Can someone transfer to an IMA unit after DEMOB?

MAJ Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 12 Sep 2022 11:48:53 -0400

Can someone explain to me about the truth about transfer to an IMA unit. I was told several things such as transfer can process after DEMOB. Is this true?

Response by COL Randall C. made Sep 12 at 2022 12:47 PM

COL Randall C. — Mon, 12 Sep 2022 12:47:51 -0400

What is your question regarding them?

IMA (Individual Mobilization Augmentee) are integrated positions within an active duty organization (usually). In the Army, they are managed through the US Army Reserve.

You'll apply for a position the same as you would with any other reserve position - it's just the person who you would interact with will differ. Additionally IMAs are usually focused on the section they support in the active duty organization. What I mean by that is it's not uncommon to have 15 IMAs going in different directions and only coming back together one or two times a year to do mandatory collective training. Again, it can widely differ from unit to unit.

When I was the RC Advisor at Army Cyber Command, the IMA positions were overseen by me (I was a one-man band when it was stood up... understand there's a directorate of multiple people there now). At USCYBERCOM, the IMAs were overseen by an IMA O6 (and staff) that was taken out of hide and worked with the J1, other units do it different ways.

Drilling IMAs go to weekend duty just like Guard/Reserve troop units, but often drill at different times depending on the section they are assigned to.

You can an "official Army overview" of the IMA program at https://www.hrc.army.mil/content/IMA%20Program%20Overview. This will also allow you to get contact info for many of the IMA coordinators out there, but in my experience it could be very dated (wouldn't be surprised if I still show up on that list and I've been out of that job for about eight years).

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