ABT: HPSP recipient on IRR mobilization?

SDN Members don't see this ad. (About Ads)

My recruiter has informed that while on IRR that I will not have any obligations. However, what is the likelihood that a dentist placed on inactive ready reserve will be called into active duty? More specifically in the navy, but any insight to the other branches will be helpful. thanks!

From what I hear it is extremely unlikely.

I was on IRR for a couple years and was never activated. It is fairly rare, depending on your job. If you are in a job, that they are critically short on, then it becomes a possibility, but the odds of them activating a student who hasn't gone through training yet is almost nil. We're talking WWIII.

Unless you're an oral surgeon you'd probably be fine.

Is it difficult finding a civilian job while on IRR? I would assume that most people don't want to hire a dentist who has the possibility of being called back into active duty. Hiring a military dentist on IRR would have too many repercussions if they disappear out of the blue!

Originally Posted by Coenobita

Is it difficult finding a civilian job while on IRR? I would assume that most people don't want to hire a dentist who has the possibility of being called back into active duty. Hiring a military dentist on IRR would have too many repercussions if they disappear out of the blue!

Shouldn't be too hard - especially if you end up working for someone who is prior or retired military. The rate of IRR callups for general dentists is essentially nil.

Originally Posted by Coenobita

My recruiter has informed that while on IRR that I will not have any obligations. However, what is the likelihood that a dentist placed on inactive ready reserve will be called into active duty? More specifically in the navy, but any insight to the other branches will be helpful. thanks!

Army has not called up anyone from IRR during the past decade of war.

Originally Posted by Coenobita

Is it difficult finding a civilian job while on IRR? I would assume that most people don't want to hire a dentist who has the possibility of being called back into active duty. Hiring a military dentist on IRR would have too many repercussions if they disappear out of the blue!

It's against Federal law to discriminate hiring an employee based on their military background.

Originally Posted by Coenobita

My recruiter has informed that while on IRR that I will not have any obligations. However, what is the likelihood that a dentist placed on inactive ready reserve will be called into active duty? More specifically in the navy, but any insight to the other branches will be helpful. thanks!

I was just told this too. Is this true? No weekend per month, no two weeks per year (if i dont want to)?

Originally Posted by Coenobita

My recruiter has informed that while on IRR that I will not have any obligations. However, what is the likelihood that a dentist placed on inactive ready reserve will be called into active duty? More specifically in the navy, but any insight to the other branches will be helpful. thanks!

You will not get called while in Dental School for 2 reasons:

1) What would you do? You are not a dentist. The majority of those in the HPSP/IRR have no military background. You would be a very expensive liability that would not be able to function in most aspects of the military - Privates would be able to do more and do more than you. This comment is not meant in any way to say this was a dumb question, but to help you see things from the military perspective. There would be no benefit for the military.

2) Look at the HPSP contract...I believe it states you will not get activated unless you drop out of school or somehow don't fulfill your commitment to the military.

Originally Posted by krmower

You will not get called while in Dental School for 2 reasons:

1) What would you do? You are not a dentist. The majority of those in the HPSP/IRR have no military background. You would be a very expensive liability that would not be able to function in most aspects of the military - Privates would be able to do more and do more than you. This comment is not meant in any way to say this was a dumb question, but to help you see things from the military perspective. There would be no benefit for the military.

2) Look at the HPSP contract...I believe it states you will not get activated unless you drop out of school or somehow don't fulfill your commitment to the military.

I might be using the wrong terminology, but im referring to after you've completed your 4 years active duty. Its my understanding you would be part of reserves for 4 years. I'm wondering what the responsibilites for this are. Usually they are 1 weekend a month and 2 weeks a year. My recruiter (NAVY) told me that I didn't actually have to participate in this.

Originally Posted by DMDinyourface

I might be using the wrong terminology, but im referring to after you've completed your 4 years active duty. Its my understanding you would be part of reserves for 4 years. I'm wondering what the responsibilites for this are. Usually they are 1 weekend a month and 2 weeks a year. My recruiter (NAVY) told me that I didn't actually have to participate in this.

Got it. The IRR is different from the regular reserves. Unless you choose to be in a regular Reserve unit that does the 1 weekend a month and 2 weeks a year, you will not have any obligation. This is the same regardless of which service you are in. Although I can't speak for the Navy...in the Army we have not had any dentists called back into active duty once in the IRR.

