https://www.rallypoint.com/answers/is-it-possible-to-get-promoted-from-ltc-to-col-in-the-army-s-irr-program <div class="images-v2-count-0"></div>I am a Retired Army Reserve LTC since 2018. I am interested in transferring into the IRR. I have a Ph.D. in Software Engineering from the Naval Postgraduate School and am a Subject Matter Expert in Cyber Defense. I used to be a Professor at the West Point Military Academy as a Reserve Officer. I retired after learning that picking up O-6 as a Professor was an impossible task as I was competing with the active duty guys. I am educationally qualified. <br /><br />If I transfer from the Retired Reserve to the IRR, what happens next relative to the promotion process? I&#39;m okay with the points-only scenario, but I don&#39;t want to waste time if O6 will never be an option in the IRR.<br /><br />Thoughts? Mon, 27 Jan 2020 18:30:21 -0500 https://www.rallypoint.com/answers/is-it-possible-to-get-promoted-from-ltc-to-col-in-the-army-s-irr-program <div class="images-v2-count-0"></div>I am a Retired Army Reserve LTC since 2018. I am interested in transferring into the IRR. I have a Ph.D. in Software Engineering from the Naval Postgraduate School and am a Subject Matter Expert in Cyber Defense. I used to be a Professor at the West Point Military Academy as a Reserve Officer. I retired after learning that picking up O-6 as a Professor was an impossible task as I was competing with the active duty guys. I am educationally qualified. <br /><br />If I transfer from the Retired Reserve to the IRR, what happens next relative to the promotion process? I&#39;m okay with the points-only scenario, but I don&#39;t want to waste time if O6 will never be an option in the IRR.<br /><br />Thoughts? LTC Joey Rivera Mon, 27 Jan 2020 18:30:21 -0500 2020-01-27T18:30:21-05:00 https://www.rallypoint.com/answers/is-it-possible-to-get-promoted-from-ltc-to-col-in-the-army-s-irr-program?n=5490006&urlhash=5490006 <div class="images-v2-count-0"></div>I was promoted in the IRR to COL but I was already board selected; simply was no slots available so had to go IRR to pin it on, then joined the USAR as a COL shortly thereafter. COL Private RallyPoint Member Mon, 27 Jan 2020 18:33:58 -0500 2020-01-27T18:33:58-05:00 https://www.rallypoint.com/answers/is-it-possible-to-get-promoted-from-ltc-to-col-in-the-army-s-irr-program?n=5490595&urlhash=5490595 <div class="images-v2-count-0"></div>I would think you’d have to find a way to come out of the Retired Reserve first. Then you’d probably still need to be on a DA O6 promotion selection list. But that’s my speculation. I’d suggest reaching out to HRC at FT Knox and talk to a SME. COL Dana Hampton Mon, 27 Jan 2020 21:34:17 -0500 2020-01-27T21:34:17-05:00 https://www.rallypoint.com/answers/is-it-possible-to-get-promoted-from-ltc-to-col-in-the-army-s-irr-program?n=5490891&urlhash=5490891 <div class="images-v2-count-0"></div>If you want to come out of retirement, the first question that HRC would look at is how many years as a commissioned officer. I believe an LTC can only have 28. But in any case contact HRC at Knox. But as pointed out earlier, you would still have to find a slot COL Jeff Williams Mon, 27 Jan 2020 23:29:40 -0500 2020-01-27T23:29:40-05:00 https://www.rallypoint.com/answers/is-it-possible-to-get-promoted-from-ltc-to-col-in-the-army-s-irr-program?n=5490927&urlhash=5490927 <div class="images-v2-count-0"></div>I&#39;ve seen a couple such transfers (attempted and failed to facilitate one myself), but regrettably no consistency. Obtaining a suitable physical was one of our biggest hurdles. The time frame is somewhere between 3 months and never. Every one of the grey area to IRR transfers we did was an intermediate step to a TPU (possibly IMA) position. <br /><br />A more realistic path would be transfer would be transfer to TPU through IRR (direct transfer not possible), spend a year drilling, then seek promotion into the IRR. Promotions