Posted on Nov 14, 2014
Individual Ready Reserve Call-up While Downsizing
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The other day, a co-worker of mine sent me a link to an article by Andrew Brennan titled “Welcome to the New ‘Back-Door Draft” dated 22 October 2014. I followed the link and it went to the New York Times. The article talked about a new “stop loss” that went into effect from a recent Executive Order signed by the President. At first glance, I thought it wouldn’t be possible. The article talked about initiating a stop loss for Soldiers in the midst of a major downsizing effort. This didn’t make any sense to me. Why wasn’t the media all over this? Why weren’t the Service Department heads all over this?
So I did a little bit of research. The Executive Order that the author was referencing is titled “Ordering the Selective Reserve and Certain Individual Ready Reserve Members of the Armed Forces to Active Duty.” The President signed it on 16 October 2014. The Executive Order reads in part that the President has determined “it is necessary to augment the active Armed Forces of the United States for the effective conduct of Operation United Assistance, which is providing civilian-led humanitarian assistance and consequence management support related to the Ebola virus disease outbreak in West Africa.” It doesn’t mention anything about a “stop loss.”
In reporting, as in life, words are important. I understand that authors and newspapers are both in the business of making money and getting the facts straight, so headlines are their selling point. As a service member, any article on a newsstand stating “New Back-Door Draft” would catch my eye. I remember when I attended basic training back in 1990; there were Individual Ready Reserve (IRR) call-ups in the barracks next to ours. They were some disgruntled individuals. I also remember serving in Afghanistan with a retired OH-58D Kiowa pilot who was called back into service due to personnel shortages. I also served with many Soldiers in our Squadron in 2004-2005 who were serving under the “stop loss” at that time. Stop loss is painful. Calling up the IRR is also painful. My question is this: why call up select persons from the IRR to serve on active duty in support of Operation United Assistance when we are sending active duty Soldiers home on a daily basis as part of the downsizing, reduction in force, or whatever title you would like to call it? Isn’t that counterproductive? Wouldn’t it make more sense to slow the downsizing effort to make sure that we have enough Soldiers so that we can deploy in support of global missions? Wouldn’t it make more sense to slow the downsizing to ensure that we have a ready force for contingency operations, like Operation United Assistance?
Let me leave you with one more thought to chew on. Theoretically, the Army could relieve someone from active duty - let’s say they didn’t make the cut with retention caps. This Soldier could then be called back up from the IRR to active duty and then deploy. What about someone who gets discharged from active duty through other means? Maybe a Chapter? Could those Soldiers be recalled through the IRR? It just seems to me that we could be ensuring our Force is manned properly using a more efficient way. What do you think?
So I did a little bit of research. The Executive Order that the author was referencing is titled “Ordering the Selective Reserve and Certain Individual Ready Reserve Members of the Armed Forces to Active Duty.” The President signed it on 16 October 2014. The Executive Order reads in part that the President has determined “it is necessary to augment the active Armed Forces of the United States for the effective conduct of Operation United Assistance, which is providing civilian-led humanitarian assistance and consequence management support related to the Ebola virus disease outbreak in West Africa.” It doesn’t mention anything about a “stop loss.”
In reporting, as in life, words are important. I understand that authors and newspapers are both in the business of making money and getting the facts straight, so headlines are their selling point. As a service member, any article on a newsstand stating “New Back-Door Draft” would catch my eye. I remember when I attended basic training back in 1990; there were Individual Ready Reserve (IRR) call-ups in the barracks next to ours. They were some disgruntled individuals. I also remember serving in Afghanistan with a retired OH-58D Kiowa pilot who was called back into service due to personnel shortages. I also served with many Soldiers in our Squadron in 2004-2005 who were serving under the “stop loss” at that time. Stop loss is painful. Calling up the IRR is also painful. My question is this: why call up select persons from the IRR to serve on active duty in support of Operation United Assistance when we are sending active duty Soldiers home on a daily basis as part of the downsizing, reduction in force, or whatever title you would like to call it? Isn’t that counterproductive? Wouldn’t it make more sense to slow the downsizing effort to make sure that we have enough Soldiers so that we can deploy in support of global missions? Wouldn’t it make more sense to slow the downsizing to ensure that we have a ready force for contingency operations, like Operation United Assistance?
