Warriors muster for readiness Published May 4, 2010 By Staff Sgt. Alyn-Michael Macleod 99th Regional Support Command Public Affairs NEWTON SQUARE, Pa. -- Approximately 90 Individual Ready Reserve Soldiers were called to duty to attend this year's IRR muster at the Newtown Square Army Reserve Center April 25. The 99th Regional Support Command Soldier Readiness Processing Team out of Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, N.J., hosted the event. "You have served and you continue to serve honorably when called upon as an individual warrior. The training and skills that you have acquired over your military career are truly invaluable to our Army," explained Maj. Gen. Sean Bryrne, Army Human Resources Command commanding general for the IRR Soldiers. "My goal is to provide you with the right tools, training and services to achieve success in both your military and civilian lives," said Bryrne. Every Soldier has an initial military service obligation of 6 to 8 years depending on the contract the Soldier has signed, according to HRC officials. A Soldier typically becomes a member of the IRR after successfully completing a tour of duty as an active-duty, National Guard or Reserve Soldier. The minimum requirement for Soldiers in the IRR is to keep their contact information and records up to date by attending annual musters. There are two types of musters that IRR Soldiers encounter - personnel accountability musters, where Soldiers receive orders and call to schedule an appointment with his or her local Army Reserve Center, or readiness musters, where Soldiers who receive orders will physically report to an Army Reserve Center. The first-year muster focuses on resetting, orientation and education. The second-year muster focuses on readiness and validating medical and personal status. The following musters focus on availability for continued service and re-enlistment. Each Soldier processed through 22 stations during the muster, ensuring their training and skills were still in a state of readiness. The stations included: medical, Individual Warrior Virtual Screening Portal, HRC career manager, Veterans Affairs, career counselor, personnel station, identification card/Defense Enrollment Eligibility Reporting System, security station, Reserve Officers' Training, Family Assistance Program, civilian personnel, employer partnership initiative, Employer Support Guard/Reserve, Army and Air Force Exchange Service, defense commissary, Military One Source, American Legion, TRICARE, Veterans of Foreign Wars, post-deployment health reassessment, Army One Source and YTI Institute. The personnel station can be considered one of the most important parts of this process because it directly impacts the Soldiers' minimum requirements. "We assist the Soldiers in updating their emergency contact information and with any other personnel needs they inquire about," said Sgt. Mark Schulz Sr., 99th Regional Support Command Soldier Readiness Processing Team. "We also assist them with any pay issues and point them in the right direction on which way to go." Nicolas Saknit received notification about this muster through the mail. "I was a little apprehensive about coming here today," said Saknit, who is currently pursuing a degree in criminal justice. "I definitely learned a lot about the Army Reserve and retirement points today and I feel I can keep my options open," Saknit said. "This was a nice experience." Since it is essential to have a "good year" in the IRR, one of the another important stations in the muster is the HRC career manager. "To have a good year in the IRR, a Soldier must have fifty points," said Maj. Hollis Cantrell, HRC career manager. "It is important we get a chance to talk face to face with the Soldiers and go through their retirement points and tell them about some of the individual mobilization augmentation and Troop Program Units opportunities." Soldiers in the IRR still have the same opportunities as their active-duty counterparts in regard to promotions, military schools, correspondence courses and the ability to volunteer for special assignments. Lesley Long was a sergeant when she transferred to the IRR and is currently pursuing a degree in nursing. "After talking to the retention NCO, I am currently rethinking about enlisting in the Army Reserve," said Long. While other Soldiers may have thought about enlisting, 12 Soldiers at the muster decided to officially enlist in the Army Reserve. "We are here for the Soldiers if they want to take their experience and knowledge into the Reserve," said Sgt.1st Class Ronald Lilly, Army Reserve career counselor, Region 2. "If we have qualified, knowledgeable, experienced Soldiers in the Army Reserve ... it's just a plus for everyone around," added Lilly. This is the first of four IRR musters scheduled within the 90th RSC's 13-state area of responsibility. "Today was successful for the Soldiers.... It was a win-win," concluded Sgt. 1st Class Melody Ricks, 99th RSC SRP NCO in charge.