The_Zergling
Junior Member
I had not heard of this program until recently, and wanted to confirm its accuracy. While most individuals use statements to support their arguments for a certain stance, I generally try to focus on what actual actions have been taken... and these actions don't exactly paint a rosy picture of the situation the US Army is in.
In short, I am referring to the Individual Ready Reserve, which is in essence a back door draft - basically taking now-civilians that have been out of the military for years - and forcing them to come back and be "retrained" for their new jobs. I'm not sure about other branches, but if my source is correct, the Individual Ready Reserve (IRR) is where the Army/military(?) puts the people who are awaiting to complete their 8 year obligation. If you are an officer you will be on the IRR indefinitely until you actively resign your commission. When in the IRR people do not undergo training or military operation work, as they are regarded as a "just in case" force that is only to be utilized if WWIII should ever happen.
From what I've read, 20,000 members of the IRR were called back in Desert Storm, albeit for very limited duty, generally with specialized skills to fill up slots that were emptied by active duty soldiers going to war. Example: Active Army Doctor from Fort Campbell deployed to the war zone replaced by IRR Doctor in Fort Campbell to take over his original duties.
Now up to this point everything seemed somewhat reasonable to me, until I realized that since 2004, thousands of IRR soldiers were actually recalled not to backfill active army positions, but to actually deploy to Iraq for a year after half a year of training, for a total recall time of 545 days. If this information is incorrect, please by all means correct me. Assuming the information is correct...
Then this is ridiculous. My guess is that most have financial and family obligations that were completely wrecked, as indicated by this USA Today article:
Keep in mind that this was from 2004. Logic tells me that the numbers are probably even higher 2 and a half years later.
It originally caused a slight disturbance in the media, but noise died down pretty fast when the Bush Administration used a play out of its reliable playbook: Not telling the truth. White House statements stated that IRR call-ups were under review and that people with less than one year left in their obligation period would be discharged. However, they were still called up and it was up to you as an IRR person to fight it.
The Marines also learned from the Army and recalled at least 2500 Marines out of the IRR for COMBAT duty.
This is all very disturbing, especially if these are the troops that are in charge of training the new Iraqi Army.
And again, if anyone has any evidence refuting what I've posted here or if the news is inaccurate, by all means correct me. (I'm saying this because I've only recently learned of this and so I'm unsure about it all)
In short, I am referring to the Individual Ready Reserve, which is in essence a back door draft - basically taking now-civilians that have been out of the military for years - and forcing them to come back and be "retrained" for their new jobs. I'm not sure about other branches, but if my source is correct, the Individual Ready Reserve (IRR) is where the Army/military(?) puts the people who are awaiting to complete their 8 year obligation. If you are an officer you will be on the IRR indefinitely until you actively resign your commission. When in the IRR people do not undergo training or military operation work, as they are regarded as a "just in case" force that is only to be utilized if WWIII should ever happen.
From what I've read, 20,000 members of the IRR were called back in Desert Storm, albeit for very limited duty, generally with specialized skills to fill up slots that were emptied by active duty soldiers going to war. Example: Active Army Doctor from Fort Campbell deployed to the war zone replaced by IRR Doctor in Fort Campbell to take over his original duties.
Now up to this point everything seemed somewhat reasonable to me, until I realized that since 2004, thousands of IRR soldiers were actually recalled not to backfill active army positions, but to actually deploy to Iraq for a year after half a year of training, for a total recall time of 545 days. If this information is incorrect, please by all means correct me. Assuming the information is correct...
Then this is ridiculous. My guess is that most have financial and family obligations that were completely wrecked, as indicated by this USA Today article:
Keep in mind that this was from 2004. Logic tells me that the numbers are probably even higher 2 and a half years later.
It originally caused a slight disturbance in the media, but noise died down pretty fast when the Bush Administration used a play out of its reliable playbook: Not telling the truth. White House statements stated that IRR call-ups were under review and that people with less than one year left in their obligation period would be discharged. However, they were still called up and it was up to you as an IRR person to fight it.
The Marines also learned from the Army and recalled at least 2500 Marines out of the IRR for COMBAT duty.
This is all very disturbing, especially if these are the troops that are in charge of training the new Iraqi Army.
And again, if anyone has any evidence refuting what I've posted here or if the news is inaccurate, by all means correct me. (I'm saying this because I've only recently learned of this and so I'm unsure about it all)
As someone who did their "time". I feel once you have completed your obligated active duty your active should be done. I would have hated to be called back to service...They can't call me now.