How to put together an army IRR pack

Package requirements, what to include in your IRR package:

1. IRR Packet Checklist, based on Figure B-59 of USAR Leaflet 600-5.

2. Form DA 4561, Request for Assignment or Attachment of Reserve Component. Completely filled out and signed by the Soldier and the Commander.

3. Your supporting statement/letter and supporting documentation. This is based on the reasons listed in AR 140-10.

4. Recommendation on the chain of command.

5. Compelling personal motive. If the specific reason is not listed in AR 140-10, it requires an exception to the policy from your OFTS.

6. Statement of Advice (DA Form 4856). This is from the commander to the Soldier and it is face to face. Are you in receipt of a bonus? This advisory statement should alert you to the termination or repossession of the bonus.

7. Statement of Advice (DA Form 4856). From the Soldier’s service career counselor to the Soldier; it is also face to face.

Valid reasons to transfer from the Troop Program Unit (TPU) to the Individual Ready Reserves (IRR):

As a TPU soldier, you can forward an IRR transfer packet up the chain of command. There is no guarantee for the approval of that package or for its transfer to the IRR.

If you want to improve your chances of transferring from TPU to IRR, see the valid reasons listed in AR 140-10, Chapter 4, Paragraph 9. If you have sufficient documents and facts to support one or more of these reasons, please include them in your IRR package. This will help you present your case for transfer to the IRR.

Job issue:

Let’s say your employer suddenly can’t release you from work hours so you can drill…since your absence would cause an adverse impact on your employer’s operation. Before, this was not a problem. His employer released him for a weekend and he was able to continue his operation. When they couldn’t free you, you were able to reprogram.

Now? His employer needs him, on the days he needs to drill, for the company to continue its mission. Conditions had changed since he started working for this employer.

Or, you are at a company that is restructuring and eliminating your job. They transfer you to another part of the company. In this new job, you are on call to go to different parts of the country and your hours are random. You cannot perform rescheduled workouts. Your employer cannot spare you for any standby drill without adversely affecting company operations.

These are just two examples, of which there are many, of how your employment could become something that makes it difficult for you to meet the TPU requirements.

In your Soldier Justification Statement letter, please provide an objective picture of how your work schedule makes it impractical for you to continue with the TPU. Include statements from your employer to support this justification.

Change of address:

You accept a new job within your company. It will pay you more, it’s something you love to do, and it represents a promotion in your civilian career. The capture? You have to go somewhere that’s two days from the nearest Army Reserve facility. Your employer cannot give you enough time to get to and from the nearest Army Reserve unit.

In this scenario, you are a TPU soldier who cannot drill with any army reserve unit.

Or, you get a promotion that sends you abroad. His workplace is a long flight from the nearest Army Reserve Center.

For something like this, you could send a packet to transfer to the IRR. In your soldier justification statement, include employment orders, job promotion documentation, new job description, an objective picture detailing the location of your new job, your new residence, etc.

Compelling personal reasons:

This is something of a “mixed bag” to cover other reasons not specifically covered in AR 140-10.

What you think is a very good reason to transfer may not be what the Army thinks it is. You also have to see this from your unit’s perspective.

He is asking them to release him when he is needed in the unit during drills and summer training. They have no guarantee that they will get a replacement soldier. You have to convince them to “approve” your IRR package.

Let’s say you’re “burned out” from exercising. He just wants to “sit” on the IRR until the “exhaustion” phase is over. In the eyes of your unit, this is a subjective reason. They could work with you so you don’t need to send an IRR transfer packet.

In this example, your soldier justification letter should provide an accurate and factual picture of how your Army Reserve duties contribute to your burnout. You will need letters from your medical professionals to help bolster your justifications.

Whatever personal reason you choose, make sure you can provide an objective picture. Make sure you can provide factual information from subject matter experts involved in your situation.

You also want to show that there is no other way to “solve” your current problem other than transfer it to the IRR. Before you do this, you should exhaust the means to resolve this with the resources that your drive might reference.

You have completed the TPU part of your contract, you are now ready to transfer to the IRR:

As of this writing, everyone joining the military for the first time has signed an eight-year contract. When a first-time enlistee signs a 6-year Army Reserve contract, he’s not just signing up for 6 years. When those 6 years are up, that Soldier has an additional 2 years of commitment. They can request a transfer commitment from the TIR after their TPU.

This concept applies even if the TPU portion of the contract was for 3, 4, or 5 years.

Once the TPU part of the contract is finished, they can request the transfer to the IRR. They have to keep drilling with the unit until they get their orders from IRR.

