DENVER –
Air Force bases around the United States will undoubtedly see quite a few unfamiliar faces this year as groups of "civilians" gather for an Individual Ready Reserve muster.
Nellis Air Force Base, Nev., held the first of 25 musters April 12.
The Air Reserve Personnel Center here coordinates 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.
These musters provide the overall structure to gather and maintain IRR member contact and physical condition information, thereby increasing efficiency of the activation process for total or full mobilization.
"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.
The remaining musters this year will be held at Altus AFB, Okla.; Barksdale AFB, La.; Ellsworth AFB, S.D.; Luke AFB, Ariz.; MacDill AFB, Fla.; Minot AFB, N.D.; Offutt AFB, Neb.; Peterson AFB, Colo.; Randolph AFB, Texas; Shaw AFB, S.C.; Sheppard AFB, Texas; Vance AFB, Okla.; Vandenberg AFB, Calif.; Birmingham International Airport, Ala.; Gowen Field, Idaho; Fresno ANGB, Calif.; Louisville International Airport, Ky.; Martinsburg, W.V.; New Castle County Airport, Del.; Reno ANGB, Nev.; Rickenbacker ANGB, Ohio; Volk Field ANGB, Wis.; Pittsburgh Air Reserve Station, Pa. and ARPC. A total of about 7,000 Airmen were initially selected to attend one of the musters.