Muster madness hits PRC

  • Published
  • By Mike Molina
DENVER --  There is only one place the Air Force relies on to maintain the readiness of thousands of Individual Ready Reserve troops - the Air Reserve Personnel Center, here. 

ARPC coordinates all IRR musters, which are required by law, to enhance readiness and ensure the Air Force can "reach out and touch" the IRR population when necessary. 

The IRR is a manpower resource primarily comprised of Airmen who have previously served in the active component, the Air National Guard or the Air Force Reserve and still have a military service or other contractual obligation. 

This year ARPC will coordinate musters of nearly 7,000 Airmen at 25 Air Force bases around the United States. 

"There is a lot of preplanning that goes on for a muster," said Sherrie Briggs, chief of personnel readiness division at ARPC. "Together, with officials from the directorate of personnel data systems, we have to identify the population of people who would be eligible for a muster. Then, we solicit bases that will hold a muster and coordinate with the local point of contact to ensure they have everything they need." 

This year, Nellis Air Force Base, Nev., held the first muster April 12. 

"Conducting musters provides us a great opportunity to screen these Airmen in person and provide them information on entitlements they may not already be aware of," said Master Sgt. Stephanie Carter, muster manager at ARPC. "It also allows us to verify and update any personal information." 

Annually, ARPC orders IRR Airmen to report to locations, usually within 150 miles of their residence. Upon arrival, their records are updated, and they receive a basic medical screening and several entitlements briefings. The Airmen are compensated for their participation. 

These musters are a routine process to allow ARPC officials to look at the recall process; musters do not initiate activation. The Air Force has not activated the IRR since Operation Desert Storm in 1991, but IRR Airmen can be a valuable asset, if needed. 

"We're able to accomplish a lot by holding these musters," Ms. Briggs said. "The Air Force can call them, and the IRR can support the nation. These are the people we're depending on in times of emergencies."