Do rank and regulations matter in the IRR? Should they?

LTC Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 09 Mar 2015 19:58:53 -0400

I have seen people come out of the IRR way over weight and unable to meet other standards. So do you think rank and regulations matter in the IRR? Should it?

Response by CPT Zachary Brooks made Mar 9 at 2015 8:01 PM

CPT Zachary Brooks — Mon, 09 Mar 2015 20:01:31 -0400

Should it matter in the reserves or the National Guard when not in uniform/on duty?

If you are brought back from the IRR, are you given catch up time? Who checks up on you when you are not currently serving?

Response by SGT Jim Z. made Mar 9 at 2015 8:01 PM

SGT Jim Z. — Mon, 09 Mar 2015 20:01:48 -0400

I am torn because most people who have an IRR commitment forget about the fact they can be recalled. However, while Inactive Ready Reserve means your inactive and if you want to stay ready just like being on the practice squad you are not getting paid.

Response by MAJ Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 9 at 2015 8:09 PM

MAJ Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 09 Mar 2015 20:09:07 -0400

You are saying when you join IRR "I might to do something important but until then leave me alone." So yes but should not.

It is like going back to the locker room toward the end of a game when you not gping to play anymore.

Response by PO1 Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 9 at 2015 10:03 PM

PO1 Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 09 Mar 2015 22:03:55 -0400

I am a little torn on this subject and because of that I decided to take my time to think through what I wanted to post. Since my job is based around the support of Reservists, this includes members in the IRR, I can say that I receive at least 3-4 inquires per month into supporting events available from IRR members. Now this is only a small percentage of the overall response I might receive for an event but they are still there.

Many may go to the IRR with an "one foot in and one foot out" mentality but they can still be recalled for mobilization and can participate in Additional Duty Training (ADT) events. I would hope that if they are requesting to support a high visibility, flag staff level event (which I do as an event coordinator) that they show up within regulations and I ALWAYS respect rank regardless if you are apart of the Active Component, Reserve Component or IRR. Last time I checked we all wear the uniform, granted some more than others.

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 9 at 2015 10:08 PM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 09 Mar 2015 22:08:06 -0400

I just think it's hilarious that the ACU folk are whereing my patch... 15th sustainment brigade

Response by Capt Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 9 at 2015 10:37 PM

Capt Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 09 Mar 2015 22:37:27 -0400

In my opinion, it doesn't matter, and it shouldn't matter. We aren't paying them to stay in regs, so they shouldn't be expected to stay in regs. When I was in the IRR, the Navy never contacted me. In fact, it took 6 months for them to get my records to the Air Guard, and when they arrived, it was basically an empty folder. This was back before everything was electronic, so I'm pretty sure my stuff was lost or trashed when I got out.

Response by Sgt Aaron Kennedy, MS made Mar 10 at 2015 12:44 AM

Sgt Aaron Kennedy, MS — Tue, 10 Mar 2015 00:44:05 -0400

The key word is inactive.

With the exception of height/weight (and even being lenient on that), the person is transitioning from active to civilian.

Generally speaking, the IRR is the third line of defense. Active & Stop-loss personnel, Reserves (and all the components), then IRR & Retirees, followed finally by draft.

When we start recalling IRR, it means we can't meet force needs through the first two tiers, and that should we have to recall personnel, accommodations will have to be made. It's just a matter of how reasonable those accommodations are. Giving people enough time to get back in height/weight after leaving a very active lifestyle for one which is less so, is minor.

As for rank, and many other regulations. Most just no longer apply, as the person no longer has any authority.

Response by MAJ Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 10 at 2015 10:26 AM

MAJ Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 10 Mar 2015 10:26:49 -0400

No, it does not but is should not.

If you are in the IRR it is because you are leaving service, The issue lies not in the IRR status but retention NCO's lying on the paperwork stating they meet the standards. You can't be 100lbs overweight and be placed back into an active status but it happens all the time.

Secondly you are not paying the Soldier anything so you have no legal method to enforce any standard. Thirdly there is no possible method to enforce the standards even if they could be applied.

