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Air Force Reserve tests activation process

  • Published
The first of 24 bases scheduled for musters of individual ready reserve Airmen took place at Malmstrom Air Force Base, Mont., on March 2.

The Air Reserve Personnel Center conducts 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 pool 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 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," said Col. Ann Shippy, ARPC commander.

Annually, ARPC orders IRR Airmen to report to an Air Force base, usually within 150 miles of their residence. Upon arrival, their records are updated, and they receive a basic medical screening and several briefings. The Airmen are paid for their time.

Colonel Shippy said musters are a routine process to allow ARPC to look at the activation process; musters do not initiate activation.

"The Air Force has not activated the IRR since Desert Storm," she said.

The remaining musters this year be at Altus, Andrews, Cannon, Eglin, F.E. Warren, Hill, Kirtland, MacDill, Maxwell, McConnell, McGuire, Scott, Seymour Johnson, Sheppard, Travis, Whiteman and Wright-Patterson Air Force Bases; Homestead, March and Westover Air Reserve Bases; Pittsburgh International Airport and Youngstown Air Reserve stations; and ARPC headquarters here. A total of about 5,000 Airmen will be ordered to report.