Urgent question from User

[Mr_Loki]

He can't post. This is not my question.


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Sir, I apologize for not waiting for my account to be approved, but I am under some pressure from my unit to decide whether to go ING instead of IRR. Would it be possible for you to post a question on my behalf? I understand if this is not possible. My question is:

I have reached my ETS date a week ago and am currently IRR; my contract is 6/2 and I have a critical MOS. It has been suggested to me by a SFC in my unit that I go ING. My unit has been told that they are deploying – not immediately and not to Afghanistan or Iraq – but they definitely are. I am currently in school and have two years of a nursing degree to go. My SFC told me that in the ING there would be much less chance that I would be mobilized.
I would really appreciate it if someone could explain the difference between the IRR and the ING and which would be my best option.

Thank you for any assistance you can give me.

[Phantom]

See if they even have a offical MOB date, it might be over a year away. What about the deployment do they have in writing and not off rumor? In rumor land everybody is deploying.

[SteveLord]

In addition to that, your unit could grant you some flexibility. My unit just had their send off last week. There were guys that stayed back who weren't even ETSing until as late as next April!

Disclaimer: While this is possible, there are many factors that could affect the liklihood.

[ParalegalNCO1]

There is nothing urgent about this because there is no choice. If you complete your required contract and are discharged inside your 8 year obligation you will remain in the IRR. The ING is used for people inside their initial who need to take time off and so fourth. There is no such thing as remaining in the ING if you time is up.

1–23. Eligibility for the MATP
a. ARNGUS. State military authorities are required to follow the procedures of NGR 600-200 in processing
ARNGUS Soldiers for discharge from the ARNGUS prior to expiration of their terms of service. ARNGUS Soldiers
who are discharged from the ARNG in accordance with NGR 600-200 become members of the IRR unless they are
concurrently discharged from the ARNGUS and the Reserve of the Army under the procedures set forth in this
6 AR 135–178 • 13 March 2007
regulation.

[LRSU_Dog]

SteveLord - My unit MOB'd with yours - since stop-loss was lifted the directive was that anyone who did not extend thier ETS date beyond the duration of the deployment was not MOB'd.

There are a lot of factors involved with those who extended for the deployment with the intention of extending again while in theater to take advantage of any retention bonus/benefits that might be available at the time - however the initial extension had to take the soldier beyond the deployment - no one is allowed to ETS and seperate from theater. As such, Soldiers may extend thier current enlistment not more than one year out from thier actual ETS date, which they can do while in theater.

ParalegalNCO1 is correct in that in fulfilling any MSO (Military Service Obligation) you are discharged from the ARNG into the IRR (USAR Control Group) - under normal non-ARNG circumstances there is no option but IRR----HOWEVER... As to the ING (Inactive National Guard) you are authorized (at the Commanders discretion and approval) to be transferred into the ING as opposed to the IRR (IAW NGR 614-1, 18MAR2010, Chapter 2, Section 8) http://www.ngbpdc.ngb.army.mil/pubs/614/ngr614_1.pdf

(8) As an alternative to serving in the Individual Ready Reserve (IRR) of the United States Army Reserve (USAR) in order to complete the second portion (two, four, or five years) of the 6x2, 4x4, or 3x5 enlistment option, or of another residual commitment to serve in the Ready Reserve of the Army, after an initial period of service on active status with ARNG. Soldiers must execute a DA Form 4836 for the remaining period.

HOWEVER there are a few differences in being IRR versus ING; such as: an annual muster, counting against your home units strength manning while you are in the ING, the ability to apply for and attending MOS/position oriented formal miliatry schooling, and mobilization with your assigned unit. In the Selective Reserve you will not be mobilized beyond your actual completion of MSO - so if your unit MOB's on 01JUL2011 for one year and your MSO is fulfilled (without without any voluntary extensions) on 3NOV2011 - you will not be mobilized from the IRR/ING and deployed under the current climate (no stop-loss, etc).

There are quite a few things you need to know about the pros/cons of each avenue as it will apply to you and your military career/civilian pursuits. Let me, or your unit's (CO, BN, BDE) Career Counselors, know if you have any other questions.