Former soldiers back in uniform for Iraq (IRR)

“The old uniform fit a little tight,” Sgt. Brian Walker said. “Luckily, they issued me four new sets.”

Walker is one of 5,600 people, many of whom hadn’t worn a military uniform in years, taken from civilian life and activated under the Individual Ready Reserve program.

Last summer, the Pentagon announced it was calling up the civilians because there were not enough reservists, guardsmen or active-duty troops to fill certain duty slots, mostly in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Walker, an immigration officer from Swanton, Vt., left the Army in 1998 but signed up for the IRR program in exchange for a $5,900 per year. Now it’s payback time.


http://www.estripes.com/article.asp?section=104&article=27576

Draft (Verb):
To select from a group for some usually compulsory service: drafted into the army

In these cases, they're just selecting from retired military personnel. We need to stop calling it a backdoor draft, and calling it a flat out draft.

How is this a draft? They took the money they are now serving as their contract may require them to do. The very expensive lesson here is ......read what you sign and think about the consequences. Better yet think before you vote and think about the consequences. This is one of hundreds of examples where the sheeple are getting their just rewards IMO.I hope this guy voted for Bush if not he still should not have signed that IRR agreement for the measly sum of a little less than $6K.

In my opinion we do need a draft and a military union. Starting with all Americans aged 55 and working down to age 35 (I'm 54). The result would be no wars and no overseas deployment at all. Our bases overseas would soon be empty and we would have a military designed for defense only, as it should be.

They were for citizen serving as it would bring the war and votes to that war. I can not recall how they put it but I think there was some thing in the Federalist Papers (???) about war etc. Come on history people drag this out for me.

They wanted the US to be protected by the people only when and if the time came. They would be turning in their graves if they knew what Amerika was doing in this day and age.

The only thing holding him back now is not enough troops.
Next thing you know, he'll be invading Iran and Syria and....

And there is the problem that some people just aren't cut out for the military:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=102&topic_id=1250204

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=104&topic_id=3220611


edit: add bumpersticker image

some people just aren't cut out for the military

when he made his disparaging comments about draftees.

just as we are seeing a reduction in enlistments, reenlistments, and NG.

Once you start pulling IRR in, what other options are there for maintaining troop numbers other than the draft? I see this move as a last resort before "read my lips, no draft" becomes just another Bush family fairytale.

Good post, btw.

Subject code: 1100
6 March 2005

I say again "There is no pay or allowances or retirement points for being in the IRR"

IRR is part of your statutory and contractual obligation when you sign on the dotted line as a Seaman Recruit (E-1). Nothing extra for signing up for the IRR.

Been there after active duty until my six year obligation was up.

Lieutenant, USCGR (IRR for several years) (DD214CG)
By direction of the Commandant

In my day it was called "Inactive Reserve".
After I did my stint I was in it for about 5 years.
Just a name on a list somewhere in a file in Denver.
We called it the World War III squad.
That was the only way we'd be called up.

...where they keep IRRs on the hook and bring them back for training--all very informal. USAF has that, I think. Here, in all its boring glory: http://arpc.afrc.af.mil/dpssc/IRR_Standby_sections.htm

Basic Army IRR info, courtesy of Global Security: http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/agency/army/usar-irr.htm

Reserve units and may replace Soldiers in Active and Reserve Units. Part of the Army's Ready Reserve, the IRR involves individuals who have had training, served previously in the Active Component or the Selected Reserve (such as a member of an Army Reserve unit), and may have some period of Military Service Obligation remaining. Unlike new recruits, these are seasoned, experienced Soldiers who can contribute significantly to Army readiness. The IRR, as it exists, is mandated by Congress under Title 10 of the U.S. Code. In accordance with implementing instructions contained in Army Regulation 135-91, members of the IRR can be required to join an Army Reserve unit if they are statutorily obligated and have a skill needed by the Army.

Activation is when an Army Reserve Soldier is called to serve in the Army full time. Activation can put you in an Army job within the United States or you may be deployed to foreign soil. Once activated, Army Reserve Soldiers can only serve a maximum of two years active duty.

Presidential Reserve Callup Authority 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 270 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.

