.

Thanks

Angry IRR

[Unregistered]

One of the first thing kids learn as they get older is when you lie get your story straight. The official Army version of this "muster" states that this is a test group of 5,000 IRR soldiers living within 50 miles of Ft, Lewis, WA; Fort Totten, N.Y.; Fort Meade, Md.; or Los Alamitos, CA. I received my muster orders and I live in San Antonio, TX. Did they forget to mention us or are they conviently giving half the story? I have a friend in Florida who also recieved a muster letter, ordered to report to Jacksonville. How many stations weren't mentioned? How many soldiers are actually in this "TEST GROUP"? What's the real motivation? Can anyone that has ever served in the US ARMY honestly say that in all the time they've served they've never been lied to or mislead? I will go to this muster and if recalled to active duty I will serve to best of my ability. For all those out there that continue to question the patriotism of former soldiers who ponder whether or not they'll answer this muster, RE ENLIST!!! This war has taken enough from me and my family.

[gunner]

Well im a 92F but when i was in iraq 04-05 they didnt even use us. They had private contractors and iraqis doing our job. As for me i was put with cooks, mechanics and other unimportant MOS's and made into a patrol platoon. Im amazed we didnt get killed out there because we didnt know what the fu** we were doing.

[Unregistered]

97e here, just got my letter today.

The way I see it the Army is a raw deal from day one...those who say otherwise tend to be the LIFER crowd. Lazy Incompetent F*cks Expecting Retirement.

I live within 50 miles of the Fort Totten, NY location, but was ordered to report to somewhere else entirely, much closer.

That article is not telling the full story in any way. The letter I got along with the orders states that this is not a mobilization muster (in bold print, two times)...but that doesn't mean that this isn't a qualification for a mobilization muster.

I will go, politely decline any opportunities to re-enlist, and speak my peace to anyone willing to listen.

As for those that have questioned people's service, the most bitter people are those who have given the most...there's a reason why we're angry. Incompetent leadership on all levels, waste of immense proportions (time, money, equipment), and treating grown adults like children are all major detractors. I enlisted for 6 years active, 2 years inactive, and have 6 months left in the IRR. The way I see it, the IRR is now what people were calling it 5 years ago, a backdoor draft.

It's easy to sit somewhere knowing that you'll never have to go anywhere, but it's a whole different feeling when you know that you don't control your own fate...and even worse, that bumbling fools do! I've served with men like Maj. Prilosec (SIC Intentional), and they are the reason I got out.

On that note, there are a number of ways that you can serve your country, but if your intent was to skate through a career until retirement without actually doing anything by way of a deployment, you would have been a better service to your country in the Postal Service. In one-third of the military time you've served, i've done far more than you can do...and I know this by the way you hedge your statements.

I actively talk people out of enlisting, and will until the Army realizes that they can be more capable if they were to eliminate 95% of their officer corps, as well as another 25% or so of the senior enlisted. This ain't your grandfather's war...we shouldn't be fighting it the same way.

[Unregistered]

Here is one thing to keep in mind folks. Did the Army send your muster orders certified mail???? If they did not then there is no way they can confirm you received them and along those same lines no way they can punish you for something they cannot prove you received. In previous IRR call ups for mobilization the orders came by way of certified mail so that the green machine could track those that actually received their orders by way of signature for certified mail. For those of you that keep asking about punishment I would say to you that there is very little chance of anything happening if you no-show. For those of us in civilian careers that require certain amounts of honesty/integrity such as law enforcement you may want to think twice about no-showing since integrity violations tend to be career killers in our line of work, i.e. change agencies or maybe promote and have to go through another polygraph. What am I going to do? I'll show up and mock any foolish recruiter who attempts to use scare tactics to try and get me to re-up in some way, shape, or form. As a response to another post I saw here telling you not to give them any copies of anything I say that the less appealing you make yourself to the army the less likely they are to want you back, things like education, training, and good physical appearance/health make you much more desirable and may be things you want to keep omitted from your record. I'm not suggesting you falsify records but you might now want to tell them about that great college education you now have and the awesome physical shape you have kept yourself in.

A response to the Major who started this post: You are ignorant. Before anyone else posted anything on this thread you passed judgement on them with your comments. In my experience it is people like you who caused the best and brightest to leave the army either active or reserve. In most cases the best officers I ever met were either prior enlisted or knew how to listen well to their enlisted soldiers. You discrace yourself with your poorly thought out comments and discrace the enlisted world for having apparently forgotten everything it taught you before becoming an officer. FYI I had the choice to become either and chose enlisted where I became an NCO. My thoughts on that were if I wanted to eventually become a career officer I needed to be a troop being led by one first.

Two time combat vet 11B2P here who did his IRR homework before leaving and spread the wealth of that knowledge to all his soldiers.

[Unregistered]

NOTICE: I was recalled to active duty out of the IRR 2.5 years ago and was reclassed and sent to Iraq. The most important thing I learned during the recall process is that I was one of few who showed up out of the many who were sent orders and those that didn't show up? Nothing.... One of the soldiers working at one of our initial mob stations told me that they were told to expect something like 75% of the actual number and that the army had called up more than they needed because they expected a large number of people not to show up. The trick here is... once you show up, your SOL, but if you don't... nothing.

I also received muster orders, you all have fun but count me out... but do please let us all know what went on and if you can any idea if we'll all be heading to the desert, again....

[Unregistered]

I can confirm the part about certified mail....it's in that regulation that covers the reserve component. Unless the mail was certified they have no way of proving you received it.

[Unregistered]

Ok, one more question, just for those that have received the muster orders, what MOS? 11B here, and it seems like mostly that and just a few others so far, which is bad- last time IRR called it only attempted to produce certain MOS's that were lacking. So is there a big range of MOS's here? Thanks.




FYI... I'm no 11B by a long shot... I'm a 31F or whatever they changed it to. 25F it is now.... I just got the orders yesterday. Apparently they are looking for anyone, ground pounder or not. I barely passed H/W while I was in while using as many loopholes as I could...... no idea how a physician could clear me in now with how much beer I drink.

[Unregistered]

11c (mortar) Here...i Got My Orders Today And I Will Be One Of The Many ( I Hope ) That Will Answer The Call. I Dont Know What Their Plans For Us But My Buddy And I Already Talked About It, And We Are Answering The Call. I Got Out Two Years Ago And My Buddy Got Out Last Year. Im In Law Enforcement Now And Im Basically Doing The Same Thing I Did When I Was Over There ( Not As Bad ) But Basically The Same Field. Heres The Thing, I Will Go To This Muster Duty But I Wont Be Willing To Be Sent Over There If They Ask. I Will Refuse Every Recruiting Tactics They Got.

[Unregistered]

0 USC Sec. 12303 01/02/2006

-EXPCITE-
TITLE 10 - ARMED FORCES
Subtitle E - Reserve Components
PART II - PERSONNEL GENERALLY
CHAPTER 1209 - ACTIVE DUTY

-HEAD-
Sec. 12303. Ready Reserve: members not assigned to, or
participating satisfactorily in, units

-STATUTE-
(a) Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the President may
order to active duty any member of the Ready Reserve of an armed
force who -

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(1) is not assigned to, or participating satisfactorily in, a
unit of the Ready Reserve;
(2) has not fulfilled his statutory reserve obligation; and
(3) has not served on active duty for a total of 24 months.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(b) A member who is ordered to active duty under this section may
be required to serve on active duty until his total service on
active duty equals 24 months. If his enlistment or other period of
military service would expire before he has served the required
period under this section, it may be extended until he has served
the required period.

That is the statute allowing the President to call up those in IRR to serve on active duty. The statute goes on to designate the SEC DEF and others to do the calling up as well. I signed the obligatory 8 year contract, fully understanding what that meant when I joined. I was supposed to do 4 active and 4 IRR. I was stop lossed for a deployment to Iraq, making my active duty time just short of 5 years. I have been on IRR since. Therefore, my TOTAL SERVICE ON ACTIVE DUTY is well over 24 months. Now, I am not yet a lawyer, but I do have some training, and when I read this statute, it says that we can be called up if ALL 3 conditions of the section I blocked out with dashes are not met. I know this because it uses the word AND, which means including. Therefore, since numbers 1 and 2 do not apply to me, I must look to number 3. My 8 year committment is up in under 3 months. Therefore, if I were to be recalled, they would only be able to keep me in until my MSO is up, because my total service on active duty would already have reached 24 months. That statute does not say ANYWHERE that you can be recalled for 24 months, whether that goes beyond when your MSO expires or not. It says a TOTAL SERVICE ON ACTIVE DUTY. Now, I'm wondering if anyone reads anything different or if I seem to have this correct.

Further, while I will do everything in my ability to get out of being recalled, that does not make me a piece of crap or a waste. I am not necessarily a disgruntled soldier. I have 3 MONTHS left until my 8 years is up, and I have successfully transitioned into a lifestyle that cannot afford to be interrupted by a recall. I have asked the army for NOTHING since being discharged from active duty. I did not join the veterans life insurance group, I have not used any military medical facilities. I have not even used the local veterans gym which I am entitled to use. I ask nothing but to be left alone. I served my time, decided it wasnt for me, and have quietly moved on. I wish the army would do the same.

[Unregistered]

Oh, and I was a 96R, which does not exist anymore.

[Unregistered]

i have only met the number three in that sequence. i do not plan on signing up for anything so i am planning on getting into an argument when i go to the muster. hope they got earplugs!

[Unregistered]

Yeah, kind of a catch-22. I also remember reading in the Army Times about folks that met they're 8 years, but weren't allowed out of the IRR. Something about time of war or critical MOS...

Iraq Vet 03-04
Ar Ramadi

[Unregistered]

signing up for something or turning it down is i guess the only rights IRR people have. or can they sign you up without your consent? it is a catch 22 but not really that bad seeing you can have your say. i wonder if i should bring my VA paperwork. they found things the army never saw or did not want to tell me about. anyways it totals a good 40%. what do you all think i should do?

[Unregistered]

63m here and I don't know if going or not will hurt me but I plan on being there. If they just pitch recruitment at me then I'll take my money and go if they tell me something else then so be it. Also I am in dallas way far from those places lol...

[Unregistered]

Ex. Ord. No. 13120. Ordering Selected Reserve and Certain Individual Ready Reserve Members of Armed Forces to Active Duty

Ex. Ord. No. 13120, Apr. 27, 1999, 64 F.R. 23007, as amended by Ex. Ord. No. 13286, § 14, Feb. 28, 2003, 68 F.R. 10623, provided:
By the authority vested in me as President by the Constitution and the laws of the United States of America, including sections 121 and 12304 of title 10, United States Code, I hereby determine that it is necessary to augment the active armed forces of the United States for the effective conduct of operations in and around the former Yugoslavia related to the conflict in Kosovo. Further, under the stated authority, I hereby authorize the Secretary of Defense, and the Secretary of Homeland Security with respect to the Coast Guard when it is not operating as a service in the Department of the Navy, under their respective jurisdictions, to order to active duty any units, and any individual members not assigned to a unit organized to serve as a unit, of the Selected Reserve, or any member in the Individual Ready Reserve mobilization category and designated as essential under regulations prescribed by the Secretary concerned, and to terminate the service of those units and members ordered to active duty.
This order is intended only to improve the internal management of the executive branch and is not intended to create any right or benefit, substantive or procedural, enforceable at law by a party against the United States, its agencies, its officers, or any person.

[Unregistered]

§ 10144. Ready Reserve: Individual Ready Reserve
How Current is This?
(a) Within the Ready Reserve of each of the reserve components there is an Individual Ready Reserve. The Individual Ready Reserve consists of those members of the Ready Reserve who are not in the Selected Reserve or the inactive National Guard.
(b)
(1) Within the Individual Ready Reserve of each reserve component there is a category of members, as designated by the Secretary concerned, who are subject to being ordered to active duty involuntarily in accordance with section 12304 of this title. A member may not be placed in that mobilization category unless—
(A) the member volunteers for that category; and
(B) the member is selected for that category by the Secretary concerned, based upon the needs of the service and the grade and military skills of that member.
(2) A member of the Individual Ready Reserve may not be carried in such mobilization category of members after the end of the 24-month period beginning on the date of the separation of the member from active service.
(3) The Secretary shall designate the grades and military skills or specialities of members to be eligible for placement in such mobilization category.
(4) A member in such mobilization category shall be eligible for benefits (other than pay and training) as are normally available to members of the Selected Reserve, as determined by the Secretary of Defense.

[Unregistered]

MAJ A.F. PRISELAC II seems like a tool !!! Get a clue.... You sound like a typical officer. I bet your fat and cant even past the apft. Whats the Officer's Creed ... "Do what I say, not what I do."

[Unregistered]

C'mon stay on topic. You and I both know you'll find bad/clueless folks at any pay grade. Question of the day is what (if anything) will happen if you don't show. I figure that if you don't show / ever check in, they won't let you out at the end of the 8 years. Not that that's even a guarantee...

Iraq Vet 03-04
Ar Ramadi

[PFC 3yrs AD]

I've already mentioned this per regulation the Army must be able to prove that you got the orders (via certified mail) in order to do anything.

[Unregistered]

71L Here, or now it is 42L/A, just got my orders as well. It does state for me to show up at my local Reserve unit. This is my situation. I signed up in 2002 as a Reservist after 9/11, with the utmost patriotic reasons in mind, (I was in NYC when 9/11 happened) and of course the first day I reported to my Reserve unit,,, what a disappointment.

Either way, put up with it for a little while until I got injured, (not LOD related) which put me in a Permanent profile/P3 PULHES rating, which made me stand infront of the MMRB to fight to stay in the ARMY. Which I did, because I wanted to stay in it at the time. After realizing that I cannot go Airborne, or to Re-Classify my MOS, I lost all motivation, and wanted to get discharged or U'd out. The alternative was to go IRR, which did happen as of August last year. My ETS is 2010, which gives me a few more years to go in the IRR,,,

I don't want to go to the MUSTER and give them a reason to activate/deploy me. Since I have a P3 profile anyways, I don't think they would want or need me, but you never know,,, it is all about the body count nowadays, isn't it?

Still wondering what the remification would be for not showing up? I understand the Certified Mail argument, but would ARMY put those of us that did not show on the list and then punish us for not showing up?

[Unregistered]

Has anyone ACTUALLY gone to this muster?
Sounds like no one has any solid answers....it's all maybe, suppose to be, this reg. says this, that reg. says that... but you all know they make their own rules as they go along.
Has anyone spoken to any legal professional who specializes in UCMJ/Military law?

[Unregistered]

My husband received his orders today. Personally I think it is a ploy to get as many there as possible and send them to active duty. My husband's brother is an Active Duty Marine and has been deployed for the 2nd time to Iraq in the matter of 1 year which is ridiculous. My husband served a year in Iraq when all of this started and the went on to complete his service obligation of 3 years active duty and has been out for 2 years and started a family and gotten a job....What does this all have to do with the subject? He has almost 3 years left of his obligation HAS A NEWBORN IS A NEWLYWED JUST STARTED HIS CAREER IN LAW ENFORCEMENT they want their IRR soldiers to lose what little of a life they have built since getting the hell out of the Army. He had it bad enough when the war started and he is just trying to forget about the year he spent in hell and it has been 3 years and he still hasnt let go of the hell he was in.

[Unregistered]

Barracks lawyers --- where are you?!

[Unregistered]

From what I have been reading and what other people have displayed about the wording there really seems to be no ramifications. No where does it say punishable under UCMJ. If you show up you will be subject to UCMJ, under Title 10, but otherwise who is to say that you received it.

[Unregistered]

C'mon stay on topic. You and I both know you'll find bad/clueless folks at any pay grade. Question of the day is what (if anything) will happen if you don't show. I figure that if you don't show / ever check in, they won't let you out at the end of the 8 years. Not that that's even a guarantee...

Iraq Vet 03-04
Ar Ramadi

Thank you. As an officer that served for 5 years, I am relieved to find out that there is somebody that recognizes that not all officers are/were like MAJ Priselac. You hit the nail right on the head...at every grade you will find shitbags. It pains me to hear so many of you guys talk so poorly about officers. At the same time, having seen it myself, I understand and that was one of the reasons I got out. Just please don't group all officers into one category. There are many that are pretty good guys that will do anything for their troops. Best of luck with this muster garbage.

[Unregistered]

One of the first thing kids learn as they get older is when you lie get your story straight. The official Army version of this "muster" states that this is a test group of 5,000 IRR soldiers living within 50 miles of Ft, Lewis, WA; Fort Totten, N.Y.; Fort Meade, Md.; or Los Alamitos, CA. I received my muster orders and I live in San Antonio, TX. Did they forget to mention us or are they conviently giving half the story? I have a friend in Florida who also recieved a muster letter, ordered to report to Jacksonville. How many stations weren't mentioned? How many soldiers are actually in this "TEST GROUP"? What's the real motivation? Can anyone that has ever served in the US ARMY honestly say that in all the time they've served they've never been lied to or mislead? I will go to this muster and if recalled to active duty I will serve to best of my ability. For all those out there that continue to question the patriotism of former soldiers who ponder whether or not they'll answer this muster, RE ENLIST!!! This war has taken enough from me and my family.

We are in Florida and my husband was ordered to report to the TAMPA UNIT so THEY HAVE LIED ALREADY!!!

[Unregistered]

i live in stpete, florida and i got my letter today.

so definately out of the "test group"..

i think they are doing eeverybody now.

look for yours soon.

i am a 2 year iraq veteran with the 3 ACR and stop lossed for 180 days of active duty with 5 years of active duty.

have fun.

u all going in again hahahaha

me too..

ill see u there.

[Unregistered]

Look AR 135-91 para 4-6 section B number 2b. It states that "When a soldier fails to report for muster duty and has not been excused by proper authority, a second notice to
report will be sent by certified mail (return receipt requested)."

It seems to me that's interpreted that if you don't show, they'll send you a certified order. Unless they do that, you can't be considered an "unsatisfactory participant" meaning they can't involuntarily seperate you with an OTH.

[Unregistered]

We will wait till they send it certified then especially if he cant be held liable until a certified letter is sent. I would rather see what it is about than to be one of those called to active duty at the muster. My brother in law while in PLDC said that a Muster was ordered as a 1 day thing and that the soldiers there were ordered to 18 mth active duty not his unit they were members of the IRR so I wont allow it!

[Unregistered]

We will wait till they send it certified then especially if he cant be held liable until a certified letter is sent. I would rather see what it is about than to be one of those called to active duty at the muster. My brother in law while in PLDC said that a Muster was ordered as a 1 day thing and that the soldiers there were ordered to 18 mth active duty not his unit they were members of the IRR so I wont allow it!

They are not calling anyone back at this muster!! Its just to get accountability and have you update your information. After that who knows whats going to happen. Your guess is as good as mine. If you don't want to go back, LOOK AT THIS.......

24 months stabilization if you join reserves or guard. If you are under 24 months to finish your ob"blow"gation, seriously consider this. I said it before and it seems no one is reading it. Weigh out your options. I'd rather do 2 years of 1 weekend a month then get called back for 14 months away from my family.

Even so once after this muster i'll be at 6 months left till I am done, So even if they stop loss me after my 6 months they can't deploy me for 18 more months. By that time they stop loss will be lifted. How do I know? Our fearless leader will be out of office.

If your considering not going to this muster, you had better reconsider. If your being paid for it it is considered duty. Not showing up is considered AWOL, or deserting. In a time of WAR, going AWOL or deserting is punishable by death. However I don't see this happening. I see them trying to get this IRR under wraps before they can't keep track of anyone. On that note I am to believe they will seek imprisionment.

Take it for what its worth. But we all got out for the same reason and I would hate to se my comrads here be punished for something the military has obviously assed up. Good luck everyone.

Once I finish I'll post to tell what has happned. Mine = 26 July, however the guy i'm doing this with said I can call and get it whenever i want. And with me it's individual. not with a group.

Angry IRR

[Unregistered]

Mine's on 16 July. I'll post what happens. Good luck all.

Iraq Vet 03-04
Ar Ramadi

[Unregistered]

ahh the army, well yes, if you just turn a cheek to all the bullshit, then it is quite beneficial yes

well im not going, im in new orleans and they want me to go to maryland

[Unregistered]

13D in Maryland here.. I just received my orders to report for muster duty at Ft. Meade on August 18th. It appears that I am one of the rare few that actually received orders to an installation that is within 50 miles of where they live. I've contacted some other buddies that are on IRR, but I haven't heard anything from them yet. As far as being a no-show, I don't think that official orders should be taken lightly. I'm not passing judgment on people who aren't going to report, I'm just saying that I'll be there (and if I see a recruiter, they'll be getting the cold shoulder).

Thanks to all for posting here; I was really freaking out until I found this board on a Google search. Please keep us informed with developments.

[Unregistered]

Fuck the Army and a damned muster. It makes no damn sense. WTF is a muster gonna do? If they wanna call you back they're gonna do it. Why call everyone in( from different locations) just to get their info and shit, just for so called testing. Thats a bunch of bullshit. C'mon now do you realy expect pple to believe this shit. Which is what the army is full of. Exactly why I got out. And wanna have the nerve to pay $176. All it is about is screwing people in the end. Im suprised ppl are still enlising. They feed you so much bullshit it's unreal. They say your supposed to do this one day a year, well thats funny I been out for quite some time now, and I never got a letter before.

kiss ass and drive on fuckers..

