The mission importance of a muster

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Melissa Harvey
  • 301st Fighter Wing Public Affairs
NAVAL AIR STATION FORT WORTH JOINT RESERVE BASE, Texas --  Members of the Air Force Individual Ready Reserve recently gathered at the Navy Operational Support Center at Naval Air Station Fort Worth Joint Reserve Base, Texas, for an annual muster.

The importance of the muster and how the information gathered effects mission readiness were focal points during the meeting.

The general goal is to inform people of some of their options, said Master Sgt. Karen Watson, 301st Manpower and Personnel Flight chief of career development. We want to make sure that they are still aware that they have an obligation to the Reserve and to the Air Force.

Members also had the opportunity to speak with Veteran's Assistance representatives in regards to available benefits.

"They still have an opportunity to come on the base, and we want to make sure their id card is still valid and that they do have an opportunity, if they want, to come back in to the reserves," Watson said. It's all about getting knowledge on some of the benefits that are still out there for them.

Unfortunately, not all members take advantage of the opportunity to participate in a muster.
Approximately 300 people were scheduled to attend the annual event, but only about half usually participate, according to Master Sgt. Toni Robinson, 301st Manpower and Personnel Flight NCO in charge of force management.

Reasons a person might go into IRR status vary from person to person.

"Their enlistment might be up and they no longer want to participate anymore or it could be their job is taking them away from the reserve too much," Watson said. "It could be family situations or even school. It could be six months, it could be a year or two and then they might want to come back into the [active] reserve."

Regardless of the reason why a member is in the IRR, there are mission objectives to hosting a muster.

According to the 2012 Air Reserve Personnel Center IRR Muster Planning Guide, page four, there are five reasons to hold this type of event. First, members can update their personal data, so their records are accurate. Secondly, by holding a muster, it ensures the Air Force is complying with legal responsibilities for an IRR screening. Third, it is ensures availability and readiness for mobilization. Fourth, it determines what skill proficiency degradation. And finally, it evaluates the need for refresher training in order for IRR members to meet standards.

Brigadier General Ronald B. Miller, 301st Fighter Wing commander, addressed attendees during the event. Topics he addressed include the importance of the muster and how it can identify people with specific skills the wing needs.

"The IRR muster allows Airmen in the Inactive Ready Reserve to put a "face" on the Air Force Reserve," Brig. Gen. Miller said. "It gives the Airman a chance to get all of the updates pertinent to their inactive status and allows us to evaluate their potential contributions to our unit. The Air Force has invested a lot of time and effort in the past to train these Airmen and their experience can be valuable to the unit program. If an Airman has had a change in life and is ready to serve actively again, we may be able to bring them on-board into their past Air Force specialty code or retrain them into an AFSC where our wing has a need. This is a winning situation for everyone and we count on the IRR muster to find a few extra Airmen for our unit."

In the end, the collective effort by those involved in hosting the event produced positive results.

"This most recent muster allowed our recruiters to connect with about 15 Airmen ready to get into the Reserve unit program which benefits everyone," he said.