Expert: Howard Lorenz - 5/4/2008

Question
I enlisted in May 1998, served four years.  Then extended for a year.  Then enlisted again for four more years. Total service was 8 years 10 months, ending in March 2007.  They booted me a month short of my DOS as part of force shaping, and gave me money for doing so.  Honorable service on my DD214.  It's been a year and then some since I separated.

I just got a letter saying I'm in the IRR, and will be until 2010, and have to report to muster in West Virginia in July.

I thought my commitment was 8 years of service, active, reserve, guard, IRR, or any combination.  I served 8+ years. The word on the street was always "8 years, however you slice it."  According to the letter I got, they have me until March 2010.  That's just short of 12 years of commitment to the Air Force.  So what's the real story on IRR?  And just exactly how long do they actually have me?  And where was "12 years" on my contract?

Also, my DD214 and the separations people in the Air Force never mentioned this to me.  In fact, I remember the separations person specifically telling me I wasn't obligated to go in to the IRR.  I've got to welcome letter from the IRR, no notification prior to this muster letter, and no ID card from them.  And, you know, a notice in this letter that I am entitled to shop at the commissary?  Is that true?  Because if it is, I have to say, I'm a little peeved that nobody bothered to tell me I was committed to the Air Force for more than a decade.  I could have saved hundreds of dollars going to the commissary and BX instead of the civilian stores.  That's a year of tax-free shopping I missed out on.


Answer
Sounds to me that some one screwed up. You should have no comittment. It will say on your DD form 214 if you have any comittment, if not then send the reserve a certified copy and tell them that you are not obligated. I was in the IRR some years back and I nover heard of a muster for folks in IRR... Are they going to put you all in TDY status? I would contact the DENVER ARPC and ask them the hard questions and back it up with your documentation.

https://arpc.afrc.af.mil/




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Normally when you leave say after a 4 year commitment, you have 4 years on the IRR which is no more than a manpool database. I ahve never heard of a "Muster" from those in IRR.. I can understand it from a Mass recruiting effort. I would definitely attend just to get the 180.00!! , but then the cost of driving overthere and driving back will eat into that...Let me know what all takes place there so that I have some data on what to tell others if I get the same question again....This is all interesting....Makes me wonder if the Draft is soon coming back?