[Unregistered]

on the good note:::

if they did it by mail you get paid nothing..


this way u at least make 176 bucks..


id rtather make the 176 dollars personally.

bvut then again my IRR station is only a few miles away. to those of you that have to travel that sucks.

[Unregistered]

I'm in Pennsylvania and I got my orders to muster recently. I'm currently receiving disability from the VA and plan on filing claims to get more. I've done some research on the subject of IRR Callups and all legal advise that I've found has said to fight the orders through official channels. This means filing a claim for exemption from IRR. You don't need much to have it approved, a disability claim for one. Also, viable personal or financial reasons on why you can't take part in the IRR. Keep in mind, the sources I'm speaking of are all 3rd party legal professionals. Lawyers to be exact. They say to file every thing you can to get out of it, ignoring the orders only makes it worse. Also, I believe it was made policy earlier this year that anyone failing to report will be reported as AWOL. I'm not sure if this pertains to these muster orders or just to an actual callup. Does anybody else have more information on how to get out of this through official channels?

I hate the Army just as much as anybody else that served on Active Duty as an infantryman. I was sent to Iraq twice with the 101st Airborne to fight a war based on lies. I think I've done my duty, and to say I signed a contract for 8 years is a completely uneducated response. 5 years ago when I signed up, the IRR wasn't used the way it is now. The recruiters that explained it to me as a 19 year old kid told me and everybody else that it was a last resort institution, and that the chances of being called up were nonexistant. The fact is, the Army is in such a desperate position right now that they're willing to lie about anything to get the men they need to continue their fruitless attempt in the middle east.

[Unregistered]

First wanted to say thanks to everyone who has posted their thoughts and opinions in this thread about this muster business.

In my Army Life, I was a 31F, stationed as part of the now non-existant 123rd Signal Battalion that was once part of the 3rd Infantry Division in Fort Stewart. Deployed in early 2003 to Kuwait that soon turned into OIF, which ended for me 9 months later after the big push into Baghdad. Left active duty in April of 2004 to pursue a life of normalcy after my 4 year stint in the Army. I was done, I wasn't going to ever look back at the military for anything.

Then last year, smack dab in the middle of my 2nd year at the UW here in Seattle, I got the worse news an IRR soldier could get: Orders for Mobilization. I thought my life was over. I had to leave school in the middle of the quarter, move out of the dorms and room at a friend's house until I had to leave. I had to return to the East Coast and report to Fort Jackson. There, I was told I would have to reorganize with a new unit for deployment to Iraq for more than a year. I honestly was devastated, but there was a silver lining to this. During the screenings, I had discussed medical problems that I had occur during Active Duty and during my Iraq deployment.

I was then told I was unfit for Active Duty due to my conditions.

Probably the best news I could ever hear right about then.

I was sent home, wasting a month of my life under this IRR mess that was apparent last year. They had me stop my education, and once I came back, I couldn't just go back to school since they had messed up my scheduling. I had to spend the summer in a full-time job to get by and even now, I'm about to return to school this fall. Thinking life is going to go back to normal and continue my education.

Today, I got a call from this same friend that took me in after last year's debacle, saying I have "Muster" orders that just arrived at their house. My heart sank when I first heard the message, thinking the same crap was going to happen again this year... "What the hell is this muster crap for?" I was thinking. After reading this thread, I have more of an idea on what this garbage is about.

I'm still at a crossroads on what I should do. I understand the certified mail stuff, and that they will send a certified version of this muster if I choose to not respond to this one. So, a decision needs to be made here. I feel, among others that have worse disabilities than myself, that the Army is wasting time and money by "mustering" back those who are not fit for Active Duty and that it is just a crock that they'd do this just for "accountability". Why can't they just use the phone like they always do, you know? It has to be a ploy to get people to come back, I just know it. Myself? I'm not sure what I should do. But if I do end up going, I won't be like the naive 18 year old I was, when I signed up fresh out of high school. Try whatever they might, I won't buckle to any method any recruiters may use to get myself to sign up again.

Oh, I had a question too. I signed up officially in June of 2000, as that is when my basic training started. Let's see... 8 years from there should be....June 2008, am I right? Then why the hell do I have until November 2008 stated in my "contract" for my obligation period?

Restless in Seattle.

[Unregistered]

It sounds like the only "punishment" that can be received for an "unsatisfactory participant" in the IRR (either doesn't show for muster or doesn't respond via mail for updated information) is being called back to active duty for 45 days, or an other than honorable.

Anyway, the only time one can be subject to UCMJ is while on active duty or at the muster, so why even bother showing? Worse case scenario, you get called back to active duty for the 45... but you still refuse to go. Then it really comes down to an OTH, and what difference does that really make? How many employers have even cared about your discharge status, or asked for your DD214? And then you lose your funeral benefits? I can live with that (literally).

OEF vet here, and I'm ignoring this until the next development of the Global War on Veterans.

[Unregistered]

To Restless in Seattle: Look at your initial contract and if you did indeed sign in June 2000 then there is a mistake and you need to address it right away. It should not say November. Call up HRC and talk to your career counselor, find out what you have to do, and STAY ON TOP OF THEM!!!!!

I am a 42 L/A and I received my muster orders today. It seems as though a lot of us are being used a lab rats in their test groups, huh?!! I anticpate the entire thing to be highly unorganized since the Army is running it and it's the first time that they are doing it. I got out of active duty 2/06 and i have quite a ways to go in my IRR. I, like many of you, am weary about going to this bullshit. However, I took a physical in December through the FEDHEALS (has anyone else dealt with this bullshit) and the doctor did not even examine me. He asked me how the Navy was (excuse me.....did you even read my paperwork?) and didn't even go over my medical problems with me. I have no idea what he signed. I was then told that if i didn't take a pap smear that I would be subject to UCMJ......this was after I told them I couldn't due to that time of the month. I told HRC I wanted to appeal my physical, they said no, and I am still at Control Group Reinforcement status. They don't seem to give a shit about my 60% VA rating....if they even know about it since they don't inform the IRR if you have a disability. You would think a cross system would be in place. So i am going to this muster shit so that they know about my plastic shoulder which wouldn't have happened if they had medavac me from iraq........but my "commander" thought i was faking my injury to get out of iraq.....and they had no mri capabilities in '03. i'm not expecting much as my friend with a titanium rod in his arm, and another in his spine, both were found fit for duty. And my other friend got a general disarge when he told them he was addicted to pot after getting called up from the irr. he told them he couldn't function without it. as for me.....i can just get pregnant......i did the patriotism shit after 9/11 ready to kick terrorist ass.....told me girls can't join the infantry......you can't be an mp without a driver's license.......well i sure as hell wasn't pushing paper on guard duty in iraq. anyway...i won't get all bitter....it would be much appreciated to those going in early july to fill us all in on the day's events. and remember: play nice with the recruiter's because you are under UCMJ that day. so make sure you tell them Fuck off.....SERGEANT!! LOL!!

muster this
nyc
iraq '03-'04

[Unregistered]

Who feels just a bit paranoid about the whole thing??? You know "someone" is reading this thread on the inside...

I feel stupid for even feeling this way, b/c im not into the whole conspiracy, crazy gov't thing, but with the peoples we have in charge now...wouldn't put anything past them.

Everyone, just do what they can to keep outta trouble....thats the main thing .....and for those of you who don't need the vet. benefits...im jealous, do what you have to do...

[Unregistered]

I took this from the HRC ST Louis website. If you have AKO you can sign in and see it yourself at:
https://www.hrc.army.mil/site/protect/Reserve/soldierservices/programs/irr/musterduty.htm

Readiness Muster Outline and Resources

The outline below is intended for use by Army Reserve Support Personnel who will be executing the Readiness Musters for IRR Soldiers. If you are responsible for conducting an IRR Readiness Muster, this outline will assist you in conducting your duties. (Note: some links lead to files in .PDF format. If you are unable to view these files, you may need to install a .PDF viewer.)

1. Welcome and thank the Soldier
2. Have Soldier watch MG Byrne's video
3. If necessary, have Soldier get AKO account (https://www.us.army.mil/)
4. Have Soldier complete Individual Warrior Virtual Screening Portal (IW-VSP), or if unable to access the IW-VSP, complete the optional Manual Submission of Readiness Screening.
5. Go through IRR Orientation Brief with the Soldier
6. Have Soldier watch "Army Reserve, Best of Both Worlds" video
7. Provide unit training opportunity brief
8. Give the Soldier the IRR Orientation Handbook
9. Have the Soldier fill out Initial Medical Review DA Form 7349 and Functional Capacity Certificate SF 507.
10. Have the Soldier fill out Direct Deposit form SF 1199A (Soldiers require a routing number and bank account number)
11. Have the Soldier fill out an Active Duty Certificate of Performance AHRC Form 3924. Make sure the Support Personnel signs the AHRC Form 3924
12. Explain how much pay the Soldier will receive and by what means
13. Question and answer
14. Scan and Email the SF 1199A and AHRC Form 3924 to AHRC-RMB-S, Resource Management, (hrc-stl.reservepay@conus.army.mil) or fax to 314-592-0485 or alternate 314-592-0211.
15. Provide any additional supporting documentation to HRC Liaison Team.
16. Thank the Soldier

They have 2 type of musters going on. This is the personnel accountability outline(This is the one i got)
1. Welcome and thank the soldier
2. If necessary, have Soldier get AKO account (https://www.us.army.mil/)
3. Have Soldier complete Individual Warrior Virtual Screening Portal (IW-VSP) or, if unable to access the IW-VSP, complete the optional Manual Submission of Readiness Screening. When using the manual screening, the Soldier should mail the screening to CDR, HRC-St. Louis, Reserve Way ATTN: PLM-P St. Louis, MO 63132
4. Provide unit training opportunity brief
5. Have Soldier complete Direct Deposit Form SF 1199A (Soldiers require a routing number and bank account number)
6. Complete the Active Duty Certificate of Performance, AHRC Form 3924. Make sure the Support Personnel signs the AHRC Form 3924.
7. Scan and Email the SF 1199A and AHRC Form 3924 to AHRC-RMB-S, Resource Management, (hrc-stl.reservepay@conus.army.mil) or fax to 314-592-0485 or alternate 314-592-0211.
8. Go through IRR Orientation Brief with the Soldier
9. Give Soldier the IRR Orientation Handbook
10. Explain how much the Soldier will receive and by what means
11. Question and answer
12. Thank Soldier


This is guidance for the retention NCO's that will be handling all the process... It looks like a recruiting thing to me specialy since you have to report to the Retention Office?? Got my orders yesterday 25P here. I am not going to ignore the orders.

[Unregistered]

Is there no end to this?

My unit is back for tour 3 and soldiers are already dying on their third go around. Do you know what that means? That means by fighting any sort of activiation through the IRR I'm fighting for my life. I WILL FIGHT FOR MY LIFE! Not for Iraqis, who kill eachother like barbaric animals.

[Unregistered]

there will be no end to this. you should have realized that by now. this is why we all got out maybe you should too when you get the chance. or just wait for the president to leave me is the ass that started this unjustified war.

[Unregistered]

my old unit is going back too... the 3d ACR in september.

i was with them in OIF 1

and then again in OIF 3

thats 2 years for me.

thank god i got out... that would suck to go back a 3rd year...

it seems the world keeps moving but when your in iraq... your life stands still.

then u come home and everything has changed and yet your just older.......

and i found out that when u come back some people hate you...

it happens...


but i have a baby on the way in september :) so im finally starting my life that i have waited so long to start.

:)

[Unregistered]

You wanna talk about honoring your 8 year contract. Since when has the Army ever held up their end. If they are having problems recruiting then they should tap some of these units that still haven't gone. Leave us alone. Unless we are running out of Troops and getting our asses literally handed to us, I'm not going back. I have decided that they can take their muster and stick it up their ass. I have no benefits from them except the GI Bill that I paid for. So, as far as I see it I don't owe them shit. And I know all you hard core loyalists are going to give me shit for this but I don't care. I was a scared, naive, stupid 17y/o when I signed that contract and if you guys remember they weren't eager to entertain questions. Hell, they told me I was going to be a Lab Technician and they made me a Combat Medic! I only have 3 months left well 2 and some change and by the time they get me mobilized uniformed and shipped to a deployment training center that time will be up. So, I'm saving tax dollars by not showing up. Ok, thats enough for now. Oh, and to the first poster, Major whoever, What was it you did for the Army? Was it picking up pieces of soldiers and holding bloody hands while they died screaming for their mother?. That shit takes its toll.

[Unregistered]

Hi Guys, I posted a reply a few posts back. (I'm the guy from Pennsylvania.) I just call the HRC in St. Louis and told them that I wanted to be exempt from the muster due to my VA Disability claim. (I only get 10%) Here is verbatim how the conversation went:

HRC: Can I please have your social security number?

Me: xxx-xx-xxxx

HRC: Patrick xxxxxxx?

Me: Thats me...

HRC: And you don't want to take part in the muster?

Me: Thats right...

HRC: Alright, you're exempt due to medical reasons.

I just called my local muster point to double check my status and they said that I've been taken off the rolls. I don't think this exempts me from future musters, but I don't have to schedule one in July. I was incredibly scepticle at first, because the Army generally screws you at any possible oppurtunity. But when you call, you're talking to a low level NCO, not some jackass Officer with a romantic view of duty to God and Country. I think everybody should give this a try, even if it doesn't happen as easily for everyone else, its worth a try. Let me know if anyone else has any success...

[CPT America]

You people are busy peeling back the onion and not thinking outside the box. Bottom line, does anyone know if they piss test?

[Unregistered]

I received my muster orders and was told to set up an appointment between 25 July to 1 August. The thing is my IRR ends 29 July. Should I not go or shoudl I go on 1 August, so when I show up they can't touch me...but at least I showed up?

Any educated suggestions would help. oh, and can they call me back even after IRR ended or am I good to go?

Thanks :)

[Unregistered]

I received orders for the muster as well (27D, Ft. Belvoir) and while I find it frustrating and annoying, this "muster" was announced last year as part of the Secretary of the Army's IRR transformation to the "Individual Warrior" program in an effort to reorganize and restructure the IRR. It really shouldn't come as a surprise to anyone nor do I think it's an ambush to get people ready for some upcoming deployment. I still haven't responded to my orders, but I probably will. If and when it comes to fighting an actual mobilization, I'll do that with everything I've got. I really think that in addition to updating your individual profile using thier new automated IW system (whatever that is....), you'll probably get a recruiters there trying to scare you into joing the reserves. I fully expect them to say that since I was included in this muster, that I'm on the "hot hot list" (a term I heard over a year ago.....) to be mobilized. Also, I don't have a lot of faith in the organizational skills of the Army as a whole to be finished with this test process anytime soon, especially since they want to have a working version of this muster for the entire IRR by 2013. That gives them 6 years to figure it out.

Of course, if they wanted to mobilize you they would just do that, they don't have to hide behind the auspices of a "muster". And for those who have disabilities or other circumstances that would preclude them from being mobilized, this is your best opportunity to get out of the IRR altogether. I know in preveious mentions of the new IW transformation the SecArmy fully expced some 10,000 or so soldierI'm banking on my very overstrength MOS to save me from ever being activiated, but you never know. I'm just hoping that by attending this muster that I'm not maknig myself that much more eligible to be deployed. 9 months to go....

BAM

"On March 22, 2006, the Army announced that the Secretary of the Army had endorsed an integrated and systemic approach to reset and reinvigorate the Individual Ready Reserve (IRR). The Army’s strategy focuses on transforming the IRR into the Army’s leading ‘prior service talent bank’ through several programmed initiatives as it builds the future force.

The Army plan called for immediately developing an identity with increased esprit de corps for members of the IRR by creating a special category within the IRR for its ready and qualified IRR Soldiers. This special category was to be called the Individual Warrior (IW) Category. Soldiers in the IW Category would be required to maintain a higher state of readiness by participating in virtual musters, attending annual readiness processing and, through managed training opportunities, maintaining proficiency in their military occupational specialty. The IW Category would focus on elevating individual expectation management, proactive career management, unique training opportunities, and promote continuum of service towards a military retirement."

[Unregistered]

I received my muster orders and was told to set up an appointment between 25 July to 1 August. The thing is my IRR ends 29 July. Should I not go or shoudl I go on 1 August, so when I show up they can't touch me...but at least I showed up?

Any educated suggestions would help. oh, and can they call me back even after IRR ended or am I good to go?

Thanks :)

I wouldn't call or go at all. They're not going to activate you or anything (it would be a public relations/congressional nightmare for the Army), so you'd be wasting your time unless you want to show up just to see what opportunities there are and that sort of thing (and you were considering staying in). In addition, you're good to go once your IRR obligation runs out. If they try to call you back, I would get an attorney. They'll definitely try to lure you to the reserves though, but once my obligation was up, I would get some kind of order against solicitations and phone calls.

BAM

[Unregistered]

Don't listen to the guy who said to call HRC and tell them about your disability...all that does IS CONFIRM YOUR RECEIPT of the muster orders!!!

Just a word to the wise...I am planning on going but thought I'd give his advice a try since I am medically disabled as well.

Talked to 2 people at HRC...both were complete assholes.

[Unregistered]

In my haste I screwed up a sentence. The paragraph I typed above should read:

Of course, if they wanted to mobilize you they would just do that, they don't have to hide behind the auspices of a "muster". And for those who have disabilities or other circumstances that would preclude them from being mobilized, this is your best opportunity to get out of the IRR altogether. I know in preveious mentions of the new IW transformation the SecArmy fully expced some 10,000 or so soldiers to be removed from the IRR as a result of the new IW approach. I'm banking on my very overstrength MOS (and the fact that I'm a skill level one) to save me from ever being activiated, but you never know. I'm just hoping that by attending this muster that I'm not maknig myself that much more eligible to be deployed. 9 months to go....


BAM

[Unregistered]

I got orders about 4 months ago and I did go in. It was no big deal. I filled out the medical paperwork they sent to my house and I took it with me to the clinic I was ordered to report to. The doctor checked me out and I was on my way. I have 6 months left in IRR, and I was worried about showing up for this "mandatory physical" as my orders stated. I have a 3 year old son and I have created a really good life for myself since getting out, but I knew what I signed up for when I joined, and I am not one to shirk my responsibilities. No one forced me to join.

The Doc told me that she had not seen anyone called up from IRR. She said that those who were activated had indicated on their paperwork that they wanted to be activated. She told me to read everything very carefully before I signed it because some people had inadvertently signed up for an extension in the IRR.
The only thing that I have received from the IRR since are the results of my AIDS test and other medical results of the physical. l actually felt better when I left the office because I had completed my obligation.

Word to the wise: If you do choose to go to the Muster, read everything thoroughly and be very careful what you sign!!!!

P.S. I did not go in uniform.

[Unregistered]

I got orders about 4 months ago and I did go in. It was no big deal. I filled out the medical paperwork they sent to my house and I took it with me to the clinic I was ordered to report to. The doctor checked me out and I was on my way. I have 6 months left in IRR, and I was worried about showing up for this "mandatory physical" as my orders stated. I have a 3 year old son and I have created a really good life for myself since getting out, but I knew what I signed up for when I joined, and I am not one to shirk my responsibilities. No one forced me to join.

The Doc told me that she had not seen anyone called up from IRR. She said that those who were activated had indicated on their paperwork that they wanted to be activated. She told me to read everything very carefully before I signed it because some people had inadvertently signed up for an extension in the IRR.
The only thing that I have received from the IRR since are the results of my AIDS test and other medical results of the physical. l actually felt better when I left the office because I had completed my obligation.

Word to the wise: If you do choose to go to the Muster, read everything thoroughly and be very careful what you sign!!!!

P.S. I did not go in uniform.

The current muster is part of a new initiative and as someone posted earlier is more to update personnel records (as is stated on my orders) and not necessarily to include a medical examination. In fact, nothing in my orders leads me to believe I'll be there longer than an hour or so. They're deploying (no pun intended) a new "virtual screening system" to help organize the IRR. I expect to get the reserve pitch and a lot of talk about the kinds of opportunities out there, but I absolutely will not sign anything.

[Unregistered]

Ok, I'm not sure what part of the Army you were in, but if you think you can get away without being there "any longer than an hour or so," you and CPT America need to get together for your drug test. Care to wager your $176 stipend on your faith in the organization of the IRR?

[Unregistered]

Ok, I'm not sure what part of the Army you were in, but if you think you can get away without being there "any longer than an hour or so," you and CPT America need to get together for your drug test. Care to wager your $176 stipend on your faith in the organization of the IRR?

Absolutely. Have you seen the schedule for this thing? Complete online screening session, listen to briefing, fill out DFAS paperwork, fill out certificate of performance of duty...... Couple hours tops. This isn't a PPD you know.

[Unregistered]

I got out of the Army for a reason. I will not participate in any muster scheme and I refuse to let bush abuse our military power and turn me into his imperial storm trooper this time around. We have failed as a nation with accepting the notion of and conducting a preemptive war. Who's next? Iran? Why don't we invade and bomb every country that snickers at us, or builds up their self defense when our leaders make direct threats to their soveriegnty.

