Altus Air Force Base Hosts Individual Ready Reserve Muster

  • Published
  • By Clarence Lee
  • 97th Force Support Squadron
ALTUS AIR FORCE BASE, Okla. --  The 97th Air Mobility Wing military personnel section conducted an Individual Ready Reserve Muster April 10 to screen and certify for active duty 104 reservists.

For the last 60 days the military personnel section has been planning for this event to ensure all requirement s in accordance with HQ ARPC were met during the muster screening process. The screening process consisted of medical screening, verification military identification card, counseling by Air Force recruiters, verification of military insurance and beneficiaries, disability counseling by VA representative, and showing of Air Force video, etc.

All members who entered the Armed Forces on or after June 1, 1984, incurred, by law, a military service obligation of eight years. Members will be assigned to the IRR until they complete their MSO. Officers only -- upon expiration of their MSO, will be retained in Reserve status unless they voluntarily resign their commission, meet the criteria for discharge, or qualify for transfer to the Retired Reserve.

IRR members may be ordered to return to active duty involuntarily in the event of war, national emergency, or as prescribed by the Secretary of Defense. HQ ARPC will normally notify the members by orders if selected for recall. HQ ARPC will provide the members with reporting instructions and will try to give them at least five days advance notice before they must begin to travel.

The overall purpose and structure of the muster is to gather and maintain IRR member contact information and availability for activation of IRR members to support a partial, total or full mobilization activation scenario. The concept behind IRR is to ensure the nation always has a warrior bank of mission ready Air Guardsmen and Reservists for mobilization and USAF augmentation.

Agencies supporting the military personnel section for this event were Veterans' Administration and Air Force Reserve Recruiting. Altus AFB agencies included members from the 97th Medical Group, 97th Force Support Squadron, 97th Security Forces Squadron, 97th Communication squadron, and 97th Air Mobility Wing.