Surviving her daughter:

You’re in the reserves and you’re following your civilian career. Two years later, the last brother you have left dies. You are now the only surviving child of your parents. This is an unfortunate event, but one that gives you the opportunity to transfer from the TPU to the TIR.

When writing your soldier justification letter, include documentation showing that you are now the last/only surviving child of your parents.

Dependency or hardships make it impractical to participate in TPU:

Let’s say your family situation changes and you have to provide extra care and support to one of your family members. This family member is someone on your dependent list. You don’t have an alternate care plan… no one else could afford to waste a lot of their time and sacrifice their job to help you.

This dependent relative needs your presence. Without you, the well-being of this family member is negatively affected.

Two examples of this category are an “assisted living” situation and a “direct support provider” situation. In these scenarios, a family member is unable to care for themselves. The family member requires the attention, supervision, and direct support of a Soldier to perform basic functions.

Statements from physicians, social workers, case managers, and other related individuals should be included in this packet. Your statement should focus on the nature of the dependency difficulties and the need for you to always be available.

The pregnancy:

If you are pregnant, you may be able to transfer to the IRR. You have to be MOS qualified, and you can’t be within 3 months of your ETS.

No selection for retention:

This affects TPU soldiers who have received their “official notification of eligibility to retire with pay at 60” letter. This is the “20 year letter”. By regulation, these Soldiers are subject to a Qualitative Retention Board.

Prior to the agreement of this board, the affected soldier receives a “pre-board” packet. The Soldier has a couple of options. If the junta removes the soldier from the TPU, which control group would you like to transfer the soldier to?

The Soldier could choose to transfer to the retired reserves or the IRR. If the qualitative review board decides to remove the Soldier from the TPU, orders will be issued transferring the Soldier to the control group that the Soldier selected.

This is also applicable to TPU Welds subjected to the actions of other types of retention tables. In this situation, a soldier may have the option of transferring to the IRR.

Enrollment in an ROTC without a scholarship:

A “non-scholarship” ROTC program is one that offers the student the opportunity to participate in an ROTC program without financial benefits. These students do not receive a monthly stipend. These students pay their own tuition, fees, and other expenses.

Soldiers who are accepted into this type of ROTC program may submit an IRR packet.

Merchant Marine Academy:

If you are accepted into Merchant Marine Academy, you can submit an IRR transfer packet.

Army Regulation 140-10:

For details on each of these categories and how to apply under them, see Army Regulation 140-10, Assignments, Attachments, Details, and Transfers.

Commanding Officer and Service Career Counselor Advisory Statements:

Did you get a bonus for signing up for your current TPU contract? If your IRR transfer is approved, you could lose the remainder of your bonus. Depending on the stipulation of your bonus, you could end up having to repay the part of your bonus that you received.

If you are receiving a bonus, you must be informed of this fact when you submit your IRR packet.

This advisory statement should also inform you of your IRR responsibilities. The commanding officer will include any information that is important to you. This includes the fact that you must continue drilling with the unit until you receive orders to transfer to the IRR.

The career counselor will inform you of the opportunities that are available to you at the IRR, including opportunities to reclassify and transfer back to the TPU when personal conditions favor such a move.

IRR Transfer Package Tips:

1. Are you in your initial contract, with TIR time after your TPU time? By regulation, you are not supposed to send your IRR packet until your TPU obligation is complete. You can submit your IRR transfer packet the day after your “TPU ETS” date.

2. After sending your IRR packet, you must drill with your unit until you receive orders to transfer it to IRR.

Don’t just go by what someone in your unit says. Some soldiers stopped drilling after “complete” their “TPU years”, because they thought they were automatically in the IRR. This was not true, they had to report to drill.

3. Track your package. If HRC does not receive your package, they may extend your TPU status until the end of your military service obligation. In this case, you will have to drill until the age of 8 is over.

4. If you have unresolved medical issues, you must resolve these issues before you can transfer to the IRR.

5. IRR soldiers still have obligations and point requirements to meet. However, you could consider active standby reserves instead of IRR if you want to temporarily “step away” from the TPU.

In the IRR, you have to score at least 50 points per year of retirement.

On active standby bookings, you don’t need to earn at least 50 points. You maintain your military affiliation, but are generally not required to maintain good year. Active reserve reserves are what most people assume IRR to be.

Additional references:

1AR 140-10; provides details on the above categories as justification for the transfer of IRR.

2. Policy letters AR G1.

3. USAR Brochure 600-5.

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