[Unregistered]

Well, I guess that is it. We should just do the paper work; sign the country over to who ever want it. Seems America has lost its spine and soul. Hey, you signed a contract. But, why should you have to live up to it? You are most likely late with your rent, maxed out all your credit cards and file for Chapter 11 when they want your car and student loan payments. Don't worry about it....

Such is life. Good luck, myself, until I am killed or the war ends I will honor those who served before me and do my duty. Fuck the rest of you. But, I guess I am just an old fashion American who loves his country for better or worse and can put the fate of the nation before me. I didn't start this war, but like generations of men before me, I going again and again. Because, I took an oath and that means something to me. Kind of like Memorial Day, it means something to me, because I know and know of men who have died for this nation and fully understand it isn't just a day for baseball and the great American BarBQ. More importantly I know and know of men who have served, did their eight years and in many cases more. I wonder what they think of us, this generation who don't understand the legacy and history that makes us American and binds us together. Bottom line is, if you signed the contract, honor it. If you haven't and don't believe in this war don't. It is that simple, once you signed; do your time you selfish pricks. Don't blame others or the government, you signed it. Stand up and be a fucking adult and do what you said you would do. If you are to fucking stupid to understand what you signed up for, take it out on your teachers and parents for not raising you right or teaching you how to read the contract. For those who signed up for job training and school, now it is time to earn it. God forbid you have to earn your benefits. Better men than you have given up everything, so you could whine and I will not join you at that table, nor will I bring you any cheese. I will not cry, because we collectively as a nation have gotten ourselves into a mess, because we are all Americans. We elected the current administration and the ones before it, we all drive the cars that need the gas and have always bought the Chinese crap over the better American products. So we as a nation are to blame and we as a nation must stand up to fix the mess we got ourselves into. Because, no one else is going to do it for us. That means those of us who have signed contracts must stand up and honor our commitments and do what is required of us. It is that simple, if that hurts or you think you’re better than me, then fuck you. You’re American and I am American and together we will sink or swim, succeed or fail. It is that simple, so do your best, step up to the plate and if your are physically capable to do what is asked until your time expires, do it. When your time is up, move on and pray someone else will come behind you and do their best and their time.

Generations of American have gone off to just, unjust, morale and immoral wars. One thing is certain; those who have fought those wars hated them. We did our duty and will continue to do so. The vast majority of Americans have never been affected by war. Just had to read the bad news, which I admit, effects the general population of the country's ability to work and live a free. Because, the vast majority of Americans, enjoy being carefree and don't want to be bothered with anything more than 200 miles from their front door. And my God Bless America and allow our naive way of life to continue. My we continue to be a nation of laws and a nation governed by the people for the people. Even in the people make mistakes and have to work together to fix the mistakes.

Again, if what I have said offends you. I do not care, because I am an American and I have the freedom to express my displeasure with your whining.

I can be reached at keith96706@yahoo.com
Would love to hear from anyone who agrees or disagrees.

For the Record, I was enlisted during Storm (Active Duty), 101st ABN Div, have served two OIF Tours, 1st Cav Div (USAR) Mar 04-05 as an Engineer Platoon Leader and MNC-I, IAG (USAR) as a Transition Team advisor in Diyala Provence with the Iraqi Army Aug 05-06 and hope to soon to deploy to Afghanistan.

Again, my God Bless America, those who serve and those who honor their commitments to the same.

[Unregistered]

11B2P here and I just got my letter to muster yesterday. I currently live in Queens,NY. So...it appears the this muster is happening coast to coast.

[Unregistered]

Well, I guess that is it. We should just do the paper work; sign the country over to who ever want it. Seems America has lost its spine and soul. Hey, you signed a contract. But, why should you have to live up to it? You are most likely late with your rent, maxed out all your credit cards and file for Chapter 11 when they want your car and student loan payments. Don't worry about it....

Such is life. Good luck, myself, until I am killed or the war ends I will honor those who served before me and do my duty. Fuck the rest of you. But, I guess I am just an old fashion American who loves his country for better or worse and can put the fate of the nation before me. I didn't start this war, but like generations of men before me, I going again and again. Because, I took an oath and that means something to me. Kind of like Memorial Day, it means something to me, because I know and know of men who have died for this nation and fully understand it isn't just a day for baseball and the great American BarBQ. More importantly I know and know of men who have served, did their eight years and in many cases more. I wonder what they think of us, this generation who don't understand the legacy and history that makes us American and binds us together. Bottom line is, if you signed the contract, honor it. If you haven't and don't believe in this war don't. It is that simple, once you signed; do your time you selfish pricks. Don't blame others or the government, you signed it. Stand up and be a fucking adult and do what you said you would do. If you are to fucking stupid to understand what you signed up for, take it out on your teachers and parents for not raising you right or teaching you how to read the contract. For those who signed up for job training and school, now it is time to earn it. God forbid you have to earn your benefits. Better men than you have given up everything, so you could whine and I will not join you at that table, nor will I bring you any cheese. I will not cry, because we collectively as a nation have gotten ourselves into a mess, because we are all Americans. We elected the current administration and the ones before it, we all drive the cars that need the gas and have always bought the Chinese crap over the better American products. So we as a nation are to blame and we as a nation must stand up to fix the mess we got ourselves into. Because, no one else is going to do it for us. That means those of us who have signed contracts must stand up and honor our commitments and do what is required of us. It is that simple, if that hurts or you think you’re better than me, then fuck you. You’re American and I am American and together we will sink or swim, succeed or fail. It is that simple, so do your best, step up to the plate and if your are physically capable to do what is asked until your time expires, do it. When your time is up, move on and pray someone else will come behind you and do their best and their time.

Generations of American have gone off to just, unjust, morale and immoral wars. One thing is certain; those who have fought those wars hated them. We did our duty and will continue to do so. The vast majority of Americans have never been affected by war. Just had to read the bad news, which I admit, effects the general population of the country's ability to work and live a free. Because, the vast majority of Americans, enjoy being carefree and don't want to be bothered with anything more than 200 miles from their front door. And my God Bless America and allow our naive way of life to continue. My we continue to be a nation of laws and a nation governed by the people for the people. Even in the people make mistakes and have to work together to fix the mistakes.

Again, if what I have said offends you. I do not care, because I am an American and I have the freedom to express my displeasure with your whining.

I can be reached at keith96706@yahoo.com
Would love to hear from anyone who agrees or disagrees.

For the Record, I was enlisted during Storm (Active Duty), 101st ABN Div, have served two OIF Tours, 1st Cav Div (USAR) Mar 04-05 as an Engineer Platoon Leader and MNC-I, IAG (USAR) as a Transition Team advisor in Diyala Provence with the Iraqi Army Aug 05-06 and hope to soon to deploy to Afghanistan.

Again, my God Bless America, those who serve and those who honor their commitments to the same.

I'm glad our forefathers weren't like you. If they were, there would have been no revolution, and thus, no America. They would have honored their commitment to England and stuck with the whole "taxation without representation" thing. Take your chest thumping and judgments somewhere else. People willing to settle for less often do, as you've demonstrated. Have a nice day.

[Unregistered]

Sad, that is all you could come up with. Is America so bad that you advocate a revolutionary war? I'd be very happy to meet you on any field. Again, I am an American and I will honor my commitment to the same. Glad to know you won't, you will just cry about it and find endless fault with those who, even when it gets tough do what we said we will do. Fucking X-box generation!!

[Unregistered]

Sad, that is all you could come up with. Is America so bad that you advocate a revolutionary war? I'd be very happy to meet you on any field. Again, I am an American and I will honor my commitment to the same. Glad to know you won't, you will just cry about it and find endless fault with those who, even when it gets tough do what we said we will do. Fucking X-box generation!!


At least its a precedent. And you fail to see the very simple analogy I was making. Looks like you're the one that has some teachers and parents to blame. As for assuming things about people, well you know.....or maybe you don't. I don't care.

[Unregistered]

I left my e-mail, lets chat. I always enjoy chatting with the other side.
Thanks.

[Unregistered]

As the wife of an individual who has received a muster order, all I want to know is, how seriously do I need to be preparing myself for my husband to be activated and deployed? He is a 27-E with his date to be out of IRR in Nov. 2007.

[Unregistered]

Well I guess shit happens!! I personally choose the best of 2 evils... took the 24months stablization deal with a reserve unit, that way I don't have to live in anxiety for the next 2 years.

[Unregistered]

Yup I got mine the other day. I called the number and schedule to go on Jul 14th in Los Alomitos. I'm not signing anything nor do I want to even consider going back in. I have 4 months left on IRR and a deals a deal. I did 6 active & about to finish my 2, so the Army should hold there end & leave me alone. The only reason Im going is I dont want to risk getting my benifits revoke

[Unregistered]

I suppose the ones that complain in the IRR about an potential for call to active duty should have considered an alternative to their careers when they signed up. All you boys and girls have a brain and can read, I presume, and if you didn't want to make the committment, you should have planned and did something else. Why attack the military for attempting to recruit reserves, they like a private sector cooperation, have a right to recruit. I hope the IRR candidates that can't service don't. God bless our all our soilders.

Many of us signed up before Bush launched a war of aggression against a country that never threatened the U.S. based on false pretenses (where are the WMD?) that has been horribly mismanaged and has turned into a civil war. We need to end our occupation of Iraq not call up former soldiers who served honorably to defend America; not fight in a war of aggression that only serves to enrich the likes of Haliburton and its ex-CEO (Cheney). Our current vice president dodged the draft numerous times and still refuses to obey the law (check the news for the latest about his refusal to comply with executive orders). Given these circumstances it is no wonder that there is alot of anger from people who are being told they need to waste their time after they served honorably, and would gladly defend America, but have no desire to defend the failed policies of a failed administration.

[Unregistered]

You know we all can read(those of us who signed up). We all knew what we were getting ourselves into. We all knew about stop loss and the 8 year obligation. We as Americans need to suck it up. I just got orders myself and although I am not real happy about it I will go and fufill my obligations like a man. I too was in Iraq I too had it bad and no I don't want to go back but I will if thats what I have to do. So I guess to all the cry babies out there Deal with it. Why else did you sign up to the military for you knew it was bound to happen. Take it easy all

I signed up to defend America not fight in an undeclared war that was sold to the American people through a series of lies (Mission Accomplished?, WMD?). Why should you have to go back to Iraq to fight in an endless civil war for leaders that don't know what the hell they are doing? There is no chance that the Army can accomplish anything good in Iraq so we need to draw down and get out now.

[Unregistered]

But, I guess I am just an old fashion American who loves his country for better or worse and can put the fate of the nation before me. I didn't start this war, but like generations of men before me, I going again and again. ... Bottom line is, if you signed the contract, honor it. If you haven't and don't believe in this war don't. It is that simple, once you signed; do your time you selfish pricks. Don't blame others or the government, you signed it. Stand up and be a fucking adult and do what you said you would do. If you are to fucking stupid to understand what you signed up for, take it out on your teachers and parents for not raising you right or teaching you how to read the contract. ... We elected the current administration ... That means those of us who have signed contracts must stand up and honor our commitments and do what is required of us. ... Even in the people make mistakes and have to work together to fix the mistakes.

The problem is that we have an incompetent administration that disobeys the rule of law. You talk about signing a contract, what about obeying the constitution. The Bush administration has repeatedly broken lied and broken the law ranging from the false premise that started the war in Iraq, to torture at Abu Ghraib, to holding "enemy combatants" without trial, to NSA wiretapping. The IRR is supposed to be resorted to in times of emergency, not being able to recruit enough people to fight in an unwinnable civil war in Iraq is not really an emergency. The one thing I agree with is we need to fix the mistakes but the way to start doing that is redeploying troops from Iraq (like Murtha suggested) not sending in more and more. How many times have we read that troop levels are going to be reduced only to have it turned around and a "temporary" increase is ordered. And now units are being deployed for 15 months with only 12 months home. I may have signed alot of paperwork but what I agreed to was as follows:


"I, _____ (SSAN), having been appointed an officer in the Army of the United States, as indicated above in the grade of _____ do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign or domestic, that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same; that I take this obligation freely, without any mental reservations or purpose of evasion; and that I will well and faithfully discharge the duties of the office upon which I am about to enter; So help me God."

Fighting an undeclared war in Iraq against people who never threatened the U.S. does not fit this definition in my option.

[Unregistered]

To the wives and any other wives reading this, the "not even gonna show him the letter" was not as much of a joke as it seems. I wish my wife had done that, now I wouldn't be at war with myself over this. Seriously, if there are punishments for no-shows (more on this later) I don't see how someone who really never knew wouldn't have an airtight defense if they wanted to change his discharge status or something. And you wives of course aren't subject to the UCMJ, so the army's got nothing on you.

So here I am, muster orders in hand, torn in half... half of me is of course on the side of those saying "man up, it's probably just an effort to recruit you anyway, not worth changing discharge status over (esp. with federal law enforcement in my future)". The other half of course, says remember how bureaucratically jacked up the army is, like last time they tried to call back some from the IRR those who didn't show up just slipped through the cracks, and so just because they have your address doesn't mean showing up won't mean fucking yourself by getting yourself on a "list", etcetera. The argument of helping out the active duty guys sounds good on paper, but when you've spent more nights sleeping in the dirt of a combat zone than half of those guys have days in which they handled a weapon... and that the army nearly killed my marriage during both of my year long combat tours... and hell, I'm educating myself to REALLY fight terror, instead of just riding around behind a machine gun until someone decides to blow me up.

Well now to the point... I know it's a little hard to ask this, since this is the first time, but what do you guys see happening to no-shows? Apparently about 90% who've received the letter think nothing much, but anyone got any evidence or military law experience to wager an educated guess? Secondly, any evidence about what to expect? Is this just the exact same thing the other services do regularly, or will this be different? Not to worried by what the Navy and Air Force do, but if this is an "Individual Warrior" transformation experience and they tell me when I can show up to an Infantry refresher course, I'll shit a brick.

Ok, one more question, just for those that have received the muster orders, what MOS? 11B here, and it seems like mostly that and just a few others so far, which is bad- last time IRR called it only attempted to produce certain MOS's that were lacking. So is there a big range of MOS's here? Thanks.


31P now 25P computer nerd was active duty for 5 years

I'm on my last year of IRR now,

I was told they sent muster orders to my home of record, my mom said she mailed them to me.

AWOL baby!
I definately beleive this will get you on a "list", I have received various things asking to update information... don't do it!

If i got mobilization orders I would reluctantly go, fuck all this muster poo though!

[Unregistered]

I just got my orders yesterday. I'm drunk right now. If they want me to go, fuck it. Life fuckin sucks. Was I really meant for anything more than this?

OIF, OEF Vet/ Ivy League Student

Fuckin shit.

[Unregistered]

31P now 25P computer nerd was active duty for 5 years

I'm on my last year of IRR now,

I was told they sent muster orders to my home of record, my mom said she mailed them to me.

AWOL baby!
I definately beleive this will get you on a "list", I have received various things asking to update information... don't do it!

If i got mobilization orders I would reluctantly go, fuck all this muster poo though!

We must have been in AIT at the same time.

[Unregistered]

Yea, I got my letter the other day (Jun 21, yea my mail is uber slow), and yes I'm planning to go. I don't like the ideal of possibly being deployed, but it is what I signed up for. Oh well. In any event, I look at it as an oppurtunity to get my ankle looked at (messed it up in a training accident while I was in) and voice some concerns about their crappy HRC website.
A lot of people mention they didn't even know they were supposed to keep HRC advised of their whereabouts and personal info, and its true. When I was leaving the service, I got an outprocessing checklist which was pretty much rubber stamped down the line. No one mentioned ANYTHING about what was expected of me once I got out. I didn't learn about it until I went back one day and actually READ my discharge papers.
And the website does suck. Everytime I try to log in I get shunted to some error page. The letter they sent me says I should go and update my info before attending the muster, using my AKO login. Problem is, AKO shut down my account some time ago, so I don't have one. When I move to a new apartment in a few months, I have no ideal how I'm going to update my info. Oh well, I guess its really their problem, not mine.
Lastly, though I'm not sure this rambling ever had a point, the letter mentioned a reserve breifing. Gadz, that sounds about as much fun as scraping nails down a black board for a half hour.

[DJCHEFJOE]

How about this; I was originally from Kenya and came to the states in 2001. I enlisted into the army in 2003. Went to the place that God forgot, 30th A.G, sand hill,Ft. Benning, GA. Sent to the 82nd Airborne division, Sgt, best cook in the army crap, 2 tours in Iraq, combat action badge, 8 coins from 2 and 1 * Generals…oh did I mention I was a cook?

Now for the best part, here I would just say, “Half left face, front lean and rest position; Move!” yea thanks to Uncle Sam I’m now a 50% disabled Veteran. I think my memory is failing too; I was a paratrooper for those 3 years. My arch is gone, and my feet are all f*&ked up! Now I get the Muster order and I’m like” what?” doesn’t the Veterans Administration (the left hand) tell the Army(right hand) that most of us leaving the active service are already fucked up! Worse still, the ones in there are on the same journey as the rest of us who have to take Ambien, Prilosec, skin meds and see shrinks just to have a smile and look good!
The flip side now is that I’m on chapter 31, (Vocational Rehab) where our big brother V.A is paying for my tuition. It only makes sense since their other Uncle totally fucked me up! I was from Kenya dude, wouldn’t hurt a fly, never swore a day in his life, ran like the wind, now…sic…
Now I’m expected to go some freakin Muster and say hi to my Hajji friends again at Al Asad or Balad, or al Quaim or Haditha or Al Ramadi or Husayba or Haqulania or …tell me when to stop. I’ll tell you that they’ve woken a sleeping giant!
Have nice day at muster if you even finish reading the orders, let alone my post, AIRBORNE!!

[Unregistered]

i was at al asad in OIF 1 for a time also...

nice accomodations. :)

did u know that by the chopped off mig 25 the little oasis moses supposedly washed his feet?

now i feel bad that i pissed in it.

:(

[Unregistered]

I just received my IRR muster yesterday. Wow, who would have thought they needed a Broadcast Journalist so badly? I have a feeling that it's a recruiting tool, as did someone else in this forum. I even have the script ready: (Big, ugly, Reserve SGM steps up to speak in front of mustered soldiers) "You all think you're pretty damned smart, right? Show up here, collect your 175 dollars, or whatever, and go back home and screw your wife, right. Wrong. You're here for a reason, soldiers. You're here 'cause the Army has taken the first steps in calling you back. For those of you who've been to Iraq, I hope you liked it, cause you're going back... But I have a proposition for you. I CAN GET YOU INTO A RESERVE UNIT GUARANTEED NOT TO DEPLOY TO IRAQ." (give me a 'hell yeah' if you heard that one). I have to admit, I miss the cold, hygenic walls of the Army processing center. Good times. Oh, well. They got me for jury duty the week prior. I must have a lucky damn SSN...

[Unregistered]

I made an appointment to go see them for muster on July 30th in the early morning. I spoke with a SFC who I am familiar with and hates recruiters the same as I do. I was told I'll watch a few videos and since I am already updated on the HRC website I will done in about an hour. The SFC hates this whole thing because its turned her otherwise calm/easy job into a whirlwind nightmare of seeing angry IRR folks day in and day out. I will go on the 30th and as soon as I get back I'll post for everyone here what is going on and what I went through.

11B2P in the AZ desert

[Unregistered]

91W/Y2- 1 tour OIF
I heard about this muster through a friend and I think I trew mine away like I do everything else from the Army. I thought it was just another recruiting thing. Do you think they will send another? I don't want to get in trouble. I mean if they really wanted to know we got it they would have certified the letters, right? What should I do?

[Unregistered]

its been said that they will send a second certified letter, after you receive that one is when its possible to get in trouble...

possible but I don't think very likely

[Unregistered]

Ok, well I guess I'll wait for the second letter. I only have 3 months left maybe they will take their time and I won't have to go in.

[Unregistered]

I got a call that they recieved the muster letter @ my old address. When i get it ill drop it in the shredder

[Unregistered]

say we don't show up for this shit and then don't sign for the certified mail if it ever even shows up.. Any barracks lawyers wanna tackle that question?

25F
OIF 12/03-2/05

[Unregistered]

I can tell you all this, if the army makes a concerted effort to deliver you the letter certified, even if you never receive it, you can be held responsible. If you refuse to sign it, the person who is delivering will notate that on the paper and it is as good as if you had got it. And if you really have moved, and they can't get an updated address, you can be held responsible for not updating your address. There is really no way around it.

[Unregistered]

What if I decided to "Travel the World" for the summer and didn't check my mail until I got back after my IRR status was expired in Sept.? Does the army have an answer to that? Am I not allowed to leave the country or the state? If I'm on vacation I'm not leaving a forwarding address or anything.

[Unregistered]

It does say somewhere in the regulations that if you will be away from your registered address for more than a certain period of time, you are supposed to inform HRC. Also, if you are legitimately unavailable to receive the letter, like being overseas, I'm sure the penalties would not apply to you. The one's I spoke of above only apply to those who attempt to avoid having to sign for a letter. They know the difference

[Unregistered]

And they would probably want proof that you were traveling, by airplane tickets and hotel receipts. I don't think the Army is very good at taking peoples word.