Let me leave you with one more thought to chew on. Theoretically, the Army could relieve someone from active duty - let’s say they didn’t make the cut with retention caps. This Soldier could then be called back up from the IRR to active duty and then deploy. What about someone who gets discharged from active duty through other means? Maybe a Chapter? Could those Soldiers be recalled through the IRR? It just seems to me that we could be ensuring our Force is manned properly using a more efficient way. What do you think?
Downsizing
Military Industry
Army Reserve
Command Post
Edited 11 y ago
Posted 11 y ago
Responses: 24
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I saw this very thing happen in the early 90's. This sort of thing makes no sense from a small perspective but if you look at the big picture one begins (or should) to understand. Why Down size and then recall prior military back, why not just keep what we have and call it a day?? Some will point out that its due to Over stocked MOS's and the recall is selectively calling certain shortage MOS's back . This is helping by placing seasoned vets where they can be used most effectively and not have to waste money and man power training/cross training new soldiers. In 2003 I received such a letter and declined it in a very colorful and imaginative way, never heard anything about the decline and went on my merry way in life.
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Any IRR call ups to deal with the Ebola situation would be extremely specific and limited to certain medical specialties. They would not pertain to the vast majority of military being down sized. Most infantrymen are not going to be useful in implementing public health guidelines in a contagious area.
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Description of Individual Ready Reserve from Wikipedia.
The Individual Ready Reserve (IRR) is a category of the Ready Reserve of the Reserve Component of the Armed Forces of the United States composed of former active duty or reserve military personnel and is authorized under 10 U.S.C. ch. 1005.
By law, IRR members are required to retain possession of their service uniforms, retain their military identification card, and notify their service branch if they move and change their address.
Upon being called up, service members will usually be screened for their medical and personal status in order to qualify or disqualify them for activation. During the process, IRR members who seek to delay, defer, or exempt their activations have the opportunity to present their case to the mobilization authority for a decision.
An enlisted service member's IRR service ends after the completion of their mandatory service obligation (MSO), usually 8 years.
"Presidential Reserve Callup Authority" (PRCA) is a provision of a public law (US Code, Title 10 (DOD), section 12304) that provides the President a means to activate, without a declaration of national emergency, not more than 200,000 members of the Selected Reserve and the Individual Ready Reserve (of whom not more than 30,000 may be members of the Individual Ready Reserve), for not more than 400 days to meet the support requirements of any operational mission. Members called under this provision may not be used for disaster relief or to suppress insurrection. This authority has particular utility when used in circumstances in which the escalatory national or international signals of partial or full mobilization would be undesirable. Forces available under this authority can provide a tailored, limited-scope, deterrent or operational response, or may be used as a precursor to any subsequent mobilization.
When the nation is under a presidentially declared state of national emergency in accordance with the National Emergencies Act the President has even broader authority, allowing him to activate not more than 1,000,000 members of the Ready Reserve with no further limitation. The United States has been in a state of national emergency since November 14, 1979.
Also there is the Retired Reserve it consists of all Reserve officers and enlisted personnel who receive retired pay on the basis of active duty and/or reserve service; all Reserve officers and enlisted personnel who are otherwise eligible for retired pay but have not reached age 60 (grey area retired), who have not elected discharge, and are not voluntary members of the Ready or Standby Reserve; and other retired reservists under certain conditions.
The Individual Ready Reserve (IRR) is a category of the Ready Reserve of the Reserve Component of the Armed Forces of the United States composed of former active duty or reserve military personnel and is authorized under 10 U.S.C. ch. 1005.
By law, IRR members are required to retain possession of their service uniforms, retain their military identification card, and notify their service branch if they move and change their address.
Upon being called up, service members will usually be screened for their medical and personal status in order to qualify or disqualify them for activation. During the process, IRR members who seek to delay, defer, or exempt their activations have the opportunity to present their case to the mobilization authority for a decision.
An enlisted service member's IRR service ends after the completion of their mandatory service obligation (MSO), usually 8 years.
"Presidential Reserve Callup Authority" (PRCA) is a provision of a public law (US Code, Title 10 (DOD), section 12304) that provides the President a means to activate, without a declaration of national emergency, not more than 200,000 members of the Selected Reserve and the Individual Ready Reserve (of whom not more than 30,000 may be members of the Individual Ready Reserve), for not more than 400 days to meet the support requirements of any operational mission. Members called under this provision may not be used for disaster relief or to suppress insurrection. This authority has particular utility when used in circumstances in which the escalatory national or international signals of partial or full mobilization would be undesirable. Forces available under this authority can provide a tailored, limited-scope, deterrent or operational response, or may be used as a precursor to any subsequent mobilization.
