So does IRR count as currently serving?

2017-02-03T10:13:04-05:00

Response by SGM Erik Marquez made Feb 3 at 2017 10:15 AM

2017-02-03T10:15:01-05:00

I would so no, yes, kind of, maybe.....
In the sense you are still subject to recall, and you DID serve actively, then sure your still in.
In the sense you have any other military responsibility other then to remain alive and locatable, no.

Response by MSG Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 3 at 2017 10:15 AM

2017-02-03T10:15:45-05:00

Since people can apply for PME schools and can still deploy even while in the IRR.....I would say yes, they are still serving.....but I would have to add the "in a limited capacity" caveat.

Response by MSG Brad Sand made Feb 3 at 2017 10:28 AM

2017-02-03T10:28:25-05:00

Very much depends on what you are asking Sir. One can get a good year is the Reserves while in the IRR, and if you did get a 'good' year, that should count as serving but most normally would count currently serving as being in a TPU or on active duty.

Response by LTC Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 3 at 2017 12:37 PM

2017-02-03T12:37:50-05:00

It depends, Yes, if you're still going to military schools and going to muster events to keep your status available for call up. No if you're just waiting to collect retirement pay (national guard and reserve) or just completing service obligation.

Response by PO1 William "Chip" Nagel made Feb 3 at 2017 4:28 PM

2017-02-03T16:28:28-05:00

In Theory You would think so Cdr! I know that the 9 Yrs I served in the IRR "Feet Reserve" I was slightly concerned that they would Re-Call Me since they could at the Drop of a Hat but after Bupers sent me My Release from the Fleet Reserve in 2006 I was Good! Nothing Like a Letter from an Admiral saying "Your Free" to Improve Your Attitude!

Response by LTC Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 3 at 2017 4:30 PM

2017-02-03T16:30:01-05:00

Certainly does at Applebee's! (humor - just kidding)

Response by COL Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 4 at 2017 6:53 AM

2017-02-04T06:53:30-05:00

It certainly counts for pay purposes.

Response by 1SG Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 4 at 2017 7:59 AM

2017-02-04T07:59:43-05:00

No, you're readiness standing is not taken into account, and your training is out of date. When you are activated, if you are, then you will be re-trained and be currently serving. It's the "inactive" in IRR.

Response by COL Jon Thompson made Feb 4 at 2017 12:38 PM

2017-02-04T12:38:36-05:00

There is not a black and white answer to this. If all you are doing is sitting in the IRR waiting for your military service obligation to end, it kind of counts since it fulfills that. However, you still get 15 membership points and in the Army at least, you can request training and do other things to get a good year in the IRR. In 2012, I had an opportunity through my reserve unit to deploy to Afghanistan. However, they required me to transfer to the IRR so I would not count against them in their numbers while deployed. So I submitted the request and transferred to the IRR. I served over a year on active duty while assigned to the IRR control group. So for me, that time does count. However, in most cases, IRR time just rounds out your MSO and I would not brag about counting that time as service to any other Veteran.

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 4 at 2017 3:11 PM

2017-02-04T15:11:23-05:00

Put it this way: if you get out at 4 years time in service and then you decide to go back in after you've been out for two years you will be paid st 6 years time in service. Only 4 years will count towards retirement.

Response by SGM Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 4 at 2017 8:01 PM

2017-02-04T20:01:41-05:00

It counts for longevity pay increases if you return to an active status, or you plan on staying in the IRR and doing nothing then not really

Response by SGM Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 6 at 2017 8:59 AM

2017-02-06T08:59:15-05:00

For the vast majority probably not, it really depends on the individual. You can get promoted in the IRR, attend schools, annual training, short tours, etc., its really up to the individual on how active they want to be while in the IRR or if they are just "sitting" their until their time runs out. People often choose the IRR because you can manage your commitment to fit your schedule and aren't tied to a specific schedule as you would in a unit. I have seen officers go their because they were promoted and could not find a position in the new grade and shopped around until they found one or waited until another officers tenure was up and replaced them in the same unit.

Response by SGT Arno Paul Schumann made Feb 8 at 2017 9:23 AM

2017-02-08T09:23:42-05:00

No.

Response by CW3 George Fitzgerald made Feb 8 at 2017 11:04 AM

2017-02-08T11:04:56-05:00

yes and no, If you are actively conducting training and earning points with a guard or reserve unit ( even if it is a different branch, I would say yes) You can even request schools while you are IRR. But if you have totally quit doing anything even remotely military related, then you are only serving as a possible call back until your final obligation is over.