[Unregistered]

I have to say this muster scares me. I am a Captain that just got out in December after burning about 2 months of terminal leave. I just returned from Iraq last August having spent a year there. I waved the option to come home during the deployment just because I wanted to save the leave for terminal leave. I am now a US Government employee working in West Virginia, and have basically started a new life for myself. I have tried to stay in shape, but it is hard since there are so many demands in the outside world.

I will go to this muster, but I feel like it is some type of an ambush that is intended to try and get me to go onto active duty. I have tried to see if it were possible to get into the USAF via service transfer, but from what I understand it is nearly impossible. I have serve over four years of active duty, half of that time deployed. I support anyone that has to go over there, but I have to say that the situation in Iraq is not getting any better. I am just hoping that with elections coming up we will start seeing a withdraw and a deployment slowdown. Bottom line: If things don’t start turning around drastically, the Republicans are going to be without a job, and the democrats will start holding the Iraqi’s responsible for the lack of action in their own country.

[Unregistered]

I try to look at it from their perspective, something like this:

Random General: "Hey, we need 10,000 bodies for the meat grinder in 2008"

Random Civilian Consultant: "Well the IRR call in up 2004 was a mess, crappy publicity too, I have another idea...reel them in for a "muster" call and see who responds and furthermore who passes a medical screen and voila! There's your 10,000."

General: "Yeah, but how do you find 10,000 bodies with everyone jumping ship?"

Consultant: "Start with say, 5,000, see what the numbers come out to. If you get 1,000 able bodies who are willing to respond to threatening mail calling them back for duty, etc., multiply the 5,000 by 10 and there's your magic number for "muster" orders. By the end of 2007 we should be close enough, then all that's left is the notice of activation! Not to mention most of those called should be willing and able to show up having done so once already, at least it wont be as much of a disaster as 2004."

General: "Sounds like a plan!"

[Unregistered]

I have to say this muster scares me. I am a Captain that just got out in December after burning about 2 months of terminal leave. I just returned from Iraq last August having spent a year there. I waved the option to come home during the deployment just because I wanted to save the leave for terminal leave. I am now a US Government employee working in West Virginia, and have basically started a new life for myself. I have tried to stay in shape, but it is hard since there are so many demands in the outside world.

I will go to this muster, but I feel like it is some type of an ambush that is intended to try and get me to go onto active duty. I have tried to see if it were possible to get into the USAF via service transfer, but from what I understand it is nearly impossible. I have serve over four years of active duty, half of that time deployed. I support anyone that has to go over there, but I have to say that the situation in Iraq is not getting any better. I am just hoping that with elections coming up we will start seeing a withdraw and a deployment slowdown. Bottom line: If things don’t start turning around drastically, the Republicans are going to be without a job, and the democrats will start holding the Iraqi’s responsible for the lack of action in their own country.

Have you resigned your commission? I think that will go a long way towards determining your "status".

In addition, is anyone interested in putting together a letter writing campaign to our congressmen to demand some sort of "oversight" with regard to the DOD's use of the IRR? I mean, we were all told the IRR was a worst case scenario/"World War III" (exactly what was quoted to me) last resource. Now, it's being used as some kind of human bondo to do patchwork on a broken military. Congress should be aware how it's used and under what circumstances. The Army keeps changing what servicemen are responsible for (it used to be updated information, now it's musters, and eventually they'll want you to continue your MOS training while in the IRR and show up for drill......) while they're in the IRR. The US military works in large part because it's a "volunteer" Army. The whole IRR needs to be done away with. Disgruntled soldiers are no good to anyone.

It's been mentioned before that this "muster" was in the works early last year as a way for the Army to phase in their new "Individual Warrior" virtual screening program, so I don't think it's an ambush for mobilization but most likely a tool to get soldiers to join the reserves. I mean, if you didn't get called up for the 30,000 troop surge, I have to think they have the troops they need somewhere. In addition, they've called up about 10,000 since 2003, and about 2,000 are on duty in Iraq. If anything, the end of summer will probably (hopefully) bring news of "progress" in Iraq (or a change in policy) and you'll begin to see a draw down in the spring of 2008. I don't see how they could justify an IRR call up when troops are leaving Iraq. That would be something I'd like my congressmen to ask them though.

[Unregistered]

i am sure there are alot of people interested in oversight but how would one go about it? and do you think any senators will co-sponsor it? i would like to get involved.

[Unregistered]

say we don't show up for this shit and then don't sign for the certified mail if it ever even shows up.. Any barracks lawyers wanna tackle that question?

25F
OIF 12/03-2/05


Check your regs high-speed; AR 135-91 chapt 4-6. Worse case scenario you get a OTH discharge from the IRR. Don't get all worried... you still get your VA home loan other benefits. Do your research troops and see what you are getting into. That's the mistake we ALL made the first time around!!! And by the way as a former recruiter I will tell you this is a waste of time. They are bribing you for $176. Its just a more expensive water bottle or key chain that you got the first time for coming in.

This is just another misappropriation of funds. In the article it says that this "test run" will go out to 5,000 members of the IRR. Even if all 5,000 show up that is $880,000 that they are throwing at us. That's a lot of MRE's and bullets. I have buddies, like we all do, who would love to have their unit receive some of that money.

If the Army has taught you anything it should be to stop speculating and read the regs. The Army wrote down the rules b/c they knew they would forget them. Use it to your advantage!!!! I know what many of you will say, that the Army never sticks to its word, but I have yet to meet anyone above E-6 that when showed what needs to be done in a reg won't listen immediately and rarely argue!!!

Do what you want b/c remember you are civilians now, no where does it say anything about UCMJ b/c lets face it you are no longer subject to it. Now you can actually do and say what you believe and not get 45 & 45 for it. Personally I don't think $176 is worth hearing all of their weak Jedi mind tricks they will try to play but if you are strapped for cash it couldn't hurt. Bottom line read your regs. Just like in the desert it will save your life someday. And like usual it takes a Paratrooper to take charge of a bunch of legs (sorry I just had to for old times sake) AIRBORNE!!!!

[Unregistered]

I am going to the muster to get $176. It will be like getting an early tax return.

All of you people b*t*hing need to get with the program. You have made an obligation. You knew about it before you signed the paperwork. I can understand if you live really far away or have other more immediate concerns.

I liked the Army, but I don't miss it. Good times and a lot of great people. There were also a lot of dirtbags which is the reason why I got out. That is the reason a lot of people get out. These people can go to school and make a hell of a lot more money on the outside.

We have a serious leadership problem in this country. Our soldiers are having to fill out paperwork every time there is a firefight. They are put on trial for killing anybody. Some of the units are resorting to wearing cameras to prove what happened in a firefight. This is not the way to fight a war. Who would want to sign up for that.

I would however sign back up if the leadership was better and they took care of more immediate concerns such as border security. The leadership should be using our national guard and reservists for this. We aren't even taking care of our own country.

Sorry for the rant. I am going to the muster out of obligation, but will not be coerced into signing up for anything.

[Unregistered]

i am sure there are alot of people interested in oversight but how would one go about it? and do you think any senators will co-sponsor it? i would like to get involved.

Well, anything involving taxpayer dollars should have some sort of oversight, especially as it concerns servicemembers who have already served honorably and have basically been lied to about the purpose and use of the IRR. Veterans and how they're cared for is a huge issue and will be for many years to come thanks to this "war". As far as fighting the language in the contract, you're almost guaranteed a loss in court. But, if you can get one compelling story out there and at least one congressman to show concern, they can call the entire DOD to task. Form a committee, get some personal stories from those affected by mobilization (not to say all servicemembers aren't affected by mobilization, but those on active duty train and prepare for it and live the lifestyle 24 hours a day....), have the Sec Def and the Sec Army talk specifically aobut how the IRR is used. I can't see them going before congress and saying, "Well, we were short one junior enlisted administrative specialist who will basically be an MP by proxy (with no real training) and convoy and patrol all the time in Iraq, so we mobilized an IRR member with three months left on his MOS, put him on stop loss for two years, and pulled him out of law school to do so." I would hope, and am betting, that would be an outrage. At a minimum, the IRR should be overhauled to fill slots left by those being deployed. It doesn't make sense to activate someone who is out of shape and out of the military for three years when there are plenty of those on active duty, under the rules and regulations of the Army (in shape, up to date medically, qualified in their MOS) who are paid each and every day to do so (and have chosen to stay in the Army). A friend of mine on active duty told me he just avoided a "tasker" to Iraq. Hmmm......where do you think they'll get someone to fill that slot? How does one on active duty avoid a tasker? This is where some oversight of the IRR would be a huge benefit for veterans. The Army needs a long term solution to its recruiting problems and the IRR is nothing more than a short term bondo patch. I think were this a noble cause you would have no problem getting people to sign up. People are willing to fight for what they believe in, not because they're bound by a one sided contract and fear of a less than desirable discharge. Recruiting after 9/11 was huge because people felt a responsibility and obligation to do their part for America. Look at recruiting lately and you can clearly see that public perception has changed and so has the American mindset.

I'm going to do some research and put together a draft letter for my congressman and will post it here when I'm finished. I think at a minimum the IRR should be used for what it was intended, and not to fill missed recruiting slots.

[Unregistered]

excellent! i will be looking forward to seeing what you post! i notified Senator Webb's people about it but they seemed to have no idea what the IRR is.

[Unregistered]

excellent! i will be looking forward to seeing what you post! i notified Senator Webb's people about it but they seemed to have no idea what the IRR is.

That's strange considering Senator Webb's son is serving in Iraq (he's a Marine officer) and that Webb was once the Secretary of the Navy. If he doesn't know, it's our obligation to inform him. My congressman is Jim Moran and he'll be getting something from me shortly. It would help to have some instances of IRR call ups that were completely unnecessary or illustrated a total abuse of authority (again, a solider who was mobilized with a few months left on his MSO or was not in a "critical" need MOS). All that aside, there needs to be some light shed on exactly how and why the IRR is used. The Army (in particular) shouldn't be allowed to keep telling folks what they will and won't do while in the IRR. There should be some limit to the scare tactics and letters (and phone calls) from reserve recruiters, and there should be a limit to the kinds of records they keep on you. I will not voluntarily give them my home or work phone number, bank account information, or work address. My home address should be sufficient and when I left activie duty that was all I was told I would have to provide. You can see where this is heading though; they'll eventually want everyone in the IRR to attend regular medical screenings, attend training, etc. Unless something is done, this abuse will go unchallenged.

[Unregistered]

excellent! i will be looking forward to seeing what you post! i notified Senator Webb's people about it but they seemed to have no idea what the IRR is.


Also, Senator Webb is among the most proactive military senators. Check out his Wikipedia page for the kinds of steps he's taking to ensure soldiers and veterans are not mistreated or led into combat without due diligence.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jim_Webb

[Unregistered]

Also, Senator Webb is among the most proactive military senators. Check out his Wikipedia page for the kinds of steps he's taking to ensure soldiers and veterans are not mistreated or led into combat without due diligence.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jim_Webb


Yeah right, your full of it. If he is for the troops and veterans how come nobody in his office knows what the IRR is. Sounds like liberal BS to me.

[Unregistered]

I would think that because Webb's son is over there, he would actually probably resent the IRR people not over there. I am sure he would love to replace his son with one of us anyday. I find it to be very funnny that Webb's people do not know what the IRR is. If that is true, then he merely put on act last Nov to get elected.

[Unregistered]

Yeah right, your full of it. If he is for the troops and veterans how come nobody in his office knows what the IRR is. Sounds like liberal BS to me.


I would be willing to bet that HE knows about the IRR. Just because someone that works in his office doesn't know about it, doesn't mean he doesn't. The problem is that no one has been willing to say anything to the right people. I would stick to your congressman though and avoid Senators anyway.

[Unregistered]

I would think that because Webb's son is over there, he would actually probably resent the IRR people not over there. I am sure he would love to replace his son with one of us anyday. I find it to be very funnny that Webb's people do not know what the IRR is. If that is true, then he merely put on act last Nov to get elected.

I think he would prefer that no one is over there. Period. My issue with IRR isn't that it's evil, but that's it's grossly misrepresented to recruits (again, used only as a last resource or in the event of World War III) and is constantly abused by the Army. It's a backdoor draft and short term fix to a long term problem.

[Unregistered]

:mad: As a 22 year veteran of the Army Reserve, I have spent nearly 17 of those years in the Individual Ready Reserve. I've always gotten enough points to have "good" retirement years, and have never been passed over for promotion. I've also never had any problems getting to my required military schooling for promotions. The reason why the IRR does not have current information on soldiers who served and where discharged from active duty is because the active duty Army transition points never mention to departing soldiers that they might still have a service obligation. Just to be clear- regardless of your pay grade- every soldier of every rank initially signs an 8 year contract. Even if you serve more than 6 years on active duty, you still have 2 additional years in which you are assigned to the IRR and can still be recalled to active duty during any declared national emergency or war under a partial or total mobilization. Many active duty soldiers erroneously believe their service and honorable discharge from active duty puts them out of the service. WRONG! Just go back and look at your original enlistement date on your enlistment contract (yes, even new 2LTs have to sign these). Then proceed to the middle of about page 8 and you will find exactly what I'm talking about. Additionally, the contract also stipulates you must contact HRC-St Louis after you leave active duty, move, or otherwise have a change in your medical condition, in order to make sure your personal information is correct and up to date. It's a shame that so many soldiers have not lived up to their contractual obligations. It's more a shame that our Army leaders have not held more of these soldiers feet to the fire on this issue. And before anyone says I haven't done anything in the Reserves as an IRR member, I've been in TPUs, RTUs, and two IMA positions for which I was mobilized and spent nearly one and half years on active duty for GWOT. Additionally, I have over 2200 retirement points as well. The IRR can be a good place to be for many soldiers. However, it was never designed to be a "dumping ground" for discharged active duty soldiers to rot in. The IRR is our nations' last land component strategic reserve our ground forces have in the event of an all out war thanks to our Guard and Reserve transforming into an operational force. So, for you deadbeats out there that still have time left on your 8 years, GET SQUARED AWAY!

MAJ A.F. PRISELAC II, USAR (IRR)
CIVIL AFFAIRS

hey major, how many days have you spent overseas? Oh sorry, ON DEPOYMENT, not on vacation. Have some empathy for guys who do the heavy lifting. In other words, GET SQUARED AWAY.

[Unregistered]

i just received my orders and i called hrc in st.louis. the nco i talked to said they notified 30,000 soldiers in the IRR instead of 5,000. be careful what you sign at this muster!

[Unregistered]

i just received my orders and i called hrc in st.louis. the nco i talked to said they notified 30,000 soldiers in the IRR instead of 5,000. be careful what you sign at this muster!

Yes, be careful. Stay alert, Stay alive.

[Unregistered]

I am a 63A. A dentist believe or not. Yes, they are going after everyone. I signed up for 3 years and spent half of those time in Iraq. Just got out less then a year and I got my muster order yesterday. I don't know if I am going to attend or not because I think i will bemore likely to be put on the hotlist if I do attend and update my record. I have no problem fulfilling my obligation but it just seems like there are a lot of others that haven't deploy at all yet and here I am going again. But then again, if I don't go, can I be put in jail for this?

[Unregistered]

Wow, sad to see how many dirt bags and whiners the Army signed up. I was called up from the IRR for OIF and while many of us joked we pretty much all had a good attitude. When you sign your contract you know damn well what your obligation is so quit crying. The contract does not say that you have to agree with the mission so suck it up. The only people I empathise (sp?) with are those who fulfilled their ENTIRE obligation and are being screwed because they assumed once they did their time that they were done.

The IRR was supposed to let people know who fulfilled their obligation that they could get out or stay in I got that letter when I got back from Iraq and I decided to stay in.

[Unregistered]

SOLDIERS - If you have received an order from HRC St. Louis for either a Personnel Accountability or a Readiness Muster, then you also received the Memorandum attached to it where it states that this is NOT A MOBILIZATION MUSTER AND THAT YOU WILL NOT BE MOBILIZED AT THIS MUSTER. A lot of you state that you will not show up, that this is propaganda, that you don't care if you are subject to appropriate administrative actions which may negatively affect your military status....and I understand your frustration. The memorandum clearly states that if you have a medical condition or personal hardship that would preclude you from attending the muster to contact them. The number is right there on the 3rd paragraph. You don't need a uniform, you don't need to take a PT test. Some have asked, "what do I bring?" Depending on the type of order you got - there is an itemized list of items to bring (mainly documents)

Simply not showing up is the wrong answer. If you have an order and can make it, call and set up your appointment. If you can't, contact HRC and state your reasons why. I can assure you that this is not a "RECRUITING PLOY OR TACTIC" You will be contacting Retention NCO's not Recruiters. Retention NCO's are there to update your information and give you briefings about the Army Reserve. Until HRC involuntarily deploys you, you can remain in IRR until your time is up.

For the soldier that stated that he will not show up to the muster and that if involuntarily called up that he would leave the country and be a patriot of another flag and is ashamed of being an american....let me be the first to ask you not to wait for HRC to involuntary deploy you - please leave the country now. I'm a US Citizen by naturalization - I've been in boots for 17 years - my former country was in a civil war (sound familiar?) - I counted dead bodies as a child, I heard explosions and remember diving into the nearest bush for cover. I stayed awake at night listening to the nightfire in the distance wondering when they would hit home. I know what war is like - and I know what FREEDOM means. The U.S is my home and it has given me that freedom. I will protect it when I'm called to protect it.

[Unregistered]

u all know that it is army soldiers policyt to bitch at everything....

ill do my duty

but godammit im gonna bitch about it.

oh yah....




OIF 1 and OIF3 and OIF xx??????????????????????????????????????

2 years left.

[Another Unregistered User]

I've asked around in a lot of places (online, VA, people I know, etc) and no one has given me a clear cut answer to this. I hope someone here can give me some answers (preferably backed by specific regulation clauses, but any clear cut answer will do).

My questions basically comes down to "how disabled do you have to be to be exempted from IRR mobilization"?

I am a disabled vet w/ a 50% VA disability rating, and currently enrolled in the VA voc rehab & employment program (VR&E). When I went through ACAP & outprocessing briefs, I was told that soldiers who have a disability rating of 30% or above won't be called, and those who are enrolled in the VR&E program won't be called (I am in both categories). However, I've heard horror stories of old guys with 70% VA disability rating deploying to Iraq. So I want to know, ACCORDING TO THE REGULATIONS, how much VA disability rating do you have to have in order to be secure from mobilization (& where can I find those regs)?

Also, can a disabled vet on IRR status be eligible to apply for a medical discharge? If so, will that medical discharge be his/her final ticket to freedom (given that its a DISCHARGE)?

Thanks for any & all information you can give.

[Unregistered]

Just so everybody knows, there are multiple committees in both the House of Reps and the US Senate that oversee how the military uses the IRR. Further, there are multiple committees in your state congress' that oversee how members of the National Guard and the IRR are treated. Some that come to mind are the Senate Armed Service Committee and the committee dealing with veterans rights. If you think that there is no oversight when it comes to the IRR, you are sadly mistaken. However, no mater how the IRR was portrayed to us when we joined, it was spelled out in our contract. Nowhere did it say that you would only be called up if WWIII broke out. That means the recruiters and retention NCO's were wrong, not the program itself. I posted a short portion of the law allowing the President and his designees to use IRR members for military service, so if you find the whole thing, you will see what the law says abut how they can be used. I can guarantee that you will not find a single instance of a single member of the IRR being misused. However, that does not mean that the IRR callups are a good idea and fair. Sometimes people are ripped from their lives when they are trying to do good things for themselves and their families, while people who are sitting in their parents basements drawing unemployment are left alone. That is not fair. But legally, there is nothing that can be done. Clearly, because we all received the memo that explicitly said that this was not a mobilization muster, if we show up and they tell us we are being mobilized, we would have an argument to take to our congressman. But the regs all say that we are supposed to be called up to a personal IRR muster once a year, and the Army has decided that it is going to begin doing what they are allowed to do. Just because it hasn't been done in the past does not mean it's not allowed. And just because in the press release issued by the Army they say that there are going to be 5000 people all within 50 miles of 4 sites, and they decide to call up 8000 from anywhere they want, that does not mean anything. A press release is not a legally binding document.

Now, for the person who is saying that if you do not show up to the muster you will not lose your benefits, that is not necessarily true. Receiving an OTH discharge allows for the possibility to lose ALL VA benefits. That includes the GI Bill, home loans, even student loan repayment programs. I'm not saying that this is the punishment that will be dealt out, but it is one possibility. If I'm wrong, I would appreciate some documentation that guarantees people will not lose their benefits before they decide to skip based on that information. Now you can try to ignore this letter and hope that they do not send out the second, certified letter until the next muster call up, and maybe you will get away clean and clear, but maybe not. I'm saying this as someone who has absolutely no interest in going back, and will not go quietly and willingly. I have three months left in my 8 years, and if they try to keep me one day past that, I will have a huge problem. But just because I was promised that I would be doing one job when I joined when it was nothing like what was promised did not mean I got to change jobs just because I was not happy. And just because the IRR was mis-represented to me when I joined does not mean it excuses me from my obligation.