Response by CW3 Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 10 at 2015 10:49 AM

CW3 Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 10 Mar 2015 10:49:25 -0400

If they are in the IRR, and want to come back to AC or RC, they should already meet the standards.

Response by SPC Neil Hood made Mar 10 at 2015 11:08 AM

SPC Neil Hood — Tue, 10 Mar 2015 11:08:18 -0400

I believe conscription should return and IRR should be reduced or eliminated.

Response by Lt Col Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 23 at 2015 8:31 AM

Lt Col Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 23 Jun 2015 08:31:39 -0400

I'm not even sure why we still have an IRR at a time when we are cutting people from the military. If things are so bad, manning-wise, that we want to dip into the IRR, maybe we just stop cutting people?

Response by MSgt Manuel Diaz made Jun 23 at 2015 8:45 AM

MSgt Manuel Diaz — Tue, 23 Jun 2015 08:45:53 -0400

Do they get any benifits

Response by COL Jon Thompson made Jun 23 at 2015 9:27 AM

COL Jon Thompson — Tue, 23 Jun 2015 09:27:22 -0400

Rank only matters when it would come to an actual call up. There is no way to enforce regulations so what are you going to do? If someone is overweight in the IRR, are you going to flag them or bar them from re-enlisting? In 1991 while stationed in Germany, we received a back fill of IRR recalls since we had to send platoons to Saudi Arabia to be replacements. I will never forget one who refused to obey orders. He had just come out of jail and he asked the commander what the commander was going to do to him? The commander was at a lost for words and as he related the story to us, he asked, "what could I do?"

Response by PFC Tuan Trang made Mar 6 at 2016 6:12 AM

PFC Tuan Trang — Sun, 06 Mar 2016 06:12:10 -0500

Ranks should be matter as long as the individual is not discharge, regulation like weight it also matter, so if that individual about to get reactivate but over the weight requirement, then he/she can't get reactivate.

Response by PO2 Brad Broerman made Jun 29 at 2017 1:12 PM

PO2 Brad Broerman — Thu, 29 Jun 2017 13:12:28 -0400

When i left active duty and finished off my commitment (3 years IRR) I never received any communication from the Navy, nor was i requested to attend a muster. Only thing I ever received was my discharge certificate after it was all over. Unless you're going to be recalled, I don't think it should matter. If you are recalled, you should at least go through a re-assimilation training phase to get back in shape, and re-familiarize with your rate / mos...

Response by Lt Col Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 29 at 2017 4:00 PM

Lt Col Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 29 Jun 2017 16:00:13 -0400

IRR is still IN the military, and the second "R" means "Ready," so a person who volunteers to be IRR is agreeing to maintain themselves in a ready state, and as part of the military they are also agreeing to hold themselves to the standards set forth by the UCMJ. If they don't want to maintain standards, they need to GTFO entirely.

Response by SGT Alejandro Benavides made Jun 29 at 2017 4:05 PM

SGT Alejandro Benavides — Thu, 29 Jun 2017 16:05:25 -0400

Why even try to enforce ANY standard on the IRR. It's impossible. Most DD-214ers, buy weed the moment they leave post for the last time here in Colorado. If you really want to enforce that standard, then make people leaving the service regular reservists. Or don't bother them. Or relax the standard for people who have been recalled. There really isn't a win with IRR.

Response by SGT Mathew Husen made Jun 29 at 2017 7:51 PM

SGT Mathew Husen — Thu, 29 Jun 2017 19:51:49 -0400

Regs don't matter and shouldn't. I was once recalled from the IRR and was over weight and couldn't pass a PT, however, in a few months i was in my best Army shape ever.

Response by SPC Jeffrey Reese made Jun 29 at 2017 9:26 PM

SPC Jeffrey Reese — Thu, 29 Jun 2017 21:26:00 -0400

In 1990 I ETS under medical conditions P-3 (MMRB) Arthritis in both knees at the time. A year later I was recalled to active duty under IRR status for Desert Storm During my previous enlistment I had been declared non deployable. I asked how they could recall me due to my nondeployable status they informed me due to the needs of the military and had me in process and sent me to Germany for 4 months. Not to mention most every one that reported back was E-4 and above and they sent us to a training base to in process and the company command tried to treat us like trainees didn't work well.