Response by MAJ Bill Darling made Feb 8 at 2017 12:04 PM

2017-02-08T12:04:36-05:00

For the Army, a most definitely technically yes. I know things have changed in the decade since I got out but I was a career manager for a a few of the last ones. While in the IRR you accumulate points (like getting points on the SAT for writing your name), can attend schools, get promoted, go on an AD/ADT/ADSW (old acronyms for active duty) tour and you are supposed to maintain your physical and clearance. The idea is to give a service member flexibility while, in theory, maintaining the qualifications to be retained and available for deployment in case of war. I had guys who were IRR who essentially stayed on active duty for the entire time they were IRR.

Response by GySgt Charles O'Connell made Feb 8 at 2017 3:36 PM

2017-02-08T15:36:13-05:00

Reading back into my Recruiter memory, service in the Armed Forces is an 8 year commitment, normally served by 4 years active duty, 4 years inactive reserve. There a varying combinations 6 yrs active 2 years inactive, 4 years active 4 years active reserve, the key being 8 years. So in answer I'd say yes, as you can be called to duty from the IRR. Albeit an inactive, still an important role.

Response by Lt Col Jim Coe made Feb 8 at 2017 3:41 PM

2017-02-08T15:41:35-05:00

Don't know exactly. Here's an anecdote that may help. My daughter was in the MS Air National Guard. She was an E-5 and resigned when she received her BSN to concentrate on her new career as a nurse. About 10 years later she joined the Navy Reserve Nurse Corps as an O-3. She received credit for her ANG good years plus additional longevity credit for her IRR years. The IIR years count for pay and retirement apparently.

Response by CW3 George Fitzgerald made Jul 21 at 2017 1:56 PM

2017-07-21T13:56:39-04:00

It can, if you are in the IRR, you can call up DA and ask for training assignments, volunteer for deployments, get attached to a Guard or Reserve unit or go and find a unit to drill with, it doesn't even have to be in the same service. If you can find a a Coast Guard Auxiliary that is willing to let you drill for points, tey are getting free labor and you are getting retirement points. You could also just do online/correspondence work for points OR you could do nothng at all and just serve the remainder of your obligation. You still have an ID card and PX priviledges.

Response by 1SG Frank Rocha made Aug 8 at 2017 12:37 PM

2017-08-08T12:37:05-04:00

A good retirement year in a reserve component is one I which you attain at least 50 retirement points within the retirement year. Your retirement points accounting statement will detail this.

According to USC title 10 chapter 1223, section 12734

"§12734. Time not creditable toward years of service
(a) Service in an inactive status may not be counted in any computation of years of service under this chapter.

(b) Time spent after retirement (without pay) for failure to conform to standards and qualifications prescribed under section 12641 of this title may not be credited in a computation of years of service under this chapter."

In the Individual ready reserve (IRR) you are in an active status until you fail to achieve 50 retirement points in a retirement year. When you fail to achieve the 50 point threshold you are transferred to the inactive list.

The IRR will give you 15 membership points each retirement year automatically the same as the regular reserve or national guard will. You would have to complete training, drill, or correspondence that awards you retirement points in order to complete the 50 point requirement. Or transfer to a Troop Program Unit (TPU), in the Reserve or National guard, and complete the 50 points plus there. Any combination of active service that accumulates 50 retirement points or more within a retirement year will render a "good year" towards retirement and allow that IRR time, or years, that fall within those "good year(s)" to count.

You can find additional info in sections 12731-12741. The link is:

http://uscode.house.gov/view.xhtml?path=/prelim@title10/subtitleE/part2/chapter1223&edition=prelim

Hope this helps.

view.xhtml

2009—Pub. L. 111–84, div. A, title VI, §643(e)(2), Oct. 28, 2009, 123 Stat. 2367, substituted "Retirement for service in an active status performed in the Selected Reserve of the Ready Reserve after eligibility for regular retirement" for "Retirement from active reserve service performed after regular retirement" in item 12741.

Response by SFC Michael Hasbun made Feb 13 at 2018 5:43 PM

2018-02-13T17:43:04-05:00

Inactive Ready RESERVE. They're reservists, and that time counts as federal service.

Response by SSG Norbert Johnson made Dec 18 at 2018 12:36 AM

2018-12-18T00:36:04-05:00

I resemble this remark. I served from 1970 - 1993 After first discharge I waited to for 2 years to go into National Guard on a try one. I waited 2 1/2 years to go to regular enlistment into National Guard and then moved onto Reserves, then USAF, then Reserves and 2 Mobilizations from 90 - 93. So essentially I should have 22+ years. However I did not qualify for retirement. The quick answer is that I only had 17.5 years toward Retirement and the 4.5 years in IRR status was not counted for retirement. Perhaps I should have requested a short tour each year on IRR status and I would be retired today.

For those of you who take a step back in the IRR for any reason, note that for every 3 hours of correspondence courses taken, it is 1 Retirement Point. I think the max is around 75 points from Correspondence Courses and that creates a Good Year toward Retirement. I wish I knew that then.