[Another Unregistered User]

I think I've read somewhere in AR-140-10 that if you only have 3 months left in your MSO time, they must not mobilize you and allow you to be discharged upon the end of your 3 months. So, assuming that I didn't miss any fine print, you should be okay, even if they did send you a muster order. However, if you want to be ABSOLUTELY sure and leave nothing to chance, One alternative you have would be to get your self excused somehow and get an exemption from HRC to not show up. By the time they get around to the second/third musters, your MSO time will be over and you'll be liberated (lucky bastard, I still have another year or so...<:-P).

In any case, I hope someone will answer my question as to "how disabled you must be to be exempted from IRR mobilization"? What the magic VA disability rating that will get people off?

[Unregistered]

I think I've read somewhere in AR-140-10 that if you only have 3 months left in your MSO time, they must not mobilize you and allow you to be discharged upon the end of your 3 months. So, assuming that I didn't miss any fine print, you should be okay, even if they did send you a muster order. However, if you want to be ABSOLUTELY sure and leave nothing to chance, One alternative you have would be to get your self excused somehow and get an exemption from HRC to not show up. By the time they get around to the second/third musters, your MSO time will be over and you'll be liberated (lucky bastard, I still have another year or so...<:-P).

In any case, I hope someone will answer my question as to "how disabled you must be to be exempted from IRR mobilization"? What the magic VA disability rating that will get people off?

I just checked the reg, and this is what I have found so far:

c. A soldier who has less than 3 months remaining on a statutory or contractual military service obligation,
whichever expires later, will not be transferred or reassigned to the IRR (including an unsatisfactory participant). The
soldier will be discharged on ETS per AR 135–178. However, if the soldier is otherwise eligible per AR 140–111 and
executes an immediate reenlistment, reassignment to the IRR for reasons cited in this section is appropriate.

To me, this just says that if I am within 3 months of my MSO expiring, I cannot be transferred into the IRR. Is that what everyone else gets? If anyone has anymore info on this, I would appreciate the help.

[Another Unregistered User]

I just checked the reg, and this is what I have found so far:

c. A soldier who has less than 3 months remaining on a statutory or contractual military service obligation,
whichever expires later, will not be transferred or reassigned to the IRR (including an unsatisfactory participant). The
soldier will be discharged on ETS per AR 135–178. However, if the soldier is otherwise eligible per AR 140–111 and
executes an immediate reenlistment, reassignment to the IRR for reasons cited in this section is appropriate.

To me, this just says that if I am within 3 months of my MSO expiring, I cannot be transferred into the IRR. Is that what everyone else gets? If anyone has anymore info on this, I would appreciate the help.

Hmm... in that case, if you want to avoid them, I would recommend contacting them & getting an exemption to this particular muster order. If another one comes along for you within the next 3 months, just schedule to make an appearance (perhaps on the last given day), then call in to "reschedule"/cancel a day or two before, citing some kind of "emergency". Repeat this process until your 3 short months run out, then you're liberated.

I still hope someone out there will direct me in the right direction, with regards to the question of "how much VA disability must one have to be able to get an IRR exemption"?

[Unregistered]

Wow, sad to see how many dirt bags and whiners the Army signed up. I was called up from the IRR for OIF and while many of us joked we pretty much all had a good attitude. When you sign your contract you know damn well what your obligation is so quit crying. The contract does not say that you have to agree with the mission so suck it up. The only people I empathise (sp?) with are those who fulfilled their ENTIRE obligation and are being screwed because they assumed once they did their time that they were done.

The IRR was supposed to let people know who fulfilled their obligation that they could get out or stay in I got that letter when I got back from Iraq and I decided to stay in.


dirt bags...go f*&! yourself loser. Of course your probably in the navy and gay at that so you should be pretty good at doing what i suggested earlier!

[Unregistered]

Hmm... in that case, if you want to avoid them, I would recommend contacting them & getting an exemption to this particular muster order. If another one comes along for you within the next 3 months, just schedule to make an appearance (perhaps on the last given day), then call in to "reschedule"/cancel a day or two before, citing some kind of "emergency". Repeat this process until your 3 short months run out, then you're liberated.

I still hope someone out there will direct me in the right direction, with regards to the question of "how much VA disability must one have to be able to get an IRR exemption"?

I don't have the answer to this, but I know where you can find it. There are three regs you can check out, and I know the answer will be in one of them. You should check AR 140-10, AR 140-111, and AR 635-200. I know one of those includes a list of reasons why you were separated from Active Duty, and it tells you what might stop you from being called back according to that reason. So check those out.

[Unregistered]

Just so everybody knows, there are multiple committees in both the House of Reps and the US Senate that oversee how the military uses the IRR. Further, there are multiple committees in your state congress' that oversee how members of the National Guard and the IRR are treated. Some that come to mind are the Senate Armed Service Committee and the committee dealing with veterans rights. If you think that there is no oversight when it comes to the IRR, you are sadly mistaken. However, no mater how the IRR was portrayed to us when we joined, it was spelled out in our contract. Nowhere did it say that you would only be called up if WWIII broke out. That means the recruiters and retention NCO's were wrong, not the program itself. I posted a short portion of the law allowing the President and his designees to use IRR members for military service, so if you find the whole thing, you will see what the law says abut how they can be used. I can guarantee that you will not find a single instance of a single member of the IRR being misused. However, that does not mean that the IRR callups are a good idea and fair. Sometimes people are ripped from their lives when they are trying to do good things for themselves and their families, while people who are sitting in their parents basements drawing unemployment are left alone. That is not fair. But legally, there is nothing that can be done. Clearly, because we all received the memo that explicitly said that this was not a mobilization muster, if we show up and they tell us we are being mobilized, we would have an argument to take to our congressman. But the regs all say that we are supposed to be called up to a personal IRR muster once a year, and the Army has decided that it is going to begin doing what they are allowed to do. Just because it hasn't been done in the past does not mean it's not allowed. And just because in the press release issued by the Army they say that there are going to be 5000 people all within 50 miles of 4 sites, and they decide to call up 8000 from anywhere they want, that does not mean anything. A press release is not a legally binding document.

Now, for the person who is saying that if you do not show up to the muster you will not lose your benefits, that is not necessarily true. Receiving an OTH discharge allows for the possibility to lose ALL VA benefits. That includes the GI Bill, home loans, even student loan repayment programs. I'm not saying that this is the punishment that will be dealt out, but it is one possibility. If I'm wrong, I would appreciate some documentation that guarantees people will not lose their benefits before they decide to skip based on that information. Now you can try to ignore this letter and hope that they do not send out the second, certified letter until the next muster call up, and maybe you will get away clean and clear, but maybe not. I'm saying this as someone who has absolutely no interest in going back, and will not go quietly and willingly. I have three months left in my 8 years, and if they try to keep me one day past that, I will have a huge problem. But just because I was promised that I would be doing one job when I joined when it was nothing like what was promised did not mean I got to change jobs just because I was not happy. And just because the IRR was mis-represented to me when I joined does not mean it excuses me from my obligation.

I'm a lot like you and I'm the one who posted about IRR transparency/oversight. Of course, I know about those committees. Who doesn't. My point wasn't that there wasn't any oversight, but what there is needs to be reexamined and reevaluated. There certainly isn't the kind of scrutiny that the program demands. Please, show me the minutes of an Armed Service Committee meeting and exactly how much time the IRR is given. I can tell you; zero. I don't understand why you're so willing to accept the fact that these recruiters and retention NCO's are TRAINED to misrepresent a legally binding contract. How can that sit well with you? How long and how thoroughly did you review your contract? My bet is most people are so relieved that they've finished with MEPS that they'll do anything to get out of there as soon as possible. And that includes "rubberstamping" anything put in front of them. Of course, this doesn't absolve them of their obligation to read the contract, but for something that is going to greatly influence your life for at least the next 8 years, it's not something that should be treated so lightly (and believe me, it is to the recruiters). Were this any other contract in America, you could take them to court and sue for breach of contract, misrepresentation, etc. But, because it's the Army, somehow, you're okay with the fact that they keep changing their end of the bargain. They should be held to the same standard as any organization or individual in America. In fact, the whole idea of the "Individual Warrior" program once again changes the contract to their benefit. It changes what kind of information they want to keep on you, and if left unobserved, will change what you're required to do while in the IRR. Soon, they'll want you to come in for physicals, updated training on your MOS, and attend ranges. That may be fine for you, but it isn't for others.

[Unregistered]

I'm a lot like you and I'm the one who posted about IRR transparency/oversight. Of course, I know about those committees. Who doesn't. My point wasn't that there wasn't any oversight, but what there is needs to be reexamined and reevaluated. There certainly isn't the kind of scrutiny that the program demands. Please, show me the minutes of an Armed Service Committee meeting and exactly how much time the IRR is given. I can tell you; zero. I don't understand why you're so willing to accept the fact that these recruiters and retention NCO's are TRAINED to misrepresent a legally binding contract. How can that sit well with you? How long and how thoroughly did you review your contract? My bet is most people are so relieved that they've finished with MEPS that they'll do anything to get out of there as soon as possible. And that includes "rubberstamping" anything put in front of them. Of course, this doesn't absolve them of their obligation to read the contract, but for something that is going to greatly influence your life for at least the next 8 years, it's not something that should be treated so lightly (and believe me, it is to the recruiters). Were this any other contract in America, you could take them to court and sue for breach of contract, misrepresentation, etc. But, because it's the Army, somehow, you're okay with the fact that they keep changing their end of the bargain. They should be held to the same standard as any organization or individual in America. In fact, the whole idea of the "Individual Warrior" program once again changes the contract to their benefit. It changes what kind of information they want to keep on you, and if left unobserved, will change what you're required to do while in the IRR. Soon, they'll want you to come in for physicals, updated training on your MOS, and attend ranges. That may be fine for you, but it isn't for others.


I think you may have misunderstood me. I do not in any way encourage the means by which the Army goes about its business. Just looking at me for example, I was lied to about what the job I signed up for entailed, I was lied to about what my options were once I graduated basic training as to where I would be stationed, I was told that my MOS was non-deployable, I was told that if within 9 months of arriving at my duty station I decided I did not like what I was doing, I could either switch jobs or resign. However, none of these things were in my contract. And while that makes what the retention NCO's do irresponsible and immoral, it is not illegal. They can promise me $50,000, a trip to hawaii, and part ownership of a timeshare in florida, but if its not in my contract, I can't hold that against them. I do not take any of that lightly. And because this is a little more important than a cellphone contract, the rules for suing for breach and misrepresentation are different, as they should be. The Army cannot be sued for misrepresentation, because it says on the contract that the only things you are getting are outlined in the contract, and if it's not listed, it has not been promised. That saves them. Further, there is a line in the contract that says the terms of the contract can be changed at any time without notice to the signee. In other words, the Army can come out tomorrow and say that everyone who is serving on Active Duty, Reserves, Nat. Guard, or the IRR are now bound to a 20 year minimum term, and that is legal. They do not need permission to do that. However, they know that would cause a HUGE rash of AWOL and public outcry. That is what will keep them from abusing their power...not individual soldiers complaining about their situations. Congressmen are a great tool in order to try to make sure the Army is not breaking the law, but they cannot do anything except lean on the services to change their minds. There is no legal backing. Like I often say, the Army ALWAYS wins, ALWAYS gets their way, and ALWAYS makes those who fight against them look stupid. Sure, occasionally someone will decide to refuse their orders, but instead of winning and being left alone, they go to jail. That's not a win to me. So while I wish there was some way to change how it all goes down, they cover themselves very well from a legal standpoint.

[Unregistered]

I think you may have misunderstood me. I do not in any way encourage the means by which the Army goes about its business. Just looking at me for example, I was lied to about what the job I signed up for entailed, I was lied to about what my options were once I graduated basic training as to where I would be stationed, I was told that my MOS was non-deployable, I was told that if within 9 months of arriving at my duty station I decided I did not like what I was doing, I could either switch jobs or resign. However, none of these things were in my contract. And while that makes what the retention NCO's do irresponsible and immoral, it is not illegal. They can promise me $50,000, a trip to hawaii, and part ownership of a timeshare in florida, but if its not in my contract, I can't hold that against them. I do not take any of that lightly. And because this is a little more important than a cellphone contract, the rules for suing for breach and misrepresentation are different, as they should be. The Army cannot be sued for misrepresentation, because it says on the contract that the only things you are getting are outlined in the contract, and if it's not listed, it has not been promised. That saves them. Further, there is a line in the contract that says the terms of the contract can be changed at any time without notice to the signee. In other words, the Army can come out tomorrow and say that everyone who is serving on Active Duty, Reserves, Nat. Guard, or the IRR are now bound to a 20 year minimum term, and that is legal. They do not need permission to do that. However, they know that would cause a HUGE rash of AWOL and public outcry. That is what will keep them from abusing their power...not individual soldiers complaining about their situations. Congressmen are a great tool in order to try to make sure the Army is not breaking the law, but they cannot do anything except lean on the services to change their minds. There is no legal backing. Like I often say, the Army ALWAYS wins, ALWAYS gets their way, and ALWAYS makes those who fight against them look stupid. Sure, occasionally someone will decide to refuse their orders, but instead of winning and being left alone, they go to jail. That's not a win to me. So while I wish there was some way to change how it all goes down, they cover themselves very well from a legal standpoint.

Obviously, this is a matter of personal preference and for doing what you think is right. I for one do not believe the Army always wins. Working for JAG, I know this to be true. But, if you don't fight, you'll never know. It has never paid to be a "good soldier" and still doesn't.

[Unregistered]

I just called HRC ST. LOUIS in hopes of getting this Muster Duty waived/excused. A civilian clerk answered the call, and asked me for my SS#, name, MOS, city and state of my current residence, and then asked how he can help. When I mentioned I am looking for a "Permission to be Excused from the Muster Duty", he said he has to transferr me to the assigned personnel handling the Muster Duty. After holding for 5 mins or so, I had to leave message since they were being "Overwhelmed" with phone calls, and "will return my call back within two hours of the message". I will keep you guys informed as to what happens.

I surely don't want to go to this Muster thing, and have them try to coherse me into Reserve unit, or Deployment, but I don't want to make the situation worse by ignoring the Official Order. I do have 3 years left before my 8 years are up, and I just transferred to IRR as of last August due to my Permanent Physical Profile,,,, we'll just have to see what happens.

[Unregistered]

HRC ST.LOUIS just returned my call! That was quick! A very friendly Sergeant called and the first thing she said was "your SS# please". Second was "how can I help?" I asked for the "Permission to be excused from the Muster Duty", and she said "reason?", so I said "Personal", and she said "OK", and then she said, "When the Muster Duty call comes around next time, you need to keep in mind and schedule to attend, ok?"

So, it was quite simple to get officially excused from the Muster, and I guess I'm off the "unresponsive, did not reply" shit list, but what have I gotten myself into I wonder? I guess next time if it does ever come around, I guess I can use my Permanent Profile to get another excuse?

Has anyone called in for an excuse like myself?

[Unregistered]

Does any one know if there is going to be a "piss Test"

[Unregistered]

Worth reading:

WASHINGTON (Army News Service, April 4, 2006) – Individual Warriors will be the new label for Soldiers serving in the Individual Ready Reserve.

Simultaneously, the new name will lead to a cultural shift away from the unstructured group of inactive individuals into a cohesive group of Soldiers who are trained, aware and ready to augment Army missions when called upon.

Secretary of the Army Francis J. Harvey endorsed the move to reset and reinvigorate the IRR through several programmed initiatives to transform the Army’s leading prior-service talent bank.

“Senior Army leadership is committed to providing the necessary funding required to shape the IW initiative,” Harvey said. He added that Soldiers in the IRR will be a “viable pool” of individual warriors “trained and employable to meet the needs of the Army.”

Presently there are more than 100,000 Soldiers (enlisted and officer) in the IRR that represent more than 200 Military Occupational Skills ranging from combat arms and support to combat-service support specialties, but that could potentially be reduced to 60,000 ready and available Soldiers.

“While the mission of the IRR is to provide a pool of previously trained Soldiers who are ‘individually ready’ for call-up, our culture and past management of the IRR has made it difficult for many to accept that call-ups will become common practice,” said Maj. Nadine Kokolis, a mobilization officer in the Army’s G-1.

“In order to establish realistic readiness reporting, the Army is conducting a systematic screening of the IRR database to reconcile existing records and identify non-mobilization assets, and separate those Soldiers who no longer have further potential for useful military service,” added Kokolis.

The Army will institute an annual screening and training program for all assigned IWs who align with the Army Force Generation model – Reset/Train; Ready; Available. This program will be developed and carried out in order to maintain positive contact, administer refresher training as individual skills degrade and ensure the deployable readiness.

“Annual readiness screening is the heart of this initiative to ensure IRR members are deployable,” said Kokolis. “The Army will execute a pilot screening for approximately 5,000 Soldiers in fiscal year 2007; the goal is to institutionalize the entire screening and training program by fiscal year 2013.”

Recruiters and career counselors will brief all Soldiers entering the service and transitioning between components so they understand service obligations and training requirements in the Army Reserve.

_____________________________________

[Unregistered]

I have just spent some time reading some of these replies, I cannot believe what I'm reading. You all join the Military for various reasons, such as Education money, Travel, Benefits whatever the case. And you got all that and then some. Now when when the Military calls you back to "Update" your information, all you do is complain. Nobody ever said that this is a "Call Up" to duty, nobody ever said that you will be put back in. And oh by the way, you STILL have an obligation to fulfill! You cry about this and that, but I bet you didn't complain while you were recievng your pay check each month. Nobody force any of you to join the Army, but you did. You swore an oath, an oath that peolpe have given thier life for. Go complain to a Parent or loved one who has lost a Family member, a friend. Go complain to them, let's see what happens.

I have spent over 20 years in the Army, yes I as well as others have had some rough times. Moving is no fun, going to the field sometimes is no fun PT is no fun, Road marches are never no fun. But, it has provided for my Family. It has given my a good life. I have spent time in the civilain "World". I don't like the fact that you can go on "Strike" every 3 years, I don't like the fact that you can walk in to your job one day and it is GONE! or you have to take a "Pay Cut". All jobs have thier ups and downs. But you suck it and move on. You make the Best of it. But don't Bad mouth the one thing that provides you the opportunity to speak your mind. And if you don't like the Military or it's just not your thing. That all good, just do your time that you swore to do and MOVE ON!

MSG Magana

[1LT]

MSG Magana,

Ok, so I signed a contract. First of all, I didn't recieve any benefits other than what was paid to me. I didn't recieve the GI Bill because I was misinformed by a soldier at the in-processing station at basic that I probably wouldn't be able to use it since I already had a college degree and was going to OCS. Whatever, that's my fault for not pressing the issue further while trying not to get yelled at by Drill Sergeants. I regret is, but ultimately it was my own naive fault. However, this was much like when I signed my contract at MEPS and I, as an about to be SPC asked a friendly MSG probably not unlike yourself, what this IRR thing was. I thought I was only signing up for 4 years, what is this about serving until 2010. The response I got was "Oh, that's just a formality. It's basically saying that if World War III breaks out, they can call you back." I thought to myself "Hmm, that sounds ok, because if it's WWIII then the Chinese are probably invading and I'll be needed." You're right. I should've said, "Whoa hold on a minute high speed, let me see the regs because I feel like I shouldn't take you, a non-comissioned officer in the United States Army at his word." Had I read the regs and been able to understand the militarese that I hadn't picked up because I hadn't spent a day in the Army yet, I may have reconsidered joining. But I was fired up after September 11th and wanted to go to Afghanistan.

Now if that same MSG would have said, "Oh it means we basically own your ass for the next 8 years. After you've gotten out, started a family and moved on with your life, we can pull you back, give you little to no re-training and ship you off back to a war that very little of the U.S. will support" then I probably would've have said, thanks but no thanks.

When I was trying to seperate from the Army, they were trying to keep me in past my ETS because I was stationed in Hawaii and they were claiming that automatically extended me. This would've kept me in another 8 months and I would've deployed to Iraq again. After being there 14 months, I wasn't ready to go back. And that would've happened had I not done copious amounts of research and found the regs that said I wasn't obligated to stay past my ETS. I had to shove it down their throats, but they eventually let me go.

The reason people here are worried is because they've been misled time and again by the Army. From stop-loss to extensions to recalls, the Army is very bad at keeping up it's end of the bargain. When I recieve a letter from HRC promising that this is a not call up or a prelude to one, the red star cluster goes up. It has nothing to do with honor, or bravery, or keeping your word. I would gladly put my life on the line again to protect OUR, that's AMERICAN, freedom. It has to do with the Army keeping their word and using the IRR for what it was intended to be used for; a place to go in an emergency to find people that are TRAINED in critical MOSes that the service is short on. When the Army starts keeping it's end of the bargain, I'll start keeping mine.

[1LT]

One other thing, I don't see why anyone should or would complain to the family or friends of a Soldier that's been killed in Iraq. I owe them my gratitude and reverence for their sacrifice, but I fail to see why I or anyone else should pop my head out of the IRR foxhole to get it shot off. If I interpret what you said correctly, you're saying "Because other people have died over there, you should go BACK and put your life on the line again?" If you have a problem with people and contractual obligations that's one thing, but to say I owe it to the casualties of a misguided and mismanaged war, you've lost me.

[Unregistered]

Right on LT.

