Air Force Reserve unit hosts IRR muster in Alaska

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. Andrea Knudson
  • 477th Fighter Group Public Affairs
ELMENDORF AIR FORCE BASE, Alaska (AFNS) --  Reservists from Air Force Reserve Command's 477th Fighter Group hosted an individual ready reserve muster here June 12.

The purpose of a muster is to gather IRR members and to maintain their contact information and availability for activation to support a partial, total or full mobilization activation scenario. The IRR is made up of former regular Air Force Airmen and non-drilling reservists.

Air Force officials select participants for musters who are within a 150-mile radius of active-duty, Air Force Reserve or Air National Guard bases, according to Master Sgt. Stephanie Carter, IRR muster program manager at the Air Reserve Personnel Center in Denver.

"We notify the members by mail about 90 days before the scheduled muster," she said. "They receive an entire packet containing orders, a notification letter, forms required and additional information sheets.

"By law, Air Force Reserve Command is required to reach out and touch members of the IRR community annually," Sergeant Carter said."We do this by conducting one-day musters, annual mail surveys and bi-annual push-pull exercises."

Each year, IRR muster program managers contact bases in the continental United States to see who can participate. There were 26 musters last year. Thirteen are scheduled this year.

"We were really excited about hosting the first-ever muster overseas," said Capt. Erin Anderson, IRR muster coordinator for the 477th FG. "Not only is this a good forum to collect necessary information from IRR members, but it is also an excellent opportunity to provide helpful information the members may not otherwise receive. We had a pretty good turnout, and I'm happy to see several of the members received information they didn't have before."

Benjamin Stapera from Wasilla drove about 45 miles to attend the muster. He was an active-duty officer for 11 years before separating from the regular Air Force in 2007.This was his first muster, and he said he was surprised he learned so much.

"It was a lot more professional than I expected it to be," he said. "It went pretty quickly; it was streamlined and organized. They did a great job of anticipating some of the questions I had, and the briefings were helpful.

"I didn't realize there were this many people in the IRR in the area," Mr. Stapera said. "I walked in a bit nervous, but I'm leaving comfortable and confident."

Briefings for the day's muster included representatives from the Department of Veterans Affairs and a welcome from the 477th FG commander. The IRR members had to process through several stations, including medical, the VA and recruiting. An identification card station also was available for people wanting an ID.