It would be exceedingly rare for them to call someone out of the IRR as a general dentist. As an oral surgeon or prosthodontist, I could see it happening.

The downside of the IRR is that it doesn't really contribute towards a retirement, while being in the drilling reserves does.

Originally Posted by krmower

Got it. The IRR is different from the regular reserves. Unless you choose to be in a regular Reserve unit that does the 1 weekend a month and 2 weeks a year, you will not have any obligation. This is the same regardless of which service you are in. Although I can't speak for the Navy...in the Army we have not had any dentists called back into active duty once in the IRR.

If you chose to stay in the IRR (that does not require any obligation) does that count towards the retirement benefits, ie counting towards the 20 year service requirement?

Not unless you perform activities that earn you retirement points.

Originally Posted by vellnueve

Not unless you perform activities that earn you retirement points.

Thanks vellnueve. Can you expand upon that a little more. What are the activities that earn you points and how many points a year do you need for it to count. I'm really just trying to guage realistically what you do or dont have to do to gain the benefits. Thank you.

In order to get points for retirement you would have to be a traditional/regular reservist and do the one weekend a month, two weeks a year. I was a traditional reservist for a few years and although I always did more than the minimum I think only doing the 1 weeekend/month, 2 weeks/year will give you enough points to have a year count towards the retirement. While in the IRR you can't participate in any activities that would count towards retirement.

If you're thinking about going traditional reserve I would talk to some people in your branch who have done it. Some services make it difficult to be a reservist and still run your own practice. Do some research on a reserve vs active duty retirement as well.

Originally Posted by Vigilante

In order to get points for retirement you would have to be a traditional/regular reservist and do the one weekend a month, two weeks a year. I was a traditional reservist for a few years and although I always did more than the minimum I think only doing the 1 weeekend/month, 2 weeks/year will give you enough points to have a year count towards the retirement. While in the IRR you can't participate in any activities that would count towards retirement.

If you're thinking about going traditional reserve I would talk to some people in your branch who have done it. Some services make it difficult to be a reservist and still run your own practice. Do some research on a reserve vs active duty retirement as well.

Thank you.

Originally Posted by DMDinyourface

Thanks vellnueve. Can you expand upon that a little more. What are the activities that earn you points and how many points a year do you need for it to count. I'm really just trying to guage realistically what you do or dont have to do to gain the benefits. Thank you.

If you are a reservist, you get 15 points per year just for being affiliated with a reserve component. You typically get 4 points for every drill (two days per month), 12-15 points for your annual tour (two weeks per year), and 1 point for every day of active duty (deployment, active duty for training, active duty for special work, etc.). You can also earn additional points by doing correspondence courses. You need at least 50 points in a year for that year to count toward the 20 years to earn a retirement. The more points you have when you retire, the higher the percentage of your base pay you will receive as your pension when you turn 60.

Originally Posted by Vigilante

While in the IRR you can't participate in any activities that would count towards retirement.

This is not true. You still get 15 points per year in the IRR, you can still do correspondence courses for points, and it is possible to get orders to participate in annual tours if funds are available. In addition, you could affiliate with a Volunteer Training Unit (VTU) and drill for points without pay. It is very possible to earn the needed 50 points for a qualifying year while in the IRR.

Originally Posted by del Sol DOHC

This is not true. You still get 15 points per year in the IRR, you can still do correspondence courses for points, and it is possible to get orders to participate in annual tours if funds are available. In addition, you could affiliate with a Volunteer Training Unit (VTU) and drill for points without pay. It is very possible to earn the needed 50 points for a qualifying year while in the IRR.

If you do a few of the correspondence courses from NPDS every year you can get 50 quite easily.

Originally Posted by del Sol DOHC

If you are a reservist, you get 15 points per year just for being affiliated with a reserve component. You typically get 4 points for every drill (two days per month), 12-15 points for your annual tour (two weeks per year), and 1 point for every day of active duty (deployment, active duty for training, active duty for special work, etc.). You can also earn additional points by doing correspondence courses. You need at least 50 points in a year for that year to count toward the 20 years to earn a retirement. The more points you have when you retire, the higher the percentage of your base pay you will receive as your pension when you turn 60.



This is not true. You still get 15 points per year in the IRR, you can still do correspondence courses for points, and it is possible to get orders to participate in annual tours if funds are available. In addition, you could affiliate with a Volunteer Training Unit (VTU) and drill for points without pay. It is very possible to earn the needed 50 points for a qualifying year while in the IRR.