[Unregistered]

91W/Y2- 1 tour OIF
I heard about this muster through a friend and I think I trew mine away like I do everything else from the Army. I thought it was just another recruiting thing. Do you think they will send another? I don't want to get in trouble. I mean if they really wanted to know we got it they would have certified the letters, right? What should I do?

What you should do is call your local Reserve Center Retention NCO or HRC and request a copy.
HRC: 800-318-5298

[Unregistered]

Well first off, like you mentioned a few times . YOU did not follow through, nor does it look like you read your contact all the way. IF a soldier is called back in, he/she will recieve the training needed for the mission, so don't assume like you already have been doing. We see what has happened with that already. Sounds like you came in 2002, so yes, you are STILL under contract until 2010. I can go on, but just two more things. Like I mentioned, we all have had our share of "unpleasent moments" in the Army. But again, you just have to "SUCK IT UP" and deal with it. You can't tell me that you just "LOVE" your cuurent job and look forward to "Punching" that clock EVERY... SINGLE.... DAY!! And lastly, your comment about being a "Freindly MSG", I'm very easy going and care about soldiers. Maybe, just maybe having been a
Drill Sgt.................... I just don't care for WHINNERS!

Your FRIENDLY neighborhood MSG


MSG Magana,

Ok, so I signed a contract. First of all, I didn't recieve any benefits other than what was paid to me. I didn't recieve the GI Bill because I was misinformed by a soldier at the in-processing station at basic that I probably wouldn't be able to use it since I already had a college degree and was going to OCS. Whatever, that's my fault for not pressing the issue further while trying not to get yelled at by Drill Sergeants. I regret is, but ultimately it was my own naive fault. However, this was much like when I signed my contract at MEPS and I, as an about to be SPC asked a friendly MSG probably not unlike yourself, what this IRR thing was. I thought I was only signing up for 4 years, what is this about serving until 2010. The response I got was "Oh, that's just a formality. It's basically saying that if World War III breaks out, they can call you back." I thought to myself "Hmm, that sounds ok, because if it's WWIII then the Chinese are probably invading and I'll be needed." You're right. I should've said, "Whoa hold on a minute high speed, let me see the regs because I feel like I shouldn't take you, a non-comissioned officer in the United States Army at his word." Had I read the regs and been able to understand the militarese that I hadn't picked up because I hadn't spent a day in the Army yet, I may have reconsidered joining. But I was fired up after September 11th and wanted to go to Afghanistan.

Now if that same MSG would have said, "Oh it means we basically own your ass for the next 8 years. After you've gotten out, started a family and moved on with your life, we can pull you back, give you little to no re-training and ship you off back to a war that very little of the U.S. will support" then I probably would've have said, thanks but no thanks.

When I was trying to seperate from the Army, they were trying to keep me in past my ETS because I was stationed in Hawaii and they were claiming that automatically extended me. This would've kept me in another 8 months and I would've deployed to Iraq again. After being there 14 months, I wasn't ready to go back. And that would've happened had I not done copious amounts of research and found the regs that said I wasn't obligated to stay past my ETS. I had to shove it down their throats, but they eventually let me go.

The reason people here are worried is because they've been misled time and again by the Army. From stop-loss to extensions to recalls, the Army is very bad at keeping up it's end of the bargain. When I recieve a letter from HRC promising that this is a not call up or a prelude to one, the red star cluster goes up. It has nothing to do with honor, or bravery, or keeping your word. I would gladly put my life on the line again to protect OUR, that's AMERICAN, freedom. It has to do with the Army keeping their word and using the IRR for what it was intended to be used for; a place to go in an emergency to find people that are TRAINED in critical MOSes that the service is short on. When the Army starts keeping it's end of the bargain, I'll start keeping mine.

[Unregistered]

When did I say I didn't follow through? I have never been derelict in any responsibilities. I've kept HRC updated on my whereabouts and told them I couldn't attend the muster. I'm sure that call will be lost by them, but I'm not going to break my back to do their job. And when did I ssay I didn't read my contract all the way? I said I saw what IRR was. I understood what it was used for as explained to me by NCOs at MEPS. You may not like whiners, but I don't like liars.

I appreciate your service, and I am not trying to disrespect you. I'm glad you don't feel like you've ever been mislead by the organization you eagerly joined and continued to serve in. I feel duped in many ways and I say enough is enough.

[Unregistered]

Despite being called "deadbeats" by a previous poster, there is plenty to be concerned about this muster. After talking to a liason with the Defense Department, I learned this is indeed a mobilization. Maybe not the day of the muster but very soon after. This is to keep soldiers who served and who now have started a life outside the Army off guard. Fine print and 8-year commitment taken into account, this is an outrageous request because this war is so unpopular that no one wants to enlist. Is that the fault of people who did perform honorably? This mobilization of those who already served will be an assault on families, and the country's financial situation because jobs and mortgages will be thrown up in the air. If you want to go again then fine. If you do not then there are elected representatives and the media who need to hear your feelings. There needs to be a thunderous response to sneaky behavior. We have a thing to say. It is our lives on the line.

Stan

[Unregistered]

Despite being called "deadbeats" by a previous poster, there is plenty to be concerned about this muster. After talking to a liason with the Defense Department, I learned this is indeed a mobilization. Maybe not the day of the muster but very soon after. This is to keep soldiers who served and who now have started a life outside the Army off guard. Fine print and 8-year commitment taken into account, this is an outrageous request because this war is so unpopular that no one wants to enlist. Is that the fault of people who did perform honorably? This mobilization of those who already served will be an assault on families, and the country's financial situation because jobs and mortgages will be thrown up in the air. If you want to go again then fine. If you do not then there are elected representatives and the media who need to hear your feelings. There needs to be a thunderous response to sneaky behavior. We have a thing to say. It is our lives on the line.

Stan

Looks like we're not the only ones with something to say.....


______________________


WASHINGTON - Republican support for the Iraq war is slipping by the day. After four years of combat and more than 3,560 U.S. deaths, two Republican senators previously reluctant to challenge President Bush on the war announced they could no longer support the deployment of 157,000 troops and asked the president to begin bringing them home.

Continue reading the article at http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070626/ap_on_go_co/us_iraq.

_______________________


This is a significant blow to the administration and it's "policy" on Iraq. These two senators are key players and when they talk, others listen. I have a feeling getting a majority vote in the senate may not be a problem this go around.....

[Unregistered]

Fellow IRR Soldiers,

I was contacted by a Retetnion NCO last week in reference to the IRR Muster. The SFC explained to me about the 24 month mobilization deferrment from involuntary mobilization. I took this offer quick, so I will have piece of mind. I don't have to attend the muster now, and I'm being paid about $250 for my first weekend training before the muster. I also get to use $4,500 in Tuitiion Assistance per year. I also had 37 months remaining on my 8-year commitment, so I was given an affiliation bonus for $10K. The benefits just started to add up. I was Regular Army for 5 years, and the Army Reserve is not bad for a weekend gig.

Your stupid not to take the 24-month deferrement if you have two years remaining on your 8-year commitment. Also the Army Reserve will take you on disability, and if your fat, or flagged from Active Duty. Who knows I may decide to become a Warrant Officer and receive another $10,000. Once I become a Warrant Officer, I will be exempt from deployment for another 3 years. I saw all of this info in policy letters from my Retention NCO, not a shady USAREC recruiter. Like the MSG said, suck it up and drive on. Read your contract and you won't be pointing the finger later on.

Life is good now,

IRR No More

[Unregistered]

This information is from a close friend. She was returned to active duty in the 2004 IRR call-up, and said she one of about a third of the people who actually responded to the IRR orders. She's an admin whacko, a CPT now, so I don't doubt her info. She said this muster is basically a way for the Army to prosecute IRR who fail to respond to orders. In 2004 Congress told the Army they weren't allowed to prosecute no-shows because they had mismanaged acountability of IRR. This muster supposedly allows prosecution of no-shows because the Army is increasing accountability (prosecuted as what though, I'm not sure...).

This is bullshit. Who wouldn't believe this will lead to a mobilization? Is there any other purpose for it? Everyone one of you needs to get your story to the media and your congressmen. America is completely unaware of where this is leading, and the country won't be happy to hear about how its honorable veterans are being treated by an administration that has turned a blind eye to the requests of the American public!

Oh and to the people wondering about VA disability, the Army did eventually release many disabled IRR the last time around, but did so after only after a month or two of in-processing and "reindoctrination" at Fort Jackson. Oh fun... 2 months of profile PT and shit duties halfway across the county while your life has to wait on hold!!

To MSG Magana: I'm a combat 11B veteran of an unjust war on waged on innocent people, and I have MORE than every right to say when and where I'll fight again. If my kids, THOSE WHOSE FUTURE I FOUGHT FOR, are going to have the right to read about it, then I'm goddamned intent on having the right to say how it will be written.

[Another Unregistered User]

Boy, all this stuff is a lot of info to absorb. Some are saying exemptions to musters are easy, others say its a prelude to yet another IRR mobilization, & no one knows exactly what consequences will be brought if IRR muster orders are ignored.

So, to add to the confusion (<:-P), if anyone of you have contacts inside the Army/IRR admin system, here's yet another question:

What will be the structure of future "musters"? For those of you ignoring/excusing your attendance to this one, when will another be organized? And how far apart are these musters from one another? Can they mobilize someone without mustering them first?

[Unregistered]

Wow... I am surprised by the venom in some ofl those previous posts. I am way out of my league, but feel the need to comment about some of the other posts. My son served 3 years active duty, in the 3rd Infantry Division, one of those years deployed to Iraq. When he signed up he completely understood that he was signing up for 8 years. He was only 18 at the time, but seem to be able to "wrap his brain" around his committment. He received an honorable discharge after three years, after repeated attempts to get him to reenlis, all of which he declined, he received an honorable discharge. He is now an IRR. He is curently a full time student in college using the $36,000 from his GI bill. He has a steady, physical job, but has been testing with local law enforcement agencies to become a police officer. He would be the first to tell you that he does not wish to be called up for active duty, but should that happen, he is physical fit to perform in the military. I believe that he would rather continue to complete his BA degree and continue with his goal into the law enforcement field, but would not ever complain about a call to active duty. He says he has no nightmares from serving in Iraq and while injured when deployed, says he is not disabled, and that he was honored to serve. So, not all men (boys) have to same attitude. I suppose the ones that complain in the IRR about an potential for call to active duty should have considered an alternative to their careers when they signed up. All you boys and girls have a brain and can read, I presume, and if you didn't want to make the committment, you should have planned and did something else. Why attack the military for attempting to recruit reserves, they like a private sector cooperation, have a right to recruit. I hope the IRR candidates that can't service don't. God bless our all our soilders.

Thank you for your comments. I hope everyone from page 19 and back comes to this page and reads it.

[Unregistered]

Well considering that most of the IRR is unaccounted for and not responding recruiting emails, this is well worth it. If they were going to send you sure thing they probably wouldnt pay you for the muster and then show you recruiting videos. They would do a test and you would be on your way to a mob station. The amount of people voluntarily signing up from this is probably worth the $175 per person alone. Besides you forget that if you got the orders they have your info anyway. I have talked to a couple of people that were in an IRR call up and they just got a mob order and no Muster.

As for me they local readiness NCO hasnt returned my call and I was also told that the event was not at the MEPS.

[Unregistered]

Well considering that most of the IRR is unaccounted for and not responding recruiting emails, this is well worth it. If they were going to send you sure thing they probably wouldnt pay you for the muster and then show you recruiting videos. They would do a test and you would be on your way to a mob station. The amount of people voluntarily signing up from this is probably worth the $175 per person alone. Besides you forget that if you got the orders they have your info anyway. I have talked to a couple of people that were in an IRR call up and they just got a mob order and no Muster.

As for me they local readiness NCO hasnt returned my call and I was also told that the event was not at the MEPS.

i talked to the nco at hrc-st. louis and he told me this is all administrative stuff. he also told me that once finished with this i would not have to go to another muster of this sort until august of 08 if needed. if they wanted to mobilze you they would do it already. that is how big brother is they will always find you. the only thing i have to bring is just the stuff they requested like medical records of stuff that has happened since i have been out and VA paperwork. i will be there so i don't get into trouble but i am not signing up for anything.

[Unregistered]

After reading this forum I decided to hop on "My Record Portal" through the HRC-Reserves website. Unbeknown to me, I have been issued a muster order. For those of you unfamiliar with the site, once you're logged in click on the "Orders" link on the left side of the screen. I have a muster #, date, and location...where's my hard copy?! Has this happened to anyone else? FYI: I just got off active duty last August and i'm being told to report to a reserve station in Florida.

"The first 5,000 will receive orders to report to one of four reserve centers — in Tacoma, Wash.; Fort Totten, N.Y.; Fort Meade, Md.; or Los Alamitos, Calif. — and will be paid a $176 stipend once they finish the one-day process, Gall said. All 5,000 live within a 50-mile radius of one of the reserve stations[/U], he said."

What ever happened to responsible journalism?

[Unregistered]

After reading this forum I decided to hop on "My Record Portal" through the HRC-Reserves website. Unbeknown to me, I have been issued a muster order. For those of you unfamiliar with the site, once you're logged in click on the "Orders" link on the left side of the screen. I have a muster #, date, and location...where's my hard copy?! Has this happened to anyone else? FYI: I just got off active duty last August and i'm being told to report to a reserve station in Florida.

"The first 5,000 will receive orders to report to one of four reserve centers — in Tacoma, Wash.; Fort Totten, N.Y.; Fort Meade, Md.; or Los Alamitos, Calif. — and will be paid a $176 stipend once they finish the one-day process, Gall said. All 5,000 live within a 50-mile radius of one of the reserve stations[/U], he said."

What ever happened to responsible journalism?

It's not the journalists; they report what they're told. It's the Army changing (once again) it's mind about how it's going to go about this muster. Awfully ambitious for a "test" group I think. But, I think they're hedging their bet on many no shows, and thus the increased amount of orders (and reporting stations) being sent out. Of course, they didn't bother to tell the media (or anyone else for that matter) about it.

[Unregistered]

the nco at st louis did say that army went overboard with the 30,000 they are mustering. it sure is causing problems for them as well. i saw my muster orders on the website as well. i got my notice 2 weeks later through regular mail. don't blame the reporter blame the army. they are stupid just like the officer that started this thread.

[Unregistered]

I'm just trying to be a father
Raise a daughter and a son
Be a lover to their mother
Everything to everyone
Up and at 'em, bright and early
I'm all business in my suit
Yeah, I'm dressed up for success
From my head down to my boots

I don't do it for the money
There's bills that I can't pay
I don't do it for the glory
I just do it anyway
Providing for our future's my responsibility
Yeah I'm real good under pressure
Being all that I can be

And I can't call in sick on Mondays
when the weekends been too strong
I just work straight through the holidays
And sometimes all night long
You can bet that I stand ready when the wolf growls at the door
Hey, I'm solid, hey I'm steady, hey, I'm true down to the core

And I will always do my duty no matter what the price
I've counted up the cost, I know the sacrifice
Oh, and I don't want to die for you
but if dyin's asked of me
I'll bare that cross with honor
'cause freedom don't come free

I'm an American soldier, an American
beside my brothers and my sisters I will proudly take a stand
when liberty's in jeopardy I will always do what's right
I'm out here on the front line
Sleep in peace tonight
American soldier, I'm an American soldier

Yeah, an American soldier, an American
beside my brothers and my sisters I will proudly take a stand
when liberty's in jeopardy I will always do what's right
I'm out here on the front line
So Sleep in peace tonight
American soldier, I'm an American
An American, an American soldier

[Unregistered]

Man!! i am in fucking school going to graduate in 10 months(i am in a programe that can't be put on hold), i have clinicals alll summer. I did my fucking tour in iraq. What the hell else do they want from me, am i not supose to have a life. They can go fuck themselfs, I have been doing this song and dance with them since i got out in 2004.(treaten to call me back)

All they are doing is burning the crap out of our boys and want more suckers to go back overthere. They can't get there shit together. By doing this the army as set themselves up for failure in the future, nobody is going to want to join.

I am sure people would love to know that the reward you get for serving your country is to be FUCK with and treaten to be sent back to that smelly shithole of a country.

half the fuckin recruiters that call me havin put there time in the box. fuck them FUCK THEM!!!!!!!

they can go to hell with there muster and letters and horse shit. And invest the money spent on trying to do these muster on something elsed. I am sure somebody could thing of a better place to spend on, America we be a good place to start.

The only way there a going to stop fuckin with us is if we stick together and fight back!!! fight back!!! LETS START WITH MEDIA WHO LOVES A GOOD STORY!!!!!!!! FUCK THEM ALL, WE HAVE RIGHTS!!! ANd don't give me that kakameme bullshit that i signeD my name on the doted line, guess what? my priorities have change!!!! I aint no fuckin SUCKER!!!!!

[Unregistered]

well i guess he did not like the lyrics either.

[Unregistered]

I received one of these orders. Pretty official and everything. I just moved to Iowa from Florida and in the process updated my address as I was supposed to. I still received the orders, with my Florida address on them stating that I need to report to the Tampa station for 1 day.

I called and talked to the Sgt on duty at HRC in St. Louis. She gave me two options. Go to a local station in Iowa or not participate. I chose not to participate because I'm not going to take a day off of work to do this and it was no problem.

I really do think this is something to simply get people to call in and for those that do show up offer to sign them up in the reserves. Nothing sinister but certainly not a good way to spend money.

[Unregistered]

All I know is you better go, I had a friend no show up and the Army took punitive action on him. When you are assigned to the (IRR) Individual Ready Reserve that word READY means something so........just do your job all of us knew that we signed up for 8 years and now more than ever that is important seeing how our brothers and sisters are going on their 4th deployments overseas.

Be grateful that we are here and we can make decisions, others don't have the same inconvenience.

[Unregistered]

Hey I've watched all the chit chat because I'm a MOM and worried. My son is 25 mos from out on his irr but is currently at 30% VA disability. He is OIF2 and it took at least a year after discharge (18 mos back from Baghdad) to START to become "himself". Earlier someone posted "what percent disability" to exempt from irr. I have yet to find out. All regs posted (pdf down loads) did not state a difinitive a percentage. I'm trying to be upbeat, as this is an administrative iissue (other branches participate in anual muster) and part of THE committment (contract) to update records. I understand. Outside the political and emotional issues, is there anyone who can actually give a difinitive answer to this question. Hey, how about you Major????, or was is LT Major???

[Unregistered]

I hope all the cowards that don't report as ordered get prosecuted. I was in the 2005 IRR and deployed to Iraq and not as a fobbit. When I got back I was dumb enough to get back in the system and joined a TPU and now I'm mobilizing again for OIF. But know what? I'm not blaming anyone except myself and I'm keeping a good attitude. I gambled that since I got back in 2006 and that my new unit had deployed twice to Afghanistan that I wouldn't get called up again and I lost.

All you whiners signed a contract just like me so live up to it.

[Another Unregistered User]

Hey I've watched all the chit chat because I'm a MOM and worried. My son is 25 mos from out on his irr but is currently at 30% VA disability. He is OIF2 and it took at least a year after discharge (18 mos back from Baghdad) to START to become "himself". Earlier someone posted "what percent disability" to exempt from irr. I have yet to find out. All regs posted (pdf down loads) did not state a difinitive a percentage. I'm trying to be upbeat, as this is an administrative iissue (other branches participate in anual muster) and part of THE committment (contract) to update records. I understand. Outside the political and emotional issues, is there anyone who can actually give a difinitive answer to this question. Hey, how about you Major????, or was is LT Major???

RE: Army mom with disabled son:

I know what you're going through (well... okay, my MOM knows exactly what you're going through), I'm in the same boat as your son (50% VA disability & on IRR/IW). I have asked the exact same question you're asking on multiple sites (& GI rights hotline), no one has given me any definitive answers either. However, at one of these other sites, I was told that the army is SUPPOSED TO (READ AGAIN: SUPPOSED TO) rate IRR veterans the same way that the VA does (in determining how functional they are). However, I have read horror stories online that even those w/ 70% VA rating are getting called & having their exemptions denied (do not freak out, this is only a rumor/net chatter afterall). If you want to know where I got this from, you can go to the following link, it has lots of good IRR info/speculation, but you'd have to do a lot of reading & sift through lots of political arguments just as you do here:

http://polybius.blogs.com/left_of_way/irr_information/index.html

My apologies, I know its not the definitive answer you wanted, but I hope it still helps.

[Unregistered]

I can't believe what I'm reading. I'm from the old school. You IRR Soldiers that are on disability are the same ones that are applying for the local police and fire departments. I see many of you applying for the Post Office and using your disabilty for a 5 point cushion on the written exam. If you can carry a 40lb mail bag for 8 hrs a day, then you can definetly man a desk in Iraq. If you more than 50% disabled you can be mobilized. When I was deployed in theater, I had to deal with a bunch of whining IRR Soldiers, who were on various disability percentages. If your disabled for a tiny scar, or a elbow that doesn't extend to full extension, then you can sit behind a desk, or give in-out processing briefs in Kuwait. If you get your IRR Muster order, call that Retention NCO's number and sign up for the Army Reserve and take the 24-month non-mobilization program if you want some stability.

Thank you MSG Magana for serving our country with pride and honor.

