How to Build an Army IRR Package

Package requirements, what to include in your IRR package:

1. IRR Package Checklist, based on Figure B-59 of USAR Booklet 600-5.

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

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

4. Chain of command recommendation.

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

6. Statement of Counseling (DA Form 4856). This is from the commander to the soldier and is face to face. Are you receiving a bonus? This advisory statement should advise you of the cancellation or recovery of the bonus.

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

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

As a TPU soldier, you can forward an IRR transfer packet through 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 TIR, see the valid reasons listed in AR 140-10, Chapter 4, Paragraph 9. If you have enough documentation and facts to support one or more of these reasons, please include them. in your TIR package. This will help you present your case for transfer to TIR.

Job issue:

Let’s say your employer is suddenly unable to release you from work hours so you can drill … as your absence would adversely impact 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 release it, he was able to reprogram it.

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

However, you are in a company that restructures and eliminates your job. They transfer you to another part of the company. In this new job, he is on call to go to different parts of the country and his schedule is random. You cannot take a rescheduled training. Your employer cannot dispense with you for any reserve exercise without adversely affecting the operations of the company.

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

In your Soldier Justification Statement letter, please provide an objective picture of how your employment 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 is something you love to do and represents an advance in your civil career. The capture? You have to go somewhere that is two days from the nearest Army Reserve center. 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 picture 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 for the transfer may not be what the Army thinks it is. You also have to view this from the perspective of your unit.

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

Let’s say you are “exhausted” from exercising. You just want to “sit” on the IRR until the “burn” phase is over. In the eyes of your unit, this is a subjective reason. They could work with you where you wouldn’t need to send an IRR transfer packet.

In this example, your Soldier justification letter should provide an accurate and objective picture of how your Army reserve duties contribute to your exhaustion. 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.

He also wants to show that there is no other way to “solve” his current problem other than the transfer to the IRR. Before doing this, you must exhaust the means to solve it with resources that your unit could refer to you.

You have completed the TPU portion of your contract, now you are 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 enlisted person signs a 6-year Army Reserve contract, they are 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 the transfer to the TIR after their TPU commitment.

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 TIR. They have to continue drilling with the unit until they receive their TIR orders.

Surviving his golden daughter:

You are in the reserves and you are pursuing your civil career. Two years later, his last remaining brother passes away. 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 TIR.

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

Dependence or difficulties make it impractical to participate in TPU:

Let’s say your family situation changes and you need to provide additional 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 too much of your 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 in 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 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 dependency difficulties and the need for you to be constantly available.

The pregnancy:

If you are pregnant, you may be able to transfer to IRR. You have to be qualified for MOS 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 card.” By regulation, these soldiers are subject to a Qualitative Retention Board.

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

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

This also applies to TPU welds subject to the actions of other types of holding boards. In this situation, a soldier may have the option of transferring to the TIR.

Enrollment in a ROTC without scholarships:

A “scholarship-free” 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 can send an IRR packet.

Merchant Marine Academy:

If accepted by the Merchant Marine Academy, you can send an IRR transfer packet.

Army Regulation 140-10:

For details on each of these categories and how to apply, read Army regulation 140-10, Assignments, Attachments, Details, and Transfers.

Advisory statements from the commanding officer and the service career advisor:

Did you get a bonus for enlisting in your current TPU contract? If your IRR transfer is approved, you could lose the rest of your bonus. Depending on your bonus stipulation, you could end up having to pay back the portion of your bonus that you received.

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

This advisory statement should also inform you of your TIR 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 transfer orders to the TIR.

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

Tips for IRR transfer packages:

1. Do you have your initial contract and does the TIR time follow the TPU time? By regulation, you are not supposed to send your IRR package until your TPU obligation is complete. You can send your IRR transfer packet the day after your “TPU ETS” date.

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

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

3. Track your package. If HRC does not receive your package, your TPU status may be extended until the end of your military service obligation. In this case, you will have to drill until your 8 years are up.

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

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

On the IRR, you must earn at least 50 points per retirement year.

On active reservation reservations, you do not need to earn at least 50 points. You maintain your military affiliation, but generally you are not required to maintain a good year. Active reserve reserves is what most people assume IRR to be.

Additional references:

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

2. AR G1 policy letters.

3. USAR 600-5 brochure.

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