Package requirements, what to include in your IRR package:
1. IRR Package Checklist, based on Figure B-59 of USAR Pamphlet 600-5.
2. DA Form 4561, Request for Assignment or Attachment of Reserve Component. Fully filled out and signed by the Soldier and the Commander.
3. Your statement/justification 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 reason. If the specific reason is not listed in AR 140-10, it requires an exception to the policy from your OFTS.
6. Counseling Statement (DA Form 4856). This is from the commander to the Soldier and it’s face to face. Are you in receipt of a bonus? This advisory statement should alert you to the termination or recovery of the bonus.
7. Counseling Statement (DA Form 4856). From Soldier to Soldier service career counselor; it is also face to face.
Valid reasons to transfer from Troop Program Unit (TPU) to 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, please refer to the valid reasons listed in AR 140-10, Chapter 4, Paragraph 9. If you have enough documents and facts to support one or more of these reasons, please include them in your IRR packet. This will help you make your case to transfer to the IRR.
Job issue:
Let’s say your employer is suddenly unable to release you from work hours so you can drill…since your absence would have 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 reschedule.
Now? Your employer needs you, on the days he needs to drill, for the company to continue its mission. Conditions had changed since he started working with this employer.
Or, you’re at a company that restructures and eliminates 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 do rescheduled workouts. Your employer cannot spare you for any mock booking without adversely affecting business 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 career advancement in your civilian career. The capture? You have to go somewhere that is 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 units.
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 image detailing the location of your new job, your new residence, etc.
Compelling personal reasons:
This is a kind of catch-all 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 they need him 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 packet.
Let’s say you’re “burned out” from exercising. It 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 may be able to work with you so that you do not need to send an IRR transfer package.
In this example, your soldier justification letter should provide an accurate and objective picture of how your Army Reserve duties contribute to your burnout. You will need letters from your medical professionals to help reinforce 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 transferring it to the IRR. Before you do this, you need to exhaust the means to resolve this with the resources your drive could reference.
You’ve completed the TPU portion of your contract, now you’re ready to transfer to the IRR:
At the time of writing this article, everyone joining the army, for the first time, 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 transfer commitment to the TIR after their TPU.
This concept applies even if the TPU part of the contract was for 3, 4 or 5 years.
Once the TPU part of the contract ends, they can request the transfer to the IRR. They have to keep drilling with the unit until they get their IRR orders.
Surviving her daughter:
You’re in the reserves and pursuing your civilian career. Two years later, your last remaining brother 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 TPU to IRR.
When writing your soldier justification letter, please include documentation showing that you are now the last/only surviving child of your parents.
Dependency or difficulties make it impractical to participate in TPU:
Let’s say your family situation changes and you need to provide extra care and support to one of your family members. This family member is someone on your list of dependents. 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 family member 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 cannot take care of himself. The family member requires the care, supervision, and direct support of a soldier to perform basic functions.
Statements from doctors, social workers, case managers, and other related persons 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 cannot 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 meeting, the affected soldier receives a “pre-meeting” package. 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 be transferred to the retired reserves or the IRR. If the qualitative review board decides to remove the Soldier from the TPU, orders will be generated transferring the Soldier to the control group that the Soldier selected.
This is also applicable to TPU Soldiers subjected to the actions of other types of holding tables. In this situation, a soldier may have the option of transferring to the IRR.
Non-Scholarship ROTC Enrollment:
A “non-scholarship” ROTC program is one that offers a 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, read Army Regulation 140-10, Assignments, Attachments, Details, and Transfers.
Commanding Officer and Service Career Advisor Statements:
Did you get a bonus for signing up for your current TPU contract? If your IRR transfer is approved, you could lose the rest of your bonus. Depending on the stipulation of your bonus, you could end up having to pay back the portion of your bonus that you received.
If you are receiving a bonus, you must be informed of this fact when you submit your IRR package.
This advisory statement should also tell you about your IRR responsibilities. The commanding officer will include any information that is important to you. This includes the fact that he must continue to drill with the unit until he receives transfer orders 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 TPU when personal conditions favor such a move.
IRR transfer package tips:
1. Are you on your initial contract, with IRR time after your TPU time? By regulation, you are not supposed to send your IRR packet until your TPU obligation is complete. You can send your IRR transfer package the day after your “TPU ETS” date.
2. After submitting your IRR package, you must drill with your unit until you receive orders transferring you to IRR.
Don’t just go by what someone in your unit says. Some soldiers stopped drilling after “completing” 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 through the end of your military service obligation. In this case, you will have to drill until they are 8 years old.
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 “walk away” from the TPU.
In the IRR, you have to get at least 50 points per year of retirement.
On active standby reservations, you do not need to earn at least 50 points. You maintain your military affiliation, but you are generally not required to maintain a good year. Active reserve reserves are what most people assume the IRR is.
Additional references:
1 AR 140-10; provides details on the above categories as justification for the transfer of IRR.
2. AR G1 policy cards.
3. USAR 600-5 brochure.