U.S. Army (Retired)
CSM Hooks

[Unregistered]

I can't believe what I'm reading. I'm from the old school. You IRR Soldiers that are on disability are the same ones that are applying for the local police and fire departments. I see many of you applying for the Post Office and using your disabilty for a 5 point cushion on the written exam. If you can carry a 40lb mail bag for 8 hrs a day, then you can definetly man a desk in Iraq. If you more than 50% disabled you can be mobilized. When I was deployed in theater, I had to deal with a bunch of whining IRR Soldiers, who were on various disability percentages. If your disabled for a tiny scar, or a elbow that doesn't extend to full extension, then you can sit behind a desk, or give in-out processing briefs in Kuwait. If you get your IRR Muster order, call that Retention NCO's number and sign up for the Army Reserve and take the 24-month non-mobilization program if you want some stability.

Thank you MSG Magana for serving our country with pride and honor.

U.S. Army (Retired)
CSM Hooks




BLOW ME....HOPE VA TAKES CARES OF YOUR ASS WHEN YOUR OLD AND DECREPID.....DOESNT LOOK LIKE THERE DOING A GOOD JOB SO FAR (BUT YOUR TOO F'ING BLIND TO SEE THAT, OR TOO DUMB TO UNDERSTAND THE NEWS) ~ ENJOY YOUR RETIREMENT CSM

[Unregistered]

See, that's what happen! They give all the reserve a 24 month non mobilization. That's why they calling the F****** IRR that haven't done any training!

Will somebody tell me what are we fighting for right now? Why are we doing this war? This is all BS!!!

[Unregistered]

I am pretty amazed at the level of disrespect shown on here to everyone. Those who are willing to fulfill their commitment and report to the muster even though they might not want to are blind idiots that don't know the truth about what's going on and have their heads up their institutionalized asses. Those who are trying to find a way to continue on with the life they have grown to love even though they know they signed an 8 year commitment are lazy cowards who should leave the country. How about everyone stops with the disrespect. Those who choose to go to the muster have just decided that they feel it is right for them to fulfill their commitment. That's not hurting any of you. And those who skip will probably get what's coming to them in the end.

[Unregistered]

Hi. My name is CPTKEVIN and I have kept a website up and running since 2004 concerning the IRR and IRR recalls into the military. I, myself, was recalled into the Army after 13 years out in 2004. I successfully appled for and received an exemption. If you go to <a href="http://the commandtoc.com">The Command T.O.C.</a> you can read everything you want about this to include how many have exemptions and many have just walked away.

The Army right now is terminally sick and they are looking for bodies to go and act as a "body count" and this has been caused by Rumsfeld, Bush and Cheney.

If you want to read just about the IRR, you can go to the site and on the left hand side you can click on the subject topic "IRR" and only posts dealing with the IRR will show up.

Not only is this war a political travesty but it is also being commissioned by INCOMPETENT Military leaders. Do you want yourself or your sons/daughters to go to war being led by this group of keystone cops who are leading the military? This is a joke. THEY (The military leaders) have LOST THIS WAR. Don't be a part of it.

[Unregistered]

Sorry, I guess HTML is not allowed... go to http://thecommandtoc.com

[Unregistered]

Cptkevin> Rock On Brother!! The Helll With Them!!!!

[Unregistered]

I just hope all you "hooah"-types have a fun time out there in the desert. And when they put you on that annual SWA rotation, and you've just missed your child's birthday for the 6th time in a row, and he/she is thinking "well, my dad, he never spent much time with me, but at least he was a patriot and fulfilling his contractual obligation." Meanwhile, your wife has had it and is now banging that special someone behind your back, but hey...don't worry....you'll never find out, your too busy fulfilling those obligations and being a "patriot" guarding some piece of primo sand-real estate [or the Iraqi's that are being "trained"].

Now, it just so happens that on your 7th time back, you just don't happen to be so lucky and well...you end up missing (we'll be generous.....) maybe a foot. Well, thats okay...Uncle Sam will take care of you via the wonderful VA Healthscare System (healthSCARE...not a typo). If you haven't noticed...the VA Health system isn't up to par lately and with all these wounded soldiers coming back and our boys in blue (blue suits, that is) not wanting to adequately fund it, because they are too busy trying to fund their pet projects, and in all honesty, are more concerned about fixing the US Healthcare System before they even begin to think about fixing the VA system. So, now your stuck in the VA system for the remainder of your existence, and many will be looking forward to that monthly VA disability check, so you can send a % of it to your ex-wife with your grown up kids who now resent you (ever heard "cats in the cradle"?) and won't even make the 30 minute drive it takes to come see you because, "hey....you were never around".

I just want you to imagine [or witness, for you boys in green already over there] a few select contractors/businesses out there (I'm closely related to one of them) making a whole lot of money off of what little sense of self you have~ this phony crap where you actually believe your making a change for the better out there or "doing this for the people back home". How many of you think we would have been better-off investing the $400 billion in national defense? Honestly? Think about the leaps and bounds we would have made there....now it is only a matter of time because we can't even build a proper chain-linked fence in Mexico. Those people [middle easterners] have been killing each other since the dawn of time and they will continue to do so as they need someone, anyone, to hate. Almost doesn't even matter who it is. Sure they hate us especially. Primarily because of our support of Israel....at least that use to be the reason.. .NOW they actually hate us worse than the Israeli's. And some of you are calling this progress. Must be a relief to be blind to all you see around you, or is that just denial. Their body count doesn't matter much because the 5 year old that just watched his daddy get killed by the "evil-Americans" will be sure to educate his kids on why it is important to hate us and seek revenge.

I want you to especially read the verse that addresses "BRAINWASHED PRIDE" and look in the mirror and know that your sweat, blood and tears of your families are financing a few ivy league educations and IRA's of a few select individuals, but go on...carry your head high and say nothing about what is going on at this moment in history

To the bloody hands of the hypnotized, i dedicate this song to you...

What we've got here is failure to communicate.
Some men you just can't reach...
So, you get what we had here last week,
which is the way he wants it!
Well, he gets it!
N' I don't like it any more than you men." *

Look at your young men fighting
Look at your women crying
Look at your young men dying
The way they've always done before

Look at the hate we're breeding
Look at the fear we're feeding
Look at the lives we're leading
The way we've always done before

My hands are tied
The billions shift from side to side
And the wars go on with BRAINWASHED PRIDE
For the love of God and our human rights
And all these things are swept aside
By bloody hands time can't deny
And are washed away by your genocide
And history hides the lies of our civil wars

D'you wear a black armband
When they shot the man
Who said "Peace could last forever"
And in my first memories
They shot Kennedy
I went numb when I learned to see
So I never fell for Vietnam
We got the wall of D.C. to remind us all
That you can't trust freedom
When it's not in your hands
When everybody's fightin'
For their promised land

And
I don't need your civil war
It feeds the rich while it buries the poor
Your power hungry sellin' soldiers
In a human grocery store
Ain't that fresh
I don't need your civil war

Look at the shoes your filling
Look at the blood we're spilling
Look at the world we're killing
The way we've always done before
Look in the doubt we've wallowed
Look at the leaders we've followed
Look at the lies we've swallowed
And I don't want to hear no more

My hands are tied
For all I've seen has changed my mind
But still the wars go on as the years go by
With no love of God or human rights
'Cause all these dreams are swept aside
By bloody hands of the hypnotized
Who carry the cross of homicide
And history bears the scars of our civil wars

"We practice selective annihilation of mayors
And government officials
For example to create a vacuum
Then we fill that vacuum
As popular war advances
Peace is closer" **

I don't need your civil war
It feeds the rich while it buries the poor
Your power hungry sellin' soldiers
In a human grocery store
Ain't that fresh
And I don't need your civil war
I don't need your civil war
I don't need your civil war
Your power hungry sellin' soldiers
In a human grocery store
Ain't that fresh
I don't need your civil war
I don't need one more war

I don't need one more war
Whaz so civil 'bout war anyway


Charles

[Unregistered]

man charles you turned into james hetfield of metallica.

[Unregistered]

I'm a 6-year veteran with one deployment under my belt to Afghanistan. I always felt like a missed the boat because I didn't do my tour in Iraq. I saw my Soldiers lose legs, eyes, and lives; I watched as friends, good men with a lot to look forward to, were maimed; I said goodbye to countless friends as they were sent once again on deployments away from their families and their lives. I was prepared to walk away from the Army, but discovered a new path as a PA, in which I could still serve, but make some sense of the situation.

I know full well what I am endeavoring to do, that as a PA with experience in the infantry, I will go to a line unit and deploy (more than likely several times) and I'm happy to be able to finally do what I feel is my part. However, I'm not prepared to point my finger at those who are outraged on this site and call them "deadbeats!" I have friends that have spent more time overseas in the last 6 years, than they have at home. I pass no judgement on them or any other person who had the guts to stand up and serve, even if it's for a short time.

Which of us hasn't made a decision without fully realizing the consequences. I see a lot of combat experience on this site and I am willing to bet that the majority of people posting here were put in a situation where they had to make a decision without all the facts and under duress. Yet, each and every one probably did the best they could. That's what it comes down to for these individuals here; they did the best they could. Most were shoved a document under their nose, either as a wet behind the ears teen or having just been screamed at as they had their head shaved, and told to sign. And they signed, wanting to do the right thing, without realizing the consequences. The law distinguishes between decisions made under duress and pre-meditation, so why is this any different? These people have done their part. If they wish to leave, then let them go. We're arguing about a small percentage of the population, and how many healthy aged males and females in this country would never even consider stepping into any one of their shoes, yet still enjoy the luxuries of their sacrifice? Regardless of opinions on how this war was/is fought or whether it's just or not, the undeniable fact is that these are a small group of people who have seen and done some of the most amazing things and dealt with equally disturbing situations, all in an effort to do their part. Let's stop punishing those that volunteered and start looking for another way to meet the Nation's goals.

[Unregistered]

I'm a 6-year veteran with one deployment under my belt to Afghanistan. I always felt like a missed the boat because I didn't do my tour in Iraq. I saw my Soldiers lose legs, eyes, and lives; I watched as friends, good men with a lot to look forward to, were maimed; I said goodbye to countless friends as they were sent once again on deployments away from their families and their lives. I was prepared to walk away from the Army, but discovered a new path as a PA, in which I could still serve, but make some sense of the situation.

I know full well what I am endeavoring to do, that as a PA with experience in the infantry, I will go to a line unit and deploy (more than likely several times) and I'm happy to be able to finally do what I feel is my part. However, I'm not prepared to point my finger at those who are outraged on this site and call them "deadbeats!" I have friends that have spent more time overseas in the last 6 years, than they have at home. I pass no judgement on them or any other person who had the guts to stand up and serve, even if it's for a short time.

Which of us hasn't made a decision without fully realizing the consequences. I see a lot of combat experience on this site and I am willing to bet that the majority of people posting here were put in a situation where they had to make a decision without all the facts and under duress. Yet, each and every one probably did the best they could. That's what it comes down to for these individuals here; they did the best they could. Most were shoved a document under their nose, either as a wet behind the ears teen or having just been screamed at as they had their head shaved, and told to sign. And they signed, wanting to do the right thing, without realizing the consequences. The law distinguishes between decisions made under duress and pre-meditation, so why is this any different? These people have done their part. If they wish to leave, then let them go. We're arguing about a small percentage of the population, and how many healthy aged males and females in this country would never even consider stepping into any one of their shoes, yet still enjoy the luxuries of their sacrifice? Regardless of opinions on how this war was/is fought or whether it's just or not, the undeniable fact is that these are a small group of people who have seen and done some of the most amazing things and dealt with equally disturbing situations, all in an effort to do their part. Let's stop punishing those that volunteered and start looking for another way to meet the Nation's goals.

Well put. Best post I've seen on this board.

[Unregistered]

After reading most of these pages and having just gotten my Air Force IRR discharge (even though I had 13years active I was still listed in the non-participating, non-obligated RR...imagine that!). I wouldn't have gone. It doesn't apply to me being I served more than 8 total years, but for those that did not and have the obligation, you knew what it was. I think the anger that comes with it though now, is that in the time we (me especially) experienced something that completely soured our impression of the military, regardles of the branch.
That happened to me, and I can admit that I got kicked out in a manner of speaking. I f'ed up and took my lumps, left with an Honorable. Four Honorable discharges over those years. I personally resent the fact that I still get recruitment BS in my mailbox four times a year from the KS and MO ANG, as well as the AFRES. Not good enough to remain on AD, but we'll love you in the Reserve? GIVE ME A F'IN BREAK.
So that's my piece on it...it's not that folks really want to ignore the obligation that they new full well of when they signed, but between then and now, something happened, they experienced something at the hands of the military that has caused them to feel the way they do.
If I was to receive a Muster order...not going. Never received one either. I've moved three times since I left AD and never once updated my address. Not going to do it. For me personally, I made my bed and I accepted my punishment. But you don't, WILL NOT, get to treat me like that and then come around on the backside and tell me you still want me??
Not only NO. But HELL F'in NO.

Vince Carter

[Unregistered]

I'm a 6-year veteran with one deployment under my belt to Afghanistan. I always felt like a missed the boat because I didn't do my tour in Iraq. I saw my Soldiers lose legs, eyes, and lives; I watched as friends, good men with a lot to look forward to, were maimed; I said goodbye to countless friends as they were sent once again on deployments away from their families and their lives. I was prepared to walk away from the Army, but discovered a new path as a PA, in which I could still serve, but make some sense of the situation.

I know full well what I am endeavoring to do, that as a PA with experience in the infantry, I will go to a line unit and deploy (more than likely several times) and I'm happy to be able to finally do what I feel is my part. However, I'm not prepared to point my finger at those who are outraged on this site and call them "deadbeats!" I have friends that have spent more time overseas in the last 6 years, than they have at home. I pass no judgement on them or any other person who had the guts to stand up and serve, even if it's for a short time.

Which of us hasn't made a decision without fully realizing the consequences. I see a lot of combat experience on this site and I am willing to bet that the majority of people posting here were put in a situation where they had to make a decision without all the facts and under duress. Yet, each and every one probably did the best they could. That's what it comes down to for these individuals here; they did the best they could. Most were shoved a document under their nose, either as a wet behind the ears teen or having just been screamed at as they had their head shaved, and told to sign. And they signed, wanting to do the right thing, without realizing the consequences. The law distinguishes between decisions made under duress and pre-meditation, so why is this any different? These people have done their part. If they wish to leave, then let them go. We're arguing about a small percentage of the population, and how many healthy aged males and females in this country would never even consider stepping into any one of their shoes, yet still enjoy the luxuries of their sacrifice? Regardless of opinions on how this war was/is fought or whether it's just or not, the undeniable fact is that these are a small group of people who have seen and done some of the most amazing things and dealt with equally disturbing situations, all in an effort to do their part. Let's stop punishing those that volunteered and start looking for another way to meet the Nation's goals.


Brilliant. To each his own. Good luck all whatever you decide.

[Unregistered]

I'm a 6-year veteran with one deployment under my belt to Afghanistan. I always felt like a missed the boat because I didn't do my tour in Iraq. I saw my Soldiers lose legs, eyes, and lives; I watched as friends, good men with a lot to look forward to, were maimed; I said goodbye to countless friends as they were sent once again on deployments away from their families and their lives. I was prepared to walk away from the Army, but discovered a new path as a PA, in which I could still serve, but make some sense of the situation.

I know full well what I am endeavoring to do, that as a PA with experience in the infantry, I will go to a line unit and deploy (more than likely several times) and I'm happy to be able to finally do what I feel is my part. However, I'm not prepared to point my finger at those who are outraged on this site and call them "deadbeats!" I have friends that have spent more time overseas in the last 6 years, than they have at home. I pass no judgement on them or any other person who had the guts to stand up and serve, even if it's for a short time.

Which of us hasn't made a decision without fully realizing the consequences. I see a lot of combat experience on this site and I am willing to bet that the majority of people posting here were put in a situation where they had to make a decision without all the facts and under duress. Yet, each and every one probably did the best they could. That's what it comes down to for these individuals here; they did the best they could. Most were shoved a document under their nose, either as a wet behind the ears teen or having just been screamed at as they had their head shaved, and told to sign. And they signed, wanting to do the right thing, without realizing the consequences. The law distinguishes between decisions made under duress and pre-meditation, so why is this any different? These people have done their part. If they wish to leave, then let them go. We're arguing about a small percentage of the population, and how many healthy aged males and females in this country would never even consider stepping into any one of their shoes, yet still enjoy the luxuries of their sacrifice? Regardless of opinions on how this war was/is fought or whether it's just or not, the undeniable fact is that these are a small group of people who have seen and done some of the most amazing things and dealt with equally disturbing situations, all in an effort to do their part. Let's stop punishing those that volunteered and start looking for another way to meet the Nation's goals.

yeah one of the best post's in a while but my question is why bother with the nation's goals when we cannot take care of problems here on our soil but we sure can police the entire world!? i am not the one to lecture but until this nation and it's people start holding leaders accountable and take care of business here i will not listen to stories or lectures regarding "the nations goals" when this nation has gone straight down the tubes!

[Unregistered]

I no longer believe in what we’re doing in Iraq. I’ve killed Iraqis, hit their cars, screamed at them, pointed multiple weapons at them, interrogated them, trained them, watched them use their training on me in an effort to kill me, stopped them from looting, stopped them from killing each other, helped them kill each other, and so on. And after years of combat, multiple tours, multiple strategies, offences, surges, elections, civic infrastructure programs, billions of Dollars, thousands of lives, what do we have to show for it? Be honest with yourself. Are we better off? The answer is resoundingly clear to everyone who has deployed with open eyes: NO! I’m not saying there haven’t been incredible acts of kindness and bravery, because I’ve seen them. But all you have to do it look at Baghdad and its clear, the place in a complete disaster, worse off than I ever could have imagined in 2003 and getting worse by the day. I refuse to attend the muster and refuse to participate in this mess any more, regardless of what I signed. It’s morally wrong, period.

[Unregistered]

yeah one of the best post's in a while but my question is why bother with the nation's goals when we cannot take care of problems here on our soil but we sure can police the entire world!? i am not the one to lecture but until this nation and it's people start holding leaders accountable and take care of business here i will not listen to stories or lectures regarding "the nations goals" when this nation has gone straight down the tubes!

DAMN RIGHT!

[Unregistered]

Yes, I just received muster orders. Yes, I was Active Duty. Yes I was Honorably Discharged. Yes, I served in Iraq AND Afghanistan while on Active Duty. Yes, after completing my Active Duty term of service, I was recalled involuntarily out of the IRR to serve yet another tour in Iraq. Yes, I have kept my records updated and still have received multiple emails/letters/phone calls from multiple Career Counselors etc. saying I needed to update my records. Don't even get me started on how disorganized and literally f***ed up my recall from the IRR back to an activated Reserve unit was. The system is broken, plain and simple. The reason it is broken is due in part to people like some of the posters here. Ignorant, lazy individuals who have "hidden" out in the system for years, leeching a steady government paycheck/retirement points, while doing nothing to earn it. Paperwork is lost or ignored by these people, because they are accountable to others like themselves. There are good, hardworking people out there, but a majority of the good they do is outweighed by the lazy incompetents. I've seen a large percentage of "good" people leave the military because of this system. Guess where they go until their final ETS? The IRR. The Reserves are a joke. Been there, done that. Yeah, I'm going to comply with my muster orders, same as I complied with my IRR mobilization orders. Not because I like it, but because no one forced me to sign the papers, I did it of my own free will and will take responsibility for my actions.

[Unregistered]

How do they really even know you got the muster orders? Unless they track me down, arrive at my door and issue the orders in person, I see no reason to reply. Just as many have said, we have started new lives, and are out of the Army (myself 2 years) and are not at all physically or mentally prepared to go into Baghdad again. I was there for a year, but I was in a sharp unit with men that I was leading who I trusted, and knew; men would I had been training with for a while. I would not be able to look a battalion commander in the face and say that I was confident in leading soldiers in combat/patrol. It seems to me if you go to the muster you're fucked. If everyone didn't call or report then the army couldn't do shit.

CPT.

[Unregistered]

How do they really even know you got the muster orders? Unless they track me down, arrive at my door and issue the orders in person, I see no reason to reply. Just as many have said, we have started new lives, and are out of the Army (myself 2 years) and are not at all physically or mentally prepared to go into Baghdad again. I was there for a year, but I was in a sharp unit with men that I was leading who I trusted, and knew; men would I had been training with for a while. I would not be able to look a battalion commander in the face and say that I was confident in leading soldiers in combat/patrol. It seems to me if you go to the muster you're fucked. If everyone didn't call or report then the army couldn't do shit.

CPT.

Right on, Sir!

[Unregistered]

Fuckin a sir, you said it. I'm not doing shit after keeping up with this board, and realizing no one else wants to do it either. Let them come to me.

[21B]

Hell Yeah! We are finally realizing what's going on!

