Maj. Gen. Richard Shook, Jr., mobilization assistant to the Chief of the Air Force Reserve, gives an overview of the Air Force Reserve to attendees at the Individual Reserve Newcomers Orientation Course at Joint Base Anacostia-Bolling, D.C., June 21-22. Twenty reservists and active-duty partners attended the two-day course designed to welcome them to the IR program. (Air Force photo)
Members for Detachment 11 introduce themselves during the two-day Individual Reserve Newcomers Orientation Course at Joint Base Anacostia-Bolling, D.C., June 21-22. The course is designed to welome them into the IR program. (U.S. Air Force photo)
by Capt. Candice Allen
Readiness Management Group Public Affairs
6/30/2012 - ROBINS AIR FORCE BASE, Ga. -- Twenty reservists and active-duty partners attended a two-day course designed to welcome them into the Individual Reserve program at Joint Base Anacostia-Bolling, D.C., June 21-22.
At the IR Newcomers Orientation Course, attendees received briefings on readiness, deployments, participation, pay and travel, professional military education opportunities, and IMA survival tips. Hands-on training on how to navigate reserve-centric systems like ARCNet and UTAPS was also included in the course.
"We received rave reviews on our second IR Orientation," said Chief Master Sgt. Deannie Foster, orientation coordinator and superintendent of Detachment 11.
"I honestly did find benefit in all the briefings," wrote one participant on the course survey.
Organized in September 2011, Det 11 established the course to give newcomers tools they could use to become successful in the program. The first class was held in March.
"Individual Mobilization Augmentees both designed and instructed the course for a peer to peer concept. We had 19 students attend the first class and it was a huge success," Foster said.
According to student feedback, the most beneficial briefings were UTAPS, AEF deployment, promotion and evaluation process, PME, participation requirements, reenlistments, awards and decorations, pay and travel, ARCNet, AROWS-R and readiness.
Some of the IRs recommended the course be offered on a mandatory basis to all incoming IRs, said Senior Master Sgt. Shaquana Hall, one of the course instructors.
The next IR Orientation course will be offered Sept. 17-18 at Joint Base Anacostia-Bolling, D.C. For more information or reserve a seat, email rmgdet11.workflow@afncr.af.mil.
