Muster brings IRRs to Luke

  • Published
  • By 2nd Lt. Ryan DeCamp
  • 56th Fighter Wing Public Affairs
LUKE AIR FORCE BASE, Ariz. --  More than 115 Airmen in the Individual Ready Reserve filled Club Five Six March 30 to update their information with the Air Force as part of the program's plan to keep IRRs available in the event the Air Force needs them.

Those in attendance had the opportunity to update their contact, medical and personal information. They also heard about opportunities in the Air National Guard and Reserve, then about benefits they could receive from representatives with the Air Reserve Personnel Center and Veterans Affairs.

Debra Young, Headquarters Air Reserve Personnel Center director of plans, spoke to the group about some of the rights and responsibilities those in the IRR have.

"IRRs are still part of the Air Force family and because of that, are still required to have a family care plan and maintain uniforms," Ms. Young said during her briefing. "Also, by law civilian employment information must be kept current along with address and personal data."

Ms. Young went on to add one of the reasons employment and contact information are so important was because of the effect 9/11 had on civilian employers.

"After 9/11, when IRRs were recalled to active duty, entire fire or police departments were recalled," she said. "If the Department of Defense knows many IRRs are working at the same place, they can spread out who is recalled so certain career fields aren't hurt too badly, especially in first responder fields."

Two representatives from the VA spoke on topics ranging from the home loan guarantee,
to how to receive compensation, education and health benefits through the VA.

"We also offer mental health counseling to those who need it and the services are confidential so no information is released without the veteran signing a release form," said Thomas Dooley, Veterans Affairs readjustment counseling technician and retired Army first sergeant.

"We offer individual and group counseling to help people with life changes. Some of this
includes marital, spouse or significant other counseling, while we also cover other military related issues as well.

"A big focus is reintegration, or transitioning from a deployed location back to home and
how that brings life changes as well, not just to the servicemember, but the family," Mr.
Dooley said.

Maj. Emily Richards, 56th Force Support Squadron operations officer, organized the day's events and was pleased with how the muster went.

"Overall it's been great, because the turnout was so high," she said of the fact that 117 Airmen made it to the muster. "The briefers did a great job and made a really good push talking about their information and how important it is for IRR Airmen."

For more information on the briefings offered, benefits or requirements of those in the IRR, visit http://www.arpc.afrc.af.mil/library/irr/index.asp.