When the nation is under a presidentially declared state of national emergency in accordance with the National Emergencies Act the President has even broader authority, allowing him to activate not more than 1,000,000 members of the Ready Reserve with no further limitation. The United States has been in a state of national emergency since November 14, 1979.
Also there is the Retired Reserve it consists of all Reserve officers and enlisted personnel who receive retired pay on the basis of active duty and/or reserve service; all Reserve officers and enlisted personnel who are otherwise eligible for retired pay but have not reached age 60 (grey area retired), who have not elected discharge, and are not voluntary members of the Ready or Standby Reserve; and other retired reservists under certain conditions.
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Here is another related headline...
http://www.stripes.com/hagel-calls-up-2-100-from-reserve-national-guard-for-ebola-fight-1.314288
http://www.stripes.com/hagel-calls-up-2-100-from-reserve-national-guard-for-ebola-fight-1.314288
Hagel calls up 2,100 from reserve, National Guard for Ebola fight
Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel has authorized the mobilization of about 2,100 troops from the Army Reserve and National Guard to deploy to Africa to aid in relief efforts to stem the Ebola outbreak.
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They all know this, but the problem is just like the National Guard. The purposes of the IRR and the National Guard are being exploited for purpose they were not intended. This is all about fudging numbers, back in the 80's in when it started and it has got worse since. Trying to maintain an active duty force number. So instead of doing that, the federal government started activating the reserves and National Guard. This way they could reduce the active duty rolls , but they could include the Reserves and NG as Active, so the numbers are the same. Tah Dah. Now, they are going further with the IRR, same game deeper whole.
Problem:
Reserves: There for when a fighting force needs a surge in numbers in case of war/battle/occurrence etc.
National Guard: Here for the protection of homeland from invasion / defense. Also if Reserves begin to run low they can be used to supplement.
Inactive Ready Reserve: To be used only in the case of emergency when the Reserve forces are depleted and National Guard forces are at a critical level. When the IRR is being used the American people should know the next step is Selective Service. Because we are using our last line of defense.
So at this point, why are we giving anyone literally a pink slip?
Problem:
Reserves: There for when a fighting force needs a surge in numbers in case of war/battle/occurrence etc.
National Guard: Here for the protection of homeland from invasion / defense. Also if Reserves begin to run low they can be used to supplement.
Inactive Ready Reserve: To be used only in the case of emergency when the Reserve forces are depleted and National Guard forces are at a critical level. When the IRR is being used the American people should know the next step is Selective Service. Because we are using our last line of defense.
So at this point, why are we giving anyone literally a pink slip?
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SFC Kenneth Hunnell
PO1 Duncan, refer to LTC Luton's response. Her response makes economically sense.
I do not agree to sending soldiers home that want to be there. The Military has always been ran by politicians.
If you did not know, not to many years ago. We were running a draw down. The Reserves got mainly the combat support type units and the National guard got the combat arms units. As far as the IRR goes, it has been there to fill the ranks as quickly as possible. IRR Soldiers are already trained, they just need to be geared up and sent to what ever unit that needs them.
The Military has never been a democracy, if you signed up for democracy, you should have known Democracy is for the ones that sit on the side lines and hope they are not forced into the military.
If you are looking for fair, good luck on that one. Life is not fair, you just have to make the most of what you have and hope you make a positive impact on the other people that you deal with.
I have been in the military for over 34 yrs., no I have not been brain washed, I just hope for the time that I am in I give someone a positive outlook on life whether it be military or civilian. I have less than six yrs. left to leave a positive impact.
I want to thank everyone that had or has it in them to do what JFK said." Ask not what your country can do for you, But, what can you do for your country".
Thank you all for your service.
I do not agree to sending soldiers home that want to be there. The Military has always been ran by politicians.
If you did not know, not to many years ago. We were running a draw down. The Reserves got mainly the combat support type units and the National guard got the combat arms units. As far as the IRR goes, it has been there to fill the ranks as quickly as possible. IRR Soldiers are already trained, they just need to be geared up and sent to what ever unit that needs them.
