4,000 IRR sailors to muster next summer

[unhappycamper]

4,000 IRR sailors to muster next summer
By Mark D. Faram - Staff writer
Posted : Friday Oct 31, 2008 15:05:31 EDT

Nearly 4,000 Individual Ready Reserve sailors will be required to muster next summer — with an eye on keeping tabs on sailors and officers with critical skills.

Muster dates will be June 6 and July 11, 2009, for anyone in the 55,000-strong IRR holding one of 13 officer designators or 19 enlisted ratings that are considered critical to the war on terrorism.

Normally while in the IRR, sailors are not required to drill regularly, but retain “ID card privileges” such as access to the base commissary and exchange as well as recreation facilities. They can be called to muster in person once a year.

For the past five years, Navy officials have started evaluating this pool of people who still have completed their active-duty contracts yet still have a standing commitment to the Navy.

For example, sailors who join for four years actually sign a six-year service agreement. The final two years are done in the IRR, unless they choose to join the selected reserve.


Rest of article at: http://www.navytimes.com/news/2008/10/navy_IRRmuster_111008/%2e