into the IRR are often easier for senior officers as no position is required. Promotions from within the IRR are a bit tricky because of communication with HRC, and IIRC a requirement for a good year while in the IRR (i.e. drilling for points). SFC Stephen P. Tue, 28 Jan 2020 00:06:48 -0500 2020-01-28T00:06:48-05:00 https://www.rallypoint.com/answers/is-it-possible-to-get-promoted-from-ltc-to-col-in-the-army-s-irr-program?n=5494278&urlhash=5494278 <div class="images-v2-count-0"></div>Yes. I did so. NOTE: If you would like to retire at said rank, you would need to find a way to participate (effectively getting a &quot;good year&quot;), or you run the risk of being involuntarily transferred from the IRR to the Retired Reserve due to non-participation. If you are involuntarily (or voluntarily, for that matter....) transferred to the Retired Reserve before completing 3 years as a COL for any reason OTHER than MRD, you will be retired as an LTC. [Ask me how I know....] <br /><br />Separately, I have no idea if you can go from the Retired Reserve to the IRR or how you would go about that. COL Vincent Stoneking Tue, 28 Jan 2020 21:33:32 -0500 2020-01-28T21:33:32-05:00 https://www.rallypoint.com/answers/is-it-possible-to-get-promoted-from-ltc-to-col-in-the-army-s-irr-program?n=5494586&urlhash=5494586 <div class="images-v2-count-0"></div>So as others said, you have to first come off the retired list and HRC would be the place to start. I am sure your actual MRD would play a role in that. Once that happens, you still have get selected by a centralized DA board. If you are in the IRR and selected, you get promoted once the Senate confirms the list. That is what happened to me. I actually had LTC retirements orders and was transferred to the IRR to do one more deployment. When I came back, I was selected and then promoted after confirmation of the list. So HRC had to rescind my LTC retirement orders before that happened. Good luck with the process. It may take some time but I know for sure what the answer will be if you don&#39;t do anything. COL Jon Thompson Tue, 28 Jan 2020 23:27:43 -0500 2020-01-28T23:27:43-05:00 https://www.rallypoint.com/answers/is-it-possible-to-get-promoted-from-ltc-to-col-in-the-army-s-irr-program?n=5500013&urlhash=5500013 <div class="images-v2-count-0"></div>Have you ever looked at the US Army Reserve Innovation Command? We want/need/employ soldiers like you. Being a TPU soldier in the USAR is your best shot at promotion. COL Private RallyPoint Member Thu, 30 Jan 2020 12:23:48 -0500 2020-01-30T12:23:48-05:00 https://www.rallypoint.com/answers/is-it-possible-to-get-promoted-from-ltc-to-col-in-the-army-s-irr-program?n=5506055&urlhash=5506055 <div class="images-v2-count-0"></div>IRR POC at HRC<br /><br /> [login to see] <br /><br />Good luck! COL Private RallyPoint Member Fri, 31 Jan 2020 23:39:50 -0500 2020-01-31T23:39:50-05:00 https://www.rallypoint.com/answers/is-it-possible-to-get-promoted-from-ltc-to-col-in-the-army-s-irr-program?n=5790648&urlhash=5790648 <div class="images-v2-count-0"></div>I left active duty in 1988 as a 1LT. I went immediately into the Individual Ready Reserve (IRR). I spent the entirety of my career in the IRR. I took every opportunity that came my way. I did correspondence points to get good years. I took as many two week Annual Training events as they would offer. Once the GWOT started, I did the volunteer route. I ended up doing 3 tours in Iraq, 1 in Afghanistan, I did 2 tours on the Joint Staff, 1 tour at CENTCOM and two tours at the Center of Military History. Despite never having a company command, a battalion command, Army Staff time, a TPU assignment or any of the normal career paths, I retired in 2016 as a Colonel. I was an IRR Soldier the whole time. It can be done but it takes a lot of determination and you have to catch a few breaks. COL Private RallyPoint Member Sat, 18 Apr 2020 17:22:55 -0400 2020-04-18T17:22:55-04:00 2020-01-27T18:30:21-05:00