IRR musters provide important information and job opportunities

  • Published
  • By Tim Norton
  • 482nd Fighter Wing Public Affairs
HOMESTEAD AIR RESERVE BASE, Fla. --  Over 100 South Florida members of the Air Force Nonparticipating Individual Ready Reserve gathered for the annual muster screening to update contact information and receive briefings and information on benefits at the base on July 25.

Mandated by Title 10 United States Code, the IRR Screening Program has existed since 1988 and is used to ensure the nation always has a "warrior bank" of mission ready guardsmen and reservists for mobilization and Air Force augmentation when needed. IRR's are mostly military personnel who have served on active duty but have a military service obligation remaining.

IRR members must meet minimal annual requirements such as maintaining personal contact information, attending musters (assembling of troops), updating readiness screening questionnaires and responding to official correspondence.

After a brief welcome by Col. Michael McCully, 482nd Mission Support Group commander, the participants received briefings from the Miami Department of Veterans Affairs, Miami Vet Center, watched a video from the Air Reserve Personnel Center and received briefings from the 482nd Military Personnel Flight.

Air Force Reserve recruiters and members of the 482nd Aircraft Maintenance Squadron were also on hand to give updates on job opportunities available at Homestead ARB and the aircraft maintenance career fields.

"We signed-up seven participants to come into the Reserves and are working on 19 more possibilities," said 482nd Fighter Wing senior recruiter Senior Master Sgt. Rondey Bullock.

After the briefings, the participants processed through various work stations represented by base support agencies to include: finance, medical screening, ID cards, employment, education and personnel. After completing their processing, participants were given lunch courtesy of the Air Force Reserve recruiters.

Annually, the Air Force Reserve Personnel Center in Colorado orders participants for musters that are within 150 miles of their residence of active-duty, Air Force Reserve or Air National Guard bases said Capt. Christy Shaw, 482nd Mission Support Squadron commander.

"A lot of time and effort went into making the muster a successful event," Shaw said.  "It is important for the Air Force Reserve to have war ready assets available and musters are a valuable tool to ensure inactive reservists are ready." 

"It also provides recruiting an opportunity to speak to viable candidates for the 482nd Fighter Wing," Shaw went on to say.