The Military has never been a democracy, if you signed up for democracy, you should have known Democracy is for the ones that sit on the side lines and hope they are not forced into the military.
If you are looking for fair, good luck on that one. Life is not fair, you just have to make the most of what you have and hope you make a positive impact on the other people that you deal with.
I have been in the military for over 34 yrs., no I have not been brain washed, I just hope for the time that I am in I give someone a positive outlook on life whether it be military or civilian. I have less than six yrs. left to leave a positive impact.
I want to thank everyone that had or has it in them to do what JFK said." Ask not what your country can do for you, But, what can you do for your country".
Thank you all for your service.
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SFC Dr. Joseph Finck, BS, MA, DSS
PO1 Walter Duncan , There was a doctrinal shift several years ago which left the NG owning the combat arms (infantry, artillery, armor, Cavalry, etc) and the USAR owning Combat Service Support (Human Resources, Finance, etc). This changed the role of the NG forever. As it stands now the NG in an integrated deployment force. Yes they still have a stateside mission at home to protect the homeland, but now they also have a defined deployment mission.
This was my understanding prior to retirement.
This was my understanding prior to retirement.
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Yes, in general the military could use it resources better than recalling IRR troops back and have to spend time and money to retrain these people for this mission. On the other hand, are the troops they are releasing, do any of them have the MOS for this mission? If so then yes, it seems quite silly for them to continue to release these troops in reduction of force, while calling back IRR soldiers to fill the needs.
Yes, most service members forget or simply don't understand the fact that once they sign up, they are committed for life. Regardless how you leave the military, there is always way to get you back in uniform if need be. Even when they Chapter or dishonoring discharging someone, all it takes is a review board to change the discharge to Honorable, and they fall in-line for IRR recall. If it someone had said it stop-gap measure it would made front page news.
I think there is way more to this than meets the eye. I from my point of view think it is big mistake to reduce the military at this time. It was mistake not to increase the military in the time frame of 2003-2012. It was the only time in our Nation history where we were actively at War, and didn't economically increase spending to increase the military so it could accomplish its mission including buying the hardware needed.
Yes, most service members forget or simply don't understand the fact that once they sign up, they are committed for life. Regardless how you leave the military, there is always way to get you back in uniform if need be. Even when they Chapter or dishonoring discharging someone, all it takes is a review board to change the discharge to Honorable, and they fall in-line for IRR recall. If it someone had said it stop-gap measure it would made front page news.
I think there is way more to this than meets the eye. I from my point of view think it is big mistake to reduce the military at this time. It was mistake not to increase the military in the time frame of 2003-2012. It was the only time in our Nation history where we were actively at War, and didn't economically increase spending to increase the military so it could accomplish its mission including buying the hardware needed.
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Just a thought. From what I'm seeing there's a lot of downsizing in the higher ranks. The people we need are the lower enlisted to do the work not the supervisors that sit behind a desk. I guess I should say that's the issue we're having here. Our shop is only slotted for one Master Sergeant, yet we have 3 assigned. We're slotted for two Technical Sergeant's yet we have 3 assigned and up till last month had 5 before their jobs were put to the chopping block.
Making rank is all well and good cause that means a pay raise and more responsibility but we need more of the younger troops to be out doing the work but we can't get them because all the higher ups count against our manning when it comes time for PCS's.
I may be way off but that's the problem I'm seeing.
Making rank is all well and good cause that means a pay raise and more responsibility but we need more of the younger troops to be out doing the work but we can't get them because all the higher ups count against our manning when it comes time for PCS's.
I may be way off but that's the problem I'm seeing.
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SPC Donald Moore
It is the same in federal civil service. They keep promoting and filling vacancies at the high level while leaving the low level positions unmanned and telling the workers to work harder to pick up the slack because of being undermanned.
They can afford to pay one manager (with nobody to manage) $120k a year but can't hire workers that only make around $30k.
Best government logic right there.
They can afford to pay one manager (with nobody to manage) $120k a year but can't hire workers that only make around $30k.
Best government logic right there.
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To me, if this is true, it is just another example of the current president skirting the Constitution and established rules/policy without getting the proper approvals from the checks and balances triad. We already have folks on active duty that can do the job, let them do it.
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I remember when I was IRR I was asked several times if I wanted to go back Active Duty.
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