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Army to Transform the Individual Ready Reserve (IRR)

March 22, 2006

The Secretary of the Army has endorsed an integrated and systemic approach to reset and reinvigorate the Individual Ready Reserve (IRR). The Army’s strategy focuses on transforming the IRR into the Army’s leading ‘prior service talent bank’ through several programmed initiatives as it builds the future force.

According to Mr. Francis J. Harvey, Secretary of the Army, “Senior Army leadership is committed to providing the necessary funding required to shape the Individual Warrior initiative into a viable pool of individuals who are trained and employable to meet the needs of the Army.”

The Army plans to immediately develop an identity with increased esprit de corps for members of the IRR by creating a special category within the IRR for its ready and qualified IRR Soldiers. This special category will be called the Individual Warrior (IW) Category. Soldiers in the IW Category will be required to maintain a higher state of readiness by participating in virtual musters, attending annual readiness processing and, through managed training opportunities, maintaining proficiency in their military occupational specialty. The IW Category will focus on elevating individual expectation management, proactive career management, unique training opportunities, and promote continuum of service towards a military retirement.

There are over 100,000 Soldiers (enlisted and officers) in the IRR representing over 200 Military Occupational Skills ranging from combat arms, combat support, and combat service support specialties.

Media contact: LTC Bryan Hilferty, G1 PAO (703-693-0295) or Mr. Sheldon Smith, Office of Army Public Affairs (703-697-7487)