About this time next year, I will no longer be an active duty Marine Corps Captain, but will instead be a full time MBA student and a member of the IRR. I have heard rumors of being able to earn retirement points by doing online training etc. I had planned to just do my two years in the IRR (read: do nothing) and seperate completely, but am curious if anyone had figured out a way to get retirement benefits through the IRR without drilling once a month and two weeks a year (I am not willing to commit to that!). Who's got the gouge?

http://www.marforres.marines.mil/MajorSubordinateCommands/ForceHeadquartersGroup/MarineCorpsIndividualReserveSupportActivity/CareerPlanning/satisfactoryyear.aspx

That's good info. I am curious if anyone here has tried to accrue points while in the IRR and if so, what did they do?

Whoop, were you a pilot? I think I may have roomed with you in Pensacola for a bit if I am remembering your handle correctly. Either PM me or shoot me an email out of the global if you want more info than I provided below.

The reserves was working on offering a few training courses you can take to acrue a few points out of the IRR via online classes but I am not sure if that ever was implemented. If you attend a muster you can get a few points. Your likelihood of being able to acrue enough points out of the IRR for a satisfactory year is extremely low if you aren't willing to do any period of duty such as drills, RCT or ADOS.

If you wouldn't mind affiliating with an SMCR unit after you have your masters done and would be interested in a reserve retirement then what I would highly recommend calling Marine Corps Individual Reserve Support Activity (MCIRSA) in New Orleans and talking to them about joining whats called an IMA detachment as a stop gap.

Basically, this option provides you much more flexibility on when you drill or perform short term periods of duty such as RCT and ADOS in order to obtain sat year. You typically won't be required to drill every month, but can achieve a sat year by just doing one or two extended periods of duty throughout the year.

The catch is, MarForRes typically tries to limit you to an IMA Det for only a couple years and then will ask you to affiliate with an SMCR unit. If you are just looking for a transition year or two and would be willing to traditionally drill after you are done with your masters, then this could be a great option for you.

Also, if you are who i am thinking of and you are a pilot, then there is a lot more flexibility for when many squadrons "drill" so you might not have to do the one weekend a month thing to get a sat year with an aviation squadron like you may think.

The best thing to do to see what is available for pilots in the SMCR is to contact a prior service recruiter. Texas' PSR office is located at 8th MCD out of Ft Worth. Once you find a unit you are considering joining, just call the unit direct and talk to the leadership and a few of the pilots to see how flexible the squadron is and what would be expected of you.

You also could look at completing EWS or Command and Staff via a seminar as an option to earn points and assist with promotion. Speaking of promotion, you can easily get promoted out of the IRR, so be sure to keep an eye on the boards and throw in a package when you are in zone.

A few weeks of Majors pay every year is a pretty darn good part time job and break from work if you find the right gig, plus if you feel the need to serve during the next dust up overseas its much easier to find an opportunity if you stay active in the reserve community.

I hope this helps. PSN '03

http://www.marforres.marines.mil/MajorSubordinateCommands/ForceHeadquartersGroup/MarineCorpsIndividualReserveSupportActivity/OPPORTUNITIES.aspx

quote:

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** Marines of the IRR are members of the Ready Reserve, but are not affiliated with an SMCR unit or IMA detachment (Selected Marine Corps Reserve). Marines of the IRR are subject to involuntary recall to active duty per Title 10, sections 12301(a), 12302 and 12304. An integral part of the total overall Marine Corps Total Force concept, the 60 thousand members (and growing to an estimated 80K) of the IRR represent the largest single group within the RC, and a significant portion of the Total Force concept. The majority of Marines serving in the IRR are fulfilling the remainder of their Military Service Obligation (MSO) after completing their initial four year AC enlistment or six year RC enlistment. The MSO is an eight year commitment. At the conclusion of their MSO, they will discharge completely from the IRR and become civilians, no longer subject to involuntary recall.
Marines may, and many do, wish to continue serving in the IRR. Marines may REENLIST into the IRR, and then continue through the continuum of service following many different paths. Marines may seek to affiliate with an SMCR unit, drilling once per month with a unit and participating in the unit's Annual Training (AT) of at least 14 days. Other Marines may seek to affiliate with an IMA detachment (Individual Mobilization Augmentee, which is duty in support of an AC command), whereby they will drill with the command at least four time (two days) per month, though the schedule is generally more flexible. Marines affiliating with an IMA detachment will participate in at least 12 days of AT, with the unit with whom they serve. Many reservists serving in the IRR are actively participating in RC opportunities, either volunteering for mobilization or serving on active duty on a short-term contractual basis known as "ADOS." Others perform duty for retirement points only, and some simply have too many other commitments to formally participate in the RC, but wish to remain affiliated.
Marines unable to make the full SelRes commitment, but seeking a higher level of participation beyond the basic requirements of the IRR, may PARTICIPATE for pay and points, or in some cases, just retirement points, in a variety of ways:
Mobilization Training Units: MTU's are designed to provide a structure and means of increasing the mobilization readiness of IRR members by using their special skills and extensive experience to support and enhance the combat readiness of the Marine Corps. An MTU is a unit established to provide RC training in a non-pay status for volunteers of the IRR and the Standby Reserve (ASL only) attached under competent orders and participating in such units for retirement points. The Commanding Officer of Marine Corps Individual Readiness Support Activity (MCIRSA) is responsible for the management and administration of the MTU Program. Information regarding the establishment of new MTU's in support of the RC is obtained by contacting Mr. Glen Davis at 504-697-XXXX.

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I was an I&I for an SMCR unit years ago and currently have an IMA det assigned to support my unit. One of the best pieces of advice for reservists (not from me but from those whom I've known that have made a career in the reserves) is to be strictly IRR for at least a year before making an affiliation. Marines (officer and enlisted) who go straight from active component to the SMCR usually don't stay because they are frustrated with what appears to be a different culture from what they expected in the active component. After a year in the Civ-Div the desire to be affiliated with the Corps either grows or diminishes and if it gets stronger then that's the time to reconnect. An IMA det might be something to investigate as a means of affiliation that is different from the T/O SMCR units.



[This message has been edited by Ulysses90 (edited 7/16/2014 8:11p).]

the USMCR IRR may be different, but I was able to garner 3 of my 24 good retirement years by doing correspondence while in the USAR IRR and serving overseas in my federal job.

I saw way too many of my fellow reservists 'waste' their years by being in the IRR while they were in between units and sitting around doing nothing. you CAN get a good year taking online courses, there are literally hundreds of them in the USAR avail thru the AIPD (or whatever they call it now). You don't have to be that MOS to take a specific MOS course. I took the chaplain assistant course and the food service course one year while being neither. an officer can take enlisted classes and I assume vice versa. USMC may not have as many possibilities but the USAR has a lot.

[This message has been edited by Aggie@state.gov (edited 7/19/2014 9:48a).]