ARPC hosts Individual Ready Reserve Muster

  • Published
  • By Maj. Lennea Montandon
  • Air Reserve Personnel Center Public Affairs
BUCKLEY AIR FORCE BASE, Colo. --  Eighty-two Airmen attended an Air Force Individual Ready Reserve muster screening at the Leadership Development Center here Aug. 8, 2013.

The muster screening program enhances readiness, boosts combat capability and streamlines reporting procedures in the event of a call-up of these trained, prior service personnel.

The screenings are hosted by active duty, Guard and Reserve installations, and the Air Reserve Personnel Center hosted Thursday's event. It was the14th of 17 scheduled for the fiscal year.

IRR musters are mandatory by Title 10, United States Code Section 12319, and include updating personal readiness information and civilian employment data as well as receiving a basic medical screening and identification card. ARPC provides an orientation and muster brief where representatives explain the IRR's military service obligation, requirements to maintain readiness, and benefits. IRR members and their families are eligible for identification cards, commissary and base exchange privileges, some morale welfare and recreation programs, space available lodging and travel, and dental insurance.

Additionally at this muster, representatives from the Department of Veteran's Affairs discussed their programs, resources and benefits available. Health care options, GI Bill, and VA home loans were all briefly touched on, and members were encouraged to access the department's e-Benefits website where they can see what they may qualify for and request VA letters and personal documents, like their discharge paperwork or DD 214.

The muster was also a time ready reservists could choose to join the Selected Reserve or possibly reenter active duty. Guard, Reserve and active duty recruiters briefed and personally met with individuals interested, looking at their AFSC and personal circumstances.

"Buckley's 2013 muster went very well. Our show rate was 10 percent higher than the average this season, and the recruiters received various leads," said Master Sgt. Derek McKay of ARPC's Personnel Readiness Branch.

The Personnel Readiness Branch plans the musters from cradle-to-grave explained McKay. They begin the process by identifying host bases and units.

"We consider bases identified by recruiting services as having vacancies, bases that have previously hosted musters, and bases with a mission that supports career fields on the stressed AFSC listing," he said.

Once hosts are selected, the branch mails notification letters 60 days prior to the IRR screening, followed by an orders package and instructions. ARPC representatives also travel to host bases and provide the orientation and muster brief.

Most attendees at ARPC's muster screening here were from the Denver and Colorado Springs areas. They were employed in varied careers, from government employees to physical therapists and youth pastors.

Several IRR members commented that the muster was moving smoothly and was a good refresher on available benefits.

"Although my husband is active duty, it was nice to learn about benefits I also qualified for like dental insurance," said Diana Zoppi, a personal property counselor for the Transportation Management Office at Buckley AFB.

Zoppi is one of the 32,400 individual ready reservists ARPC services.

IRR members are required to have all personal affairs in order and report immediately if mobilized. They must also keep uniforms in serviceable condition and contact ARPC with any changes to mailing address, marital status, number of dependents or physical conditions that may affect availability for mobilization. During an annual screening, members are considered "on duty" and are required to act accordingly. If unable to attend, an IRR member must provide an explanation to the ARPC commander within 10 working days from receipt of a no-show letter.