Sonofabitch, I just got home from work and found I received a Western Union mailgram from the US Army today.  It looks like I'll have to dust off my uniform and pack my gear.  

Report 08 OCT 04, at Fort Jackson for processing and then to Fort Leonard Wood where I'll be joining my new unit I guess.  I'm still shocked, but not really surprised.   I really don't want to go, but duty calls.   I haven't worn the uniform for some time (IRR for over three years).   As a Officer in the US Army, I hold the words "Duty, Honor, Country" dear.  My Country needs me so I will do my Duty, and do it with Honor.  I knew this day might happen, but damn.

I looked up the Army's HRC website, and there's an IRR update, dated August 10, 2004 for 1,713 mor IRR Soldiers.   It looks like they're really hard-up for Combat Engineer officers among others.  I guess that's where I fit in.

"Sappers Forward!" (literally)

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from HRC website:

IRR Call-Up Update

On Aug. 10, 2004, the U.S. Army Human Resources Command - St. Louis (HRC-STL) received approval to send Western Union Mailgram notifications to approximately 1,713 Individual Ready Reserve (IRR) Soldiers being mobilized in support of the Global War on Terror. This is in addition to 2,110 notifications sent beginning July 6 under a planned 5,600 IRR Soldier call-up, occurring from approximately August to December 2004. As of Aug. 10, a total of 3,823 mobilization orders have been sent to Soldiers' home mailing addresses. Each Soldier will have a minimum of at least 30 days from notification prior to being required to report to a designated mobilization station.

Soldiers and their family members will also receive follow-on hardcopy mobilization orders and packets containing information on Army assistance and services available to them, including personnel, pay, and medical. A toll free assistance number is available for Soldiers and families' use: 1(800) 325-4361, as well as the Army Family Online one-stop access to information valuable to Soldiers and their families before, during, and after mobilization: 1(800) 833-6622, www.wblo.org

IRR Soldiers being mobilized under the planned 5,600 IRR Soldier call-up are to support Army Reserve and National Guard unit requirements for those units being mobilized. The overall IRR call-up is being phased over an extended time period, with the first Soldier's reporting date being Aug. 31, 2004. Call-ups are being phased over time in order to synchronize planning and preparations required to process and care for IRR Soldiers at their respective mobilization stations, which are primarily: Fort Jackson, S.C., Fort Leonard Wood, Mo., Fort Benning, Ga., and Fort Sill, Okla. These training centers are being afforded additional time to prepare to receive these IRR Soldiers and ensure sufficient facilities, resources, and manpower are available to process them and provide required training. The remaining IRR Soldier call-ups will primarily fill Army Reserve unit vacancies, although the Soldiers will be assigned based on the needs of the Army.

IRR Soldiers being called are primarily in the following specialties:

   * Motor Transport Operator 20 percent;
   * Automated Logistical Specialists (Privates - Specialist rank), 12 percent;
   * Light Wheeled Vehicle Mechanics, 10 percent;
   * Administrative Specialists (Private - Specialist), 7 percent;
   * Combat Engineer, 6 percent

Other high-demand skills for this mobilization (6-10): Food Service, Carpentry and Masonry Specialist; Petroleum Supply Specialist; Combat Engineers (officer ranks); and Cable System Installer-Maintainer (each represents three to four percent of the requirements).

The above information is current as of 8 a.m., CST, Aug. 11, 2004 and is subject to change based on operational requirements and the needs of the Army.

Visit the HRC-STL Web site for future updates. For further information on the IRR, visit the Soldier information section of the Human Resources Command web site. https://www.hrc.army.mil. Also, visit the HRC web site for further updates as they become available.

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Mobilization Processing Sites - More Information

For more information about one of the mobilization processing sites, you may visit the processing site's Web site.

   * Fort Benning, Ga
   * Ft Jackson, S.C.
   * Ft Knox , Ky
   * Ft Leonard Wood, Mo
   * Ft Sill, Okla

Thanks.

At this rate, practically everyone in the Army will have a tour with OIF or OEF.

You guys at home (IRR, ING, IMA) get ready to be deployed!!

Good luck

good luck man,  its not as bad downrange as the news says, but it has its moments


my best advice is to

a. make sure you have a power of attorney setup with someone you trust so your bills get paid
b. if you can afford it, buy some gear to make you more comfortable
*walgreens has those airline "donut pillow" things,  very nice little item to have

Quoted: As a Officer in the US Army, I hold the words "Duty, Honor, Country" dear.  My Country needs me so I will do my Duty, and do it with Honor.

Thank you, sir. Good luck.

Thank you sir for your service. If the Army would let me back in I would gladly go. Too old now. Prayers for you and your family.

Guess what... I bet there is a strong chance your going with me!

Timetable seems right, and my battalion is hard up for officers.

I am at FLW for WOBC untill DEC, email me and we can see if your headed our way.

timothy.glance (at) us.army.mil

Quoted: I was talking with my dad about this again this weekend, and he is not to concerned, but he claims he would go without a fight(no pun intended). He is 51, and a retired Army pilot(Regular Army Officer, IRR until age 64). I haven't heard anything about pilots being called up, but I imagine he would get back on the stick in no time (pun intended). He hasn't flown a military aircraft in a long time, but he still has more UH60 hours than all but the most senior active duty pilots today, he was in the second group of pilots to go through the UH60 transition course, I think it was in 78, and spent six years as an IP at Ft. Rucker flying over 40 loggable hours a week. I myself am not in a recallable status of any kind (that I am aware of), but am planning on reenlisting for my old MOS this fall (I only have fifteen pounds left to lose!!).

Actually, IP's have been called up often a great deal, just they are CW3's and CW4's.

Good luck, God bless and get the job done.  Bring your troops and yourself home safely, sir.

Not to  hijack this  but .......Both my wife and I just got  IRR  Mobilization letters from the navy, not definite but highly liklely. We've got a 4 month old daughter so if one of us has to go it's going to have to be me.  What I am worried about is that I  have a 10% VA disablity I am not sure if that would keep them from calling me back instead of her.  

CAAAWarfighter, I know you can be in the Active Reserves if your up to 30% disabled. The entire purpose of the reserves is to deploy when needed. SOOOO you'd think that you could go instead of your wife. ??? but who knows, check it out. Call your local reserve center personel department.

Good luck to you!!  I hope I do not get one of those letters.  It would be a great financial burden on us (family).

Quoted: Hey CAAAwarfighter, If you want to get out of your IRR call up/deployment, use a medical reason to make yourself nondeployable. You can use any angle you want. I knew a guy at Ft. Lewis who claimed to have a dust allergy. It removed any middle east posiblities. Another who claimed to have bad kness, joints. Couldnt carry a ruck. You can make yourself non deployable. Physical or mental. There are many angles. You dont want to go, you have the power to not go. JohnM at Home

Hmmm,  I am 10% disabled (according to the VA), allergic to dust, Can not run/ruck due to my knees etc, and recently considered reenlistment. I don't want to leave my family but I think I'd go if called upon. The whole "duty" thing.