Response by SGT Josh Johnson made Jul 13 at 2017 11:01 PM

SGT Josh Johnson — Thu, 13 Jul 2017 23:01:49 -0400

When a soldier signs up, for the first time, he or she is told that there is an eight year commitment (regardless of the time enlisted for). That time is made up in the Inactive Ready Reserve; a signature is required on the form which states it, at the MEP station. A soldier knows what is required of him/her at the time of ETS, as far as standards are concerned. Anyone who no longer meet these standards are most likely not called back. If I am not mistaken, a soldier who fails to live up to these standards, by any recognizable neglect or intentions, can be recalled, in order to process whatever UCMJ is appropriate to the situation (only during IRR time). This can be resolved by Chaptering a soldier out, once again, in order to change the status of the release from active duty (i.e. from Honorable to Other than Honorable, etc.), thereby changing the nature of the VA benefits afforded to him/her. This, in no way, me and that it happens each and every time (just think of the enormous cost and time it would take); but is merely policy in place, should the necessity arose.
I am no expert in the matter, I just think that I remember this. If, I am mistaken about this, then this, instead, serves as my opinion on what SHOULD be policy then.

Response by SPC Sheila Lewis made Jan 10 at 2018 12:10 PM

SPC Sheila Lewis — Wed, 10 Jan 2018 12:10:48 -0500

How does a recall work?

Response by SPC David Willis made Jan 10 at 2018 1:07 PM

SPC David Willis — Wed, 10 Jan 2018 13:07:12 -0500

I didn't even know you had to go to musters. I was in the IRR for two years after AD and never did anything. Now Im wondering if I have warrants out on me or something.

Response by Cpl Nick Graham made Feb 9 at 2018 6:13 PM

Cpl Nick Graham — Fri, 09 Feb 2018 18:13:32 -0500

While you are "technically " in the military still there is no legal basis to charge someone for refusing IRR orders, hence why to this day there hasn't been someone tried under the UCMJ for refusal to comply with reactivation orders. So to answer your intial question no it doesn't matter, and no it shouldn't be.

Response by SSG Edward Tilton made Feb 9 at 2018 6:52 PM

SSG Edward Tilton — Fri, 09 Feb 2018 18:52:48 -0500

The IRR is worthless. For the Iraq War they ignored my disability retirement and my son's obligation being complete

Response by SGT Alejandro Benavides made Mar 23 at 2018 6:31 PM

SGT Alejandro Benavides — Fri, 23 Mar 2018 18:31:26 -0400

No and it should not. If you ain’t paying them, you don’t have the right to tell them anything. If you want to keep paying soldiers their Base Pay and BAH for their IRR time, then yeah, sure ask them to follow regulations.

Response by SGT Scott Hamill made Mar 24 at 2018 1:46 AM

SGT Scott Hamill — Sat, 24 Mar 2018 01:46:27 -0400

Glad I did enough time so as not to worry about it. No it should not matter.

Response by SGM Bill Frazer made Mar 24 at 2018 5:08 AM

SGM Bill Frazer — Sat, 24 Mar 2018 05:08:51 -0400

Are they not recallable? If so, then why not meets the minimum standards.

Response by COL Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 24 at 2018 9:01 AM

COL Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 24 Mar 2018 09:01:34 -0400

Is it any different than those on half pay? Just cause you retire doesn’t mean you’re finished. Retirees were called up during desert storm. Some people were stopped from exiting the service, some of the IRRs were activated. It’s really just a pool of people that the DOD can call and either ask if they can return or told to stay away. Rank matters to DOD because of a perceived level of experience.

Response by SGM Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 24 at 2018 10:34 AM

SGM Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 24 Mar 2018 10:34:16 -0400

I see RallyPoint is back to recycling posts from 3 years ago again!