Duke inactive reserve muster boosts force readiness

  • Published
  • By Dan Neely
  • 919th Special Operations Wing Public Affairs
DUKE FIELD, Fla. --  The 919th Special Operations Wing conducted a muster here recently for more than 130 Individual Ready Reservists.

The IRR consists of "non-participating" personnel -- those who do not participate for points and are not assigned to a military position.  They no longer serve on active duty but have a military service obligation remaining. 

The IRR Muster Program ensures the Air Force can "reach out and touch" the IRR population when necessary, including for presidentially-ordered mobilizations for war or natural disasters. Under a Title 10 mandate, the Air Force Reserve Personnel Center in Colorado annually orders IRR Airmen to report to a military installation within 150 miles of their residence. 

Upon arrival, their records are updated and they receive a basic medical screening and several informational briefings.  IRRs are paid $210 for the muster.

Moments after arriving the mostly Florida panhandle- and South Alabama-area veterans were welcomed by Col. James Phillips, the 919th Special Operations Wing commander, who thanked them for participating.  He also gave them a unit mission overview and an update on opportunities available if they were interested in joining the wing.

Following the welcome briefing, the veterans talked with dozens of representatives from a cross-section of the wing -- personnelists; aircrew members; medics; finance specialists; recruiters and others. They received their medical screenings, updated ID cards, employment and education information and talked with a team of Air Force Reserve recruiters who also attended the muster to provide information on the Reserve.

"While this isn't specifically a recruiting event, it gives us an opportunity to address a large group of people to ensure they know their options, to raise awareness and basically light that fire to remind them what we do since they might not know what the IRR is all about," said Senior Master Sgt. Michael Nienhaus, a Duke Field Reserve recruiting flight chief. "We'll probably get a good number of follow-up questions from them via phone calls or emails over the next one to two months."

While many attendees seemed apprehensive about the mandatory call-up, it was clear by the event's closing they considered it time well spent.

"I didn't realize you still have some good benefits," said Dallas Wray, who separated from active-duty as C-130J avionics and electronic warfare technician and has two years of service obligation remaining.  "You tend to think you just get your discharge papers and you're done, but I think the benefits info was really helpful."

Erik Van Growski, a former electrical power production specialist, shared Wray's overall assessment of the muster.

"It was great to be reminded of the benefits still available to me, like the SGLI (Servicemembers Group Life Insurance) and learn more about the options to (join) the Guard or Reserve," he said.  "It was interesting to hear there are still opportunities to rely on."

Officials from Duke's 919th Special Operations Force Support Squadron led the half-day event and immediately afterward found plenty of positives in the experience.

"Overall, the feedback we're receiving from the commanders and the (regional) point of contact, Maj. Mike Allen from ARPC, it seemed like everything flowed well," said Maj. Shari Lemoine, the SOFSS operations officer.  "We had a good response from the recruiting section as well as the people processing.  And Major Allen was a huge asset to us - coordinating with us throughout the last two months, giving us all the info we needed to make this a success."

Master Sgt. Shannon Marshall, another SOFSS organizer for the muster, said the event had its challenges, but overall more than achieved its mission.

"We're mainly making sure they're ready for a presidential call-up," she said.  "For example, when 9/11 happened, we did have some people recalled from the IRR.  We're just making sure they're all well taken care of and if there's anything we can do for them."