The Individual Ready Reserve (IRR) is a category of the Ready Reserve of the Reserve Component of the Armed Forces of the United States composed of former active duty or reserve military personnel, and is authorized under 10 U.S.C. ch. 1005. The IRR is composed of enlisted personnel and officers, from all ranges of Military Occupational Specialties including combat arms, combat support, and combat service support.
Individuals assigned to the IRR receive no pay and are not obligated to drill, conduct annual training, or participate in any military activities (except for periodic Muster activities) until ordered by Presidential Authority. Individuals who are assigned to an "Inactive Status" are entitled to limited benefits. These benefits include: Entitlement to a Military ID Card, ID Cards for their dependents, PX (Exchange) benefits, Commissary benefits, and MWR (Morale Welfare and Recreation) Benefits. An individual assigned to the IRR may receive pay and full benefits (including medical care and dental care for member and dependents) for voluntarily performing specific types of active duty.
By law, IRR members are only required to retain possession of their service uniforms, their military identification card, and notify their service branch if they move and change their address.
Upon presidential recall, service members will usually be screened for their medical and personal status in order to qualify or disqualify them for activation. During the process, IRR members who seek to delay, defer, or exempt their activations have the opportunity to present their case to the mobilization authority for a decision.
OBLIGATIONS AND REQUIREMENTS FOR IRR MARINES
Per U.S. Code Title X and Marine Corps policy, IRR Marines are obligated to notify the Marine Corps of any change to their:
Contact Information: Address, at least one telephone number, and email address.
Civilian Employment Information (CEI). (This is actually, at minimum, an annual review and certification. If there are civilian employment changes that occur after an annual certification, the change(s) must be updated at that time. CEI is reported in Marine Online (MOL).
Marital status.
Number of dependents.
Physical condition that would prevent him/her from meeting Marine Corps physical or mental standards.
Per Marine Corps policy, IRR Marines are required to:
Maintain their basic uniform regulations (i.e., No uniform can be worn during political rallies or protests, etc..)
Maintain standards of conduct. (i.e., Allegations or convictions of certain criminal offenses can lead to administrative separation, and if separated, some or all benefits earned as a Marine would be lost, depending on the category of discharge.)
Report for involuntary recall to active duty, whether operational, administrative (i.e., Administrative Musters), or legal.
Marines who wish to remain in the IRR:
Must be in good standing and continue to uphold the traditions of honorable service. Additionally:
Must accrue a minimum 50 Reserve Retirement Credit Points during their Anniversay Year. (Failure to do so can lead to denial of reenlistments/extensions for enlisted Marines and discharge for both officers and enlisted.)
Enlisted Marines are required to request reenlistment (or extension as required) as his/her contract nears its end, the same as active component and Selective Reserve (SelRes) Marines. (Click here for specific requirements for reenlisting and extending in the IRR.)
Officers who recieved a Reserve commission during their initial period of active duty must positively elect to remain in the Ready Reserve within two years of their Military Service Obligation (MSO), otherwise they will be automatically discharged.
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