Also, there's a difference between officer and enlisted obligations. If you have a commission, and have retired, and collect a pension (in essence, that pension is deferred compensation, which is why you have to pay FEDERAL INCOME tax on it), you are subject to recall at any time, and it is an entirely possible scenario for any officer who is under 60--just depends how bad it gets. It has happened more rarely to those who are older, but it does happen, usually to those with very specialized skills (doctors who can repair screwed up faces, or have a specialty in orthopedics, exotic diseases, thoracic surgery, that kind of thing...dentists who can put together very disfigured kids...or who can take the place here in the US for someone else they need in the sandbox).

if you have completed your "Active Duty" CONTRACTUAL OBLIGATION and your "Ready Reserve" and "Standby Reserve" CONTRACTUAL OBLIGATIONS - the most that you could be ordered to do --- ABSENT A PRESIDENTIAL DECLARATION OF EMERGENCY --- is be ordered to take a periodic physical exam.

The PRESIDENTIAL DECLARATION OF EMERGENCY - if strictly construed (or broadly construed?) - includes conscription authority, price and wage controls, excess profits taxes, gasoline (and sugar) rationing, call up of the Ready and Standby Reserves, etc.

Or is it just in fine print somewhere. I know that it does say in big letters that you're time in the service is 4 years, 6 years, whatever, but i believe it uses much more legal language to tell you that you have no rights anymore.

Do they have this contract posted anywhere?

and if you ask they say --

"Once you are a veteran and a "non-drilling" Reservist -- "you go after the Cub Scouts and the Brownie Scouts when the Russkies - or VietCong - are sailing in NY Harbor and SF Bay."

That's what they told me in the 1960's. But, I got out my contract and my "Release from Active Package" - and it's in there.

understand?

unless you are a minor (under 18) or clearly mentally challenged.

Subject to Recall by the Secretary... in the remarks section, towards the bottom, right where you sign. Plain as day.

You can read the USN instructions for preparing the 214 on line at http://buperscd.technology.navy.mil/bup_updt/upd_CD/BUPERS/INSTRUCT/19008.pdf --boring as hell, over a hundred pages, pretty much the same for all services.

As for recruiting, you need to see the DD1066 form and the Form 4-- basic processing documents and the enlistment contract. It is the pretty much same for all services, with the odd contract quirks of each branch. You can read the (again, boring) details here: http://www.dtic.mil/whs/directives/corres/pdf/i13042_031475/i13042p.pdf This is the DOD instruction, the individual service directives will be more specific. Need ACROBAT to read it, fyi. I haven't come across an actual form sample, but if I do, I'll add it in.

If he enlisted in 1998, his contract would have had his enlistment for 8 years, however he wanted to serve that. 2 years active, 2 years reserve/guard 2 years IRR. There is no such thing as a 2 or 4 year enlistment, you will always have IRR tacked onto your contract.
So technically, if this individual signed on in 1998, he would be serving his last year of IRR in 2005. Unfortunately for him, he will be stop lossed as soon as he reenters, so his ETS date will be...well, whenever they hell they want.

bent on restarting the Crusades.

This is one contract that should be, and must be voided.

...rather than OFFER, the Medical Remedial Enlistment Program. That's where if you have some sort of defect, the service will fix it (but only if you are MALE) and then you get to go carry a gun! Interesting, this program has been in effect since Vietnam, and Rush Limbaugh could have had his anal cyst fixed and gone off to fight like the real men, had he only stood up off his infected ass and VOLUNTEERED... http://www.usmc.mil/directiv.nsf/0/23a4a67af30fbdc785256776005a17c5/$FILE/MCO%201130.51E%20W%20CH%201.pdf

c. Applicants may have more than one of the below-listed
medical defects provided that treatment for the second defect
is nonsurgical when the first defect requires surgery.
Simultaneous treatment for the second defect must not prolong
or complicate the treatment for the primary medical problem.
Applicants with external otitis, cystic acne, or underweight
are most likely to benefit from this liberal policy. These
defects, as determined by a medical specialist, must be
correctable so an applicant will be physically able to undergo
the rigors of recruit training within a maximum period of 8
weeks from the date of remedial medical treatment. Applicants
with cystic acne may be returned to training while undergoing
treatment when directed by the dermatologist. Correctable
defects included in the MREP are:
Diagnosis Code
(1) Pilonidal cyst/pilonidal sinus A
(See note 2.)
(2) Hemorrhoids B
(3) Undescended testicle, unilateral C
(4) Varicocele D
(5) Hydrocele E
(6) Inguinal hernia, unilateral F
(7) Under minimum weight by not G
more than 10 percent
(8) Undescended testicle and inguinal H
hernia, same side
(9) Inguinal hernia and varicocele/ I
hydrocele, same side
(10) Simple goiter