[Unregistered]

Reading this board put me through a lot of emotions, I was going back and forth on the issue. I still am I think. I have 3 months ('til Sept. 11th ) left in IRR and I believe this keeps me safe, especially since the muster isn't until late August for myself. But does it really? What says they won't pull some crazy reg or code up that says I can be extended beyond this time. I'm not up on the regs so I can't say that there isn't one. I know I'm not the only one that thinks the Army should be going after some teenage emo-kid who hates life anyway. I know we signed up for 8 years. But that's it. 8 years is 8 years. Not 8 years plus whatever else they can tack on before it's up. I also happen to be a police officer and cringe at the thought of being locked up for being AWOL from the IRR. Are they nuts? Hopefully they can see that locking up "deserters" (Whatever.) will only cause severe repercussions on the media/public community side. At this point I am still confused because I cannot afford to leave home because of some Army propaganda scam, and I cannot afford to lose my benefits or be arrested for not showing up. I loved the Army for many reasons, but that time is over, I have moved on to other (Won't say bigger or even better.) things and my life is the way I want it. I deserve this life, as we all do, we have given more than most.

MP SGT

[Unregistered]

I am a Staff Sergeant who recently returned from a combat tour where I lost a close friend to a roadside bomb. I also just got my muster letter in the mail. I was kind of confused at first and I then called the HRC number. I found HRC to be quite helpful and I explained that I was unable to attend on either of the assigned days. The sergeant I spoke to was very helpful and I was able to get excused. I am a cyncal person by nature and I am always questioning why things are done. I got out of the guard and went in the IRR with no intention of re-enlisting when my MSO is up. I was reading that some people are talking about ignoring the orders. Honestly, I thought about that for a quick second. Then I thought about my friend who was also my platoon sergeant that was killed. I know he would want me to do the right thing and follow my assigned directions as ordered. My tour in Iraq was extremely violent as it probably was for the rest of you soldiers who served over there. I had a few close calls while I was there and I am thankful to be back home alive and in one piece. As much as I am against the war and as much as I do not want to go back. I just want to be able to look at myself in the mirror and know that I did the right thing. I urge you ladies an gentlemen to be the soldiers that you are and follow up on your orders. If you can't make it to the muster, just let them know and be forward with things when you speak to HRC. I know what some of you are thinking, don't worry, I am not an HRC soldier or recruiter posting on this to trick you. I am just a burned out staff sergeant who misses a good friend and brave soldier. Thank you for your service.

SSG R

[PFC 3yrs AD]

Doing the right thing gets your ass killed.

A recently retired SSG I knew and worked with came back from Iraq totally fucked up. When you talked to him you could tell there was something mentally wrong with him. What I found out only served to reinforce my belief to do what you believe in regardless of how other people may look at it.

This SSG was in command of a troop of enlisted PAD. For those of you who don't know what that department is they're in charge of paperwork. He was ordered by some 2 bit LT to do a patrol. He refused, for the simple matter that they were not only not trained as Infantry they had no backup. Now to anyone who will say the old "you are a soldier first" bullshit line obviously never did anything other than combat arms. In my 3 years in the Army as medical the only time I fired a rifle was at the range in Basic. The LT basically told him "fine you stay here I'm taking your troops with me on patrol". They all ended up dead. 11 or so people directly under his command were dead and there was nothing he could do about it. The soldiers under his command, had they refused, would probably still be alive today.

Now to anyone else talking about home and country, duty this, contract that, fine. Go do what you preach and volounteer yourself for another tour, because I, personally, I'm going to look out for my own neck. The Army is an institution, and like any other institution its main goal is the perpetuation of it's existence.

[Unregistered]

i got my orders, i will show up but i am not signing up for anything no matter what they try. if they try any shit i will get up and walk away.

[Unregistered]

I received "muster orders" last week. Having had cancer 5 years ago and recently diagnosed with a Hypothyrodism (under active thyroid), do you think I'm too broke for them to take me? This does indeed sound like a ploy to get you into the reserves. Another question would be am I more likely to be called to duty while in the IRR or in a Reserve unit? I was under the impression that if called from the IRR they can reclass you into anything there was a shortage on, ie 88M, true? false? Thanks and best of luck to everyone.

[Unregistered]

I received "muster orders" last week. Having had cancer 5 years ago and recently diagnosed with a Hypothyrodism (under active thyroid), do you think I'm too broke for them to take me? This does indeed sound like a ploy to get you into the reserves. Another question would be am I more likely to be called to duty while in the IRR or in a Reserve unit? I was under the impression that if called from the IRR they can reclass you into anything there was a shortage on, ie 88M, true? false? Thanks and best of luck to everyone.

It's not only a ploy to get you into the reserves, but it's also a method for them to discharge people who have no further use for military servcie (seems like you would qualify). I really don't think they can automatically reclass you, especially if your branch has already sunk a bunch of money into training you, unless your MOS is being done away with. Even then it would be a tremendous effort on their part because they would have to send you to AIT to officially reclass your MOS. As for where you're more likely to get mobilized, I would say the reserves. There are only 2,000 IRR soldiers in Iraq compared to the many, many reserve units there. If you want to remain in the military, the National Guard is the way to go. Very difficult for the president to moblize them without the authorization of the state. Or get into the Air Force reserves. They do like, two month rotations to Iraq.

[Unregistered]

The way I see it, here are the options if you don't want to go to the muster. #1 be a contractor. I heard that if you are a contractor for the army, it's like serving your country and getting a heck of lot more money for it and the army is less likely to pull you away to send you to Iraq. #2, sign up with the Air Force reserve. They only deploy 4 months max i heard and the army cannot touch you. #3, sign up with the army reserve where they can't touch you for 24 months but that can change at anytime. I don't really trust anything the army say anymore. #4, don't go. Just wait for them to make another attempt via certified mail and then decide then. i think this muster is really not a mobilization bust just something to get you ready for one. If there is going to be one, you will be definitely be the selected because they know you a ready and have all your records so try to avoid the muster as much as possible but I wouldn't just go awol. Seriously, AF reserve is the way to go in my opinion. I already contacted the recruiter and he is trying to get me in. He said that if i signed up for 3 years of active reserve, i might even get a bonus. Go Blue!

[Unregistered]

The way I see it, here are the options if you don't want to go to the muster. #1 be a contractor. I heard that if you are a contractor for the army, it's like serving your country and getting a heck of lot more money for it and the army is less likely to pull you away to send you to Iraq. #2, sign up with the Air Force reserve. They only deploy 4 months max i heard and the army cannot touch you. #3, sign up with the army reserve where they can't touch you for 24 months but that can change at anytime. I don't really trust anything the army say anymore. #4, don't go. Just wait for them to make another attempt via certified mail and then decide then. i think this muster is really not a mobilization bust just something to get you ready for one. If there is going to be one, you will be definitely be the selected because they know you a ready and have all your records so try to avoid the muster as much as possible but I wouldn't just go awol. Seriously, AF reserve is the way to go in my opinion. I already contacted the recruiter and he is trying to get me in. He said that if i signed up for 3 years of active reserve, i might even get a bonus. Go Blue!

Pay attention to politics folks. A drawdown in Iraq is going to happen sooner rather than later, and when it does, I just can't see them raiding the IRR at will to fill slots that won't be there. My guess is that by late summer there will be talk about reducing the surge (whether or not it's successful, people are tired of Iraq and so are politicians concerned about their careers....) and then drawing down further from there by winter/spring. Next summer you'll probably see half of what you see now in Iraq and they'll be mostly active duty units providing security for US interests and training the Iraqi forces. The president is either going to do this on his own or have it forced by congress, and if you pay attention to what's going on (yesterday's LA Times article for one.....) you can see things are about to change. Unfortunately for the Army, they need the president and Congress to authorize call ups. They can't do it on their own. Have faith.

[Unregistered]

From the articles I've read it sounded like only 5,000 were asked to muster in WA, CA, NY and TX(?). I just spoke to a civilian at HRC and she advised that 27,000 were sent muster orders. Any info on that? Also, anyone else reporting to muster somewhere other than in one of those four states listed in the Army Times article. I am reporting to an armory in Independence, MO...

[Unregistered]

People,,, when you only have 3 months, 8 months, etc., until you ETS, why do you even put yourselves through such grief? As the SSG said as well as I, CONTACT THE HRC AND GET EXCUSED! They are very easy going, and once you get a permission to be excused, you don't have to sit there and be torn as to what you should do! It is an order anyway, so you can't ignore it, so, get excused or go damn it!

[Unregistered]

From the articles I've read it sounded like only 5,000 were asked to muster in WA, CA, NY and TX(?). I just spoke to a civilian at HRC and she advised that 27,000 were sent muster orders. Any info on that? Also, anyone else reporting to muster somewhere other than in one of those four states listed in the Army Times article. I am reporting to an armory in Independence, MO...

Yeah, I think they're being a bit ambitious in the "test" attempt to reform the IRR. I've seen several other stations being used for the muster as well as a wide range of MOS's and MSO committments (everywhere from one month to three years). Leads me to believe this was pretty random and not a mobilization ambush. But, sticking your neck out to go to this means you're one of the first to be part of the new classification system. Don't know how long they'll work out the kinks before deciding to use it as their primary way to moblize the IRR though. My guess would be a few months, but you never know. Of course, either way, they have your address and can mobilize you anyway, so not going to this isn't really going to change that. And last I checked, DOD had only been authorized to call up some 10,000 total IRR a few years ago (I could be wrong but it's not a significant number given only 2,000 IRR are in Iraq now). They don't have the authority to mobilize more than they're authorized.

[Unregistered]

Go if you want, but I'd wiped my a$$ with theses orders if I got them and if they came again I would do the same. There are other reasons too I won't go, $176 for one day? Sorry that doesn't cover what my work pays me a day. Sorry but I make just around $200 a day and taking the day off to do BS work for them isn't worth my time or effort.

Don't be a sucker, we have the power but if they know where you and you answer them, they can make you go but as with everything in the military just playin' dumb gets you out of most situations and they won't fault you for it. But being high speed gets you everything you don't want.

Work the system and it will work for you! Trust me, I wouldn't go and the only reason I know about this is because a soldier of mine, YES SGT HERE (and still telling you to ignore it!), got these orders and called me to ask what he should do. Same thing I am telling you, play dumb until your time runs out! They can't fault you because you might not have recieved them, understand yet? They never faulted the other people who didn't show up for Call backs to go to Iraq for a year unless they outright said I got it and still not going.

SGT B

A.K.A. Civilian B now

[Unregistered]

From the articles I've read it sounded like only 5,000 were asked to muster in WA, CA, NY and TX(?). I just spoke to a civilian at HRC and she advised that 27,000 were sent muster orders. Any info on that? Also, anyone else reporting to muster somewhere other than in one of those four states listed in the Army Times article. I am reporting to an armory in Independence, MO...

They want me to report to NJ

[Unregistered]

Fort Meade for me

[Unregistered]

I received "muster orders" last week. Having had cancer 5 years ago and recently diagnosed with a Hypothyrodism (under active thyroid), do you think I'm too broke for them to take me? This does indeed sound like a ploy to get you into the reserves. Another question would be am I more likely to be called to duty while in the IRR or in a Reserve unit? I was under the impression that if called from the IRR they can reclass you into anything there was a shortage on, ie 88M, true? false? Thanks and best of luck to everyone.

If your cancer is a remission...no. Hypothyroidism is not a disqualifying factor since it can be treated with medication.

[Unregistered]

It's not only a ploy to get you into the reserves, but it's also a method for them to discharge people who have no further use for military servcie (seems like you would qualify). I really don't think they can automatically reclass you, especially if your branch has already sunk a bunch of money into training you, unless your MOS is being done away with..

Wrong!

http://www.cnn.com/2007/US/06/27/battlefield.breakdown/index.html

[Unregistered]

Wrong!

http://www.cnn.com/2007/US/06/27/battlefield.breakdown/index.html

There is a difference between being officially reclassed by the Army as opposed to being given a different mission. His MOS was the same, but his mission wasn't. Huge difference. You could be deployed as say, an intel analyst, but they could stick you on guard duty, roving patrol, etc. as long as it didn't require some kind of specialized training or certification. I mean, everyone, in every MOS learns how to drive HUMVEES, perform patrols, convoy operations, etc. That's normal soldiering STT type stuff that everyone learns. Taking an infantryman and putting him on a tank is not an MOS reclassification. However, taking an infantryman and having him be a combat medic would get the Army in a whole hell of a lot of trouble if he didn't have the required training and certifications. In addition, when you're activated, you're assigned against a "slot" for that MOS in that unit. It's as specific as MOS and skill level.

[Unregistered]

There is a difference between being officially reclassed by the Army as opposed to being given a different mission. His MOS was the same, but his mission wasn't. Huge difference. You could be deployed as say, an intel analyst, but they could stick you on guard duty, roving patrol, etc. as long as it didn't require some kind of specialized training or certification. I mean, everyone, in every MOS learns how to drive HUMVEES, perform patrols, convoy operations, etc. That's normal soldiering STT type stuff that everyone learns. Taking an infantryman and putting him on a tank is not an MOS reclassification. However, taking an infantryman and having him be a combat medic would get the Army in a whole hell of a lot of trouble if he didn't have the required training and certifications. In addition, when you're activated, you're assigned against a "slot" for that MOS in that unit. It's as specific as MOS and skill level.

Just re-read the article and stand corrected. Thanks for the link. Absolutely disgusting, but I'm not surprised.

[PFC 3yrs AD]

For the record I never learned how to drive a HUMVEE

[Unregistered]

H.R.1585
National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2008 (Reported in House)

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`Sec. 433. Allowance for muster duty or for participation in Reserve screening'.

(2) TABLE OF SECTIONS- The table of sections at the beginning of chapter 7 of title 37, United States Code, is amended by striking the item relating to section 433 and inserting the following new item:

`433. Allowance for muster duty or for participation in Reserve screening.'.

(e) Conforming Amendments to Other Laws-

(1) BAR TO DUAL COMPENSATION FOR INACTIVE-DUTY TRAINING- Section 206 of such title is amended by adding at the end the following new subsection:

`(f) A member of the National Guard or of a reserve component of a uniformed service may not be paid under this section if the member receives a stipend under section 433(b) of this title for the same period.'.

(2) BAR TO RETIREMENT CREDIT- Section 12732(b) of title 10, United States Code, is amended by inserting after paragraph (7) the following new paragraph:

`(8) Participation, through electronic means, in the screening performed pursuant to section 10149 of this title, regardless of whether or not a stipend is paid under section 433(b) of title 37 for such participation.'.

SEC. 632. ALLOWANCE FOR CIVILIAN CLOTHING FOR MEMBERS OF THE ARMED FORCES TRAVELING IN CONNECTION WITH MEDICAL EVACUATION.

Section 1047(a) of title 10, United States Code, is amended by inserting `and luggage' after `civilian clothing' both places it appears.


here s a good starting point for research purposes. i did not see anyhting about recalling IRR soldiers but i do think they need authorization for it from the president and congress.

[Unregistered]

I had a great deal of trouble in Baghdad when I was deployed. I know everyone here saw some bad shit, and lost some friends, as did I. I have had trouble dealing with it, and have had to go on medication. I will serve if called back, but I'm worried about my mental state, especially leading men. If I'm on heavy medication does that stop me from being alowed to muster or serve in uniform in war? I havent got any orders, but am thinking of calling HRC. Does anyone know, or have had the same problems?

CPT 21A

[Unregistered]

I had a great deal of trouble in Baghdad when I was deployed. I know everyone here saw some bad shit, and lost some friends, as did I. I have had trouble dealing with it, and have had to go on medication. I will serve if called back, but I'm worried about my mental state, especially leading men. If I'm on heavy medication does that stop me from being alowed to muster or serve in uniform in war? I havent got any orders, but am thinking of calling HRC. Does anyone know, or have had the same problems?

CPT 21A

first off , i understand what you are going through. i have mental health issues as well as almost 50% disability from VA. secondly, i would wait until you get something in the mail first unless you changed mailing addresses. if you did then you can log onto HRC and check the orders colums and see if there is anything for you. if you get orders, they will not come certified, the will show up in the regular mail. call the number they give you and ask to not attend. that was the first thing out of that nco's mouth when i called..."are you calling to let us know you won't be able to attend" see what they say and go from there.

[Unregistered]

Go if you want, but I'd wiped my a$$ with theses orders if I got them and if they came again I would do the same. There are other reasons too I won't go, $176 for one day? Sorry that doesn't cover what my work pays me a day. Sorry but I make just around $200 a day and taking the day off to do BS work for them isn't worth my time or effort.

Don't be a sucker, we have the power but if they know where you and you answer them, they can make you go but as with everything in the military just playin' dumb gets you out of most situations and they won't fault you for it. But being high speed gets you everything you don't want.

Work the system and it will work for you! Trust me, I wouldn't go and the only reason I know about this is because a soldier of mine, YES SGT HERE (and still telling you to ignore it!), got these orders and called me to ask what he should do. Same thing I am telling you, play dumb until your time runs out! They can't fault you because you might not have recieved them, understand yet? They never faulted the other people who didn't show up for Call backs to go to Iraq for a year unless they outright said I got it and still not going.

SGT B

A.K.A. Civilian B now


SGT B,

The $176.00 is not for a 8hr day. It is for a maximum of 2hrs. Stop being the shit-house lawyer like you used to be in the Army.

[Unregistered]

i live in hawaii and i still got a muster order. well, what do you expect. It's the F*cking ARMY!!!

[former captain]

Former CPT, 13A, awarded BSM and CAB for my year in Ramadi. More than a dozen men in my unit killed, including my good friend, no more than 50 meters from me by a 120mm mortar. There's my street cred.

My advice to anybody possibly getting called up: fight it every step of the way, in any way you can. This war is fucked up. Soldiers, who generally are patriotic and good people, are getting used by the rich so they can get richer. They know now to appeal to us, the people who really love America: play patriotic songs all day long and tell us we're defending our loved ones and our way of life. Why haven't Rumsfeld, Wolfowitz, Cheney, Rove, and others ever served a day in uniform? Because they are too busy trying to enrich themselves and their friends. If you have served in the military, you know damn well you're not going to get rich doing it. Why didn't we send 300,000 soldiers to Iraq, like Shinseki said we needed? Because the war would have ended too soon. Why don't we have more soldiers looking for Bin Laden, the confessed mastermind behind 9/11? Because if we caught him, the public would feel safer and would want the war to end. If the war ended, the gravy train would be over for all the contractors. Iraq's oil fields would be turned over to the Iraqis, who might contract with the Russians, or Chinese, or French to maintain and develop them.

Well, off the soap box. How to fight a call up then? Some people here have asked about what disability level is required to be unqualified for a call up. First thing, check AR 40-501, Standards of Medical Fitness. Chapter 2 covers the medical requirements for those first entering service--there is a lot there that will disqualify you. However, what pertains to most of us is Chapter 3, since we were already on active duty. There is much less there that will disqualify you, but still plenty. I'm not sure if a particular percentage will disqualify you, but there certainly are some conditions that will. For the officer that is taking meds for PTSD, that almost certainly will disqualify you. Review the reg, and then get a civilian doctor to write a note that includes the particular language from the reg that disqualifies you. Be proactive, don't let an army doctor do the assessment on his/her own.

For all others, I don't know the legal ramifications of not responding to the letter. Not sure what I'd do and hopefully won't have to face it.

It's awesome to see so much actual thinking going on here. Lots of former soldiers, talking about the reality of the war, rather than a bunch of mouthpieces spouting the crap they want us to say. They were honest with us about the IRR, mostly. But stop loss? That didn't come down until June of 2004 in a MILPER message. That's changing the contract after its agreed upon. I got stop lossed while in Ramadi, and for damn sure they didn't let me go home at the end of my active duty period. Hey, no worries, I sucked it up. But you can't tell me that that is ethical behavior.

And if this is such a national emergency that they are calling people up out of the IRR, then why aren't commercial auto makers being put to work pumping out uparmored Humvees, or the MRAPs, or any of the other gear our soldiers need over there? And if it's not such a national emergency that the entire nation is being pulled into the fight, maybe we need to rethink how important this fight is to us as Americans.

And why are there people in the army who haven't deployed yet? Don't tell me it's just timing. You all know how some people play favorites, and get their "daddies" who are going to take care of them, and people with bullshit "pain" from supposed knee injuries or bone spurs or whatever. I've heard it all. Get those lifers out from behind their desks and put their asses to work for real.

I guarantee if all those people deployed, we'd see even more of a critical mass to end this bullshit war.

I love the fucking army, and the army loves fucking me.

Good luck to us all.

[Unregistered]

I would highly recommend NOT having any contact with HRC regarding this Muster event. All that does is let them know that you received the Order. The first thing HRC will ask for is your SSN. This Muster is likely nothing more than a recruitimg ambush for the reserves and guard. Those not joining most likely will set themselves up for an IRR deployment in the near future.

I like many here want nothing to do with the ARMY. I served 8 years combined in the active and reserves. I was lucky enough to be "allowed" to resign in Nov 2006. I served under the likes of the good ol MAJOR that started this thread. Being around career megalomanics like him is one of the many reasons I got out of the ARMY the day my MSO expired.

Life is full of choices. From my experience with HRC and my soldiers experiences with them while I was in the reserves, It would appear that they are very disorganized and you will put yourself on their radar by showing up. For those who do show up, I salute you as well...


A former ARMY CPT.

[Unregistered]

What do you think it means if the muster is held at the MEPS? My boyfriend is in the Army and I am wondering what I should expect if his muster duty requires him to report to MEPS?