Thanks for correcting me. After looking into it a little more looks like I'll probably be able to rack up a good number of points each year while in school.

Originally Posted by Vigilante

Thanks for correcting me. After looking into it a little more looks like I'll probably be able to rack up a good number of points each year while in school.

HPSP years in school are worthless for an active duty retirement, but that time does count toward a reserve retirement. Each year you are in school, you'll get 15 affiliation points and 45 points for your ADT. That is 55 points, which is more than enough for a qualifying year for a reserve retirement. I'm supplementing that with correspondence courses on the NKO website. Every point counts!

Originally Posted by vellnueve

If you do a few of the correspondence courses from NPDS every year you can get 50 quite easily.

Hey sir, I'm a first year here at WesternU. I'm also in the Alaska ANG. I want to stay in my unit, but we only have three two-week breaks per year. The prospect of commuting back to Alaska for two of my three breaks (instead of studying) to get enough points for a good year isn't very appealing. I know that I can do correspondence for points, but I haven't been able to find much available in the AF besides Career Development Courses (CDC's) and Professional Military Education (PME). As far as I know, I've completed all of these courses within my job that I am eligible for at this point in my career and I won't be eligible for any more until I'm promoted. Are NAVEDTRA open to other services? I'm going to call my education NCO tomorrow and see if she has any ideas.

Originally Posted by Tirekicker

Hey sir, I'm a first year here at WesternU. I'm also in the Alaska ANG. I want to stay in my unit, but we only have three two-week breaks per year. The prospect of commuting back to Alaska for two of my three breaks (instead of studying) to get enough points for a good year isn't very appealing. I know that I can do correspondence for points, but I haven't been able to find much available in the AF besides Career Development Courses (CDC's) and Professional Military Education (PME). As far as I know, I've completed all of these courses within my job that I am eligible for at this point in my career and I won't be eligible for any more until I'm promoted. Are NAVEDTRA open to other services? I'm going to call my education NCO tomorrow and see if she has any ideas.

I think it would be up to the Air Force whether or not they would accept Navy courses for retirement points. The courses on the Navy Knowledge Online website have certificates that say the recommended reserve points they are worth. Get access to the NKO site, enroll in a course, and give the completion certificate to the Air Force to see if they will honor it. It's worth a shot. Why don't you just do an interstate transfer to an Air Guard unit closer to your school so you can drill? Or maybe the Air Force Reserve might have a slot for you somewhere closer.

Originally Posted by del Sol DOHC

HPSP years in school are worthless for an active duty retirement, but that time does count toward a reserve retirement. Each year you are in school, you'll get 15 affiliation points and 45 points for your ADT. That is 55 points, which is more than enough for a qualifying year for a reserve retirement. I'm supplementing that with correspondence courses on the NKO website. Every point counts!

I was referring to the reserve retirement. The IRR time I get while in school and after I finish my active duty commitment for HPSP will qualify me for a reserve retirement. Of course that includes prior service.

It looks like you get points based on how many classes you're taking as well.

The IRR time does not qualify you for anything unless you're actively pursuing retirement points.

I've covered this quite extensively in the past.

HPSP years can count for retirement in certain cases:
http://forums.studentdoctor.net/showthread.php?t=708461

The Army has several "RTU" (Reinforcement Training Units) which are units that drill for points only. This is an easy avenue for points in the IRR. Read also about correspondence courses here:
http://forums.studentdoctor.net/show....php?p=9033130

Misc info here:
http://forums.studentdoctor.net/arch.../t-738070.html


As an added note, I'm pretty sure you can do Army correspondence courses while in school (military type stuff) and get it counted towards your retirement pay.

Originally Posted by del Sol DOHC

HPSP years in school are worthless for an active duty retirement, but that time does count toward a reserve retirement.

Not too sure what you mean by that...all points, whether obtained active or reserve, go into the same retirement point pool for retirement calculation.

Originally Posted by teeth63a

Not too sure what you mean by that...all points, whether obtained active or reserve, go into the same retirement point pool for retirement calculation.

You're right, I shouldn't have said worthless. I meant that HPSP time doesn't count toward hitting the 20 years needed for an active duty requirement like it can for a reserve retirement. The points are still used in the final retirement calculation.