Posted on Jan 27, 2020
LTC Joey Rivera
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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.

If I transfer from the Retired Reserve to the IRR, what happens next relative to the promotion process? I'm okay with the points-only scenario, but I don't want to waste time if O6 will never be an option in the IRR.

Thoughts?
Posted in these groups: Us army irr ssi IRRPromotion board logo Promotion Board70px us o6 insignia.svg COL
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COL Dana Hampton
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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.
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COL Health Services Plans, Ops, Intelligence, Security,Training
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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.
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LTC Joey Rivera
LTC Joey Rivera
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Thanks for the reply. I'm curious as to how the IRR promotion process works? Does an IRR LTC compete against SELRES/IRR/IMA LTCs?

Again, thanks for the help!
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COL David Turk
COL David Turk
>1 y
LTC Joey Rivera - old data, but it used to be all reservists (except AGR, and lawyers, doctors) went into the same pool. As a IMA, I competed against TPU, and IRR. It used to be just about impossible to to get O-6 if you weren’t in a TPU slot, but that changed around 2003. If you’ve got great OERs in critical positions, and there are an average amount of slots, you should fare well.
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COL Vincent Stoneking
COL Vincent Stoneking
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COL David Turk - This is correct, at least as of the CY18 board.
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COL Armor Officer
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Edited 4 y ago
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.
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COL Otolaryngologist
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That's an impressive career you managed from the IRR. Congrats.
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Is it possible to get promoted from LTC to COL in the Army's IRR program?
COL Otolaryngologist
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Edited >1 y ago
IRR POC at HRC

[login to see]

Good luck!
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SFC Stephen P.
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I'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.

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).
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COL Director Of Accounting
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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.
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LTC Joey Rivera
LTC Joey Rivera
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Sir, this is of interest to me. How can I learn more about the need? Can you please ask someone from your command to contact me? My email is [login to see] .
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LTC Joey Rivera
LTC Joey Rivera
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FYI - I sent an email to [login to see] that contained a request for information and a military bio. Thanks for the info - it was very helpful as I researched the 75th and the mission is very interesting!
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COL Jon Thompson
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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't do anything.
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LTC Joey Rivera
LTC Joey Rivera
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Thanks, Sir!
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COL Vincent Stoneking
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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 "good year"), 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....]

Separately, I have no idea if you can go from the Retired Reserve to the IRR or how you would go about that.
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LTC Joey Rivera
LTC Joey Rivera
>1 y
Sir, thanks for the info. I received the below message from HRC. I asked about #3.


LTC Rivera,

Thanks for contacting IMA/IRR branch at HRC.

1. No transfer from Retired Reserve to IRR. You must transfer to either TPU, IMA, ARNG or MOB/ADOS. Please see the checklist.
2. Promotion from LTC to COL is very competitive. However if an officer build his/her records with highly rated OERs and education qualification, officer has better chance to be selected to next grade.
3. Cyber Defense is currently seeking a volunteer to transfer to the filed, which require a board process.

Good luck to you and if you have additional question, feel free to contact this office.
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COL Jeff Williams
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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
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LTC Joey Rivera
LTC Joey Rivera
>1 y
Thanks, Sir!
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