Hawk 285

Howdy Folks,

I'm currently weighing my options and am looking for anyone who is currently in the Navy IRR or has experience with making the jump from SELRES to IRR. Specifically, how hard is it to get your annual 50 points toward retirement?

Currently a NAVY SELRES with 12 years in (10 active, 2 reserves) and flying 121, looking to spend more time at home but would like to keep my retirement/medical at age 60. Any advice? Thanks in Advance!

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Afterburner can cover a multitude of sins.

rickair7777

It used to be easy to get the points with correspondence courses, but I believe those have all moved online so you can't order hard copy.

I had that some IRR folks who did not have CAC cards could no longer access NKO, so they couldn't do any courses. Not sure if that has been resolved, or if the navy even cares. The NKO login screen does have an ID/PW option, not sure who can use that. That's what I would look into, NKO access for online courses. You'll also have to print your transcripts and figure out who to send them to.

You can also do AT if you're inclined, if they need bodies, and they have funding.

Be advised that more than a year or two IRR will make it hard to get anything in apply if you are an O-5 and want to come back later.

Hawk 285

Thanks RICKAIR7777, I do have a CAC card and can currently access NKO from my laptop with my card reader, so access to the "coloring books" shouldn't be an issue. I am an 0-4, and I understand you can still get promoted in the IRR. Any info on how the promotion boards work?

__________________
Afterburner can cover a multitude of sins.

rickair7777

Figure out when you are due to be looked at, starting a couple years before that get on the BUPERS website under "Boards" and review the info, starting with the eligibles list. The info should be posted in January...the next boards will be for FY13 (the year in which the promotions take effect).

Once you confirm you are eligible, make sure your record is up to date (you can view it in BUPERS Online). If you don't know what you're looking for get an experienced O-5/6 to help you, or you can pay the NRA (or whatever they call themselves now) to review your record for you.

If you are missing anything send a letter and copies of the documents to the board. Instructions and deadlines are on the BUPERS site.

The board will look at an IRR officer just like anyone else. However...too many years in the IRR will kill your chances because the drillers are accumulating FITREPs and punching tickets. Also the the tie probably goes to the driller. The IRR guy who gets promoted usually had a strong track record (better than average) and only 1-2 years IRR. If you have been mobilized that will help a lot.

Last year's O5 selection percentage was very low compared to past years. This may be because they are trying to thin the senior ranks, or there may have been a lot of guys go IRR to avoid mobilization.

Hawk 285

Good info- thanks!

__________________
Afterburner can cover a multitude of sins.

crzbone3

I transfered to a local VTU to be home more. It is a black shoe unit and they had no idea what to do with an airdale? I went home for lunch got personal stuff done during the drill weekend. I'm not big on correspondence course guy so this was pretty painless.

rickair7777

Since you get a FITREP out of VTU, that will allow you to be equally competitive as a paid driller...assuming you do something useful and document it in your FITREP. Although a driller who does a significant AT (operational exercise participant or SIGNIFICANT staff support) will have a leg up. But VTU guys can also do AT, assuming there is money left over (there usually is).

BDGERJMN

Just make sure you're not on the RMP list before you go IRR, you will get a negative fitrep and will not be allowed back into the SELRES. Of note, lots of SAU bubbas on this yr's RMP list and alot are going IRR because of it.

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On Wisconsin!!

rickair7777

Yeah, don't do that unless you want to drop out completely. My guess is that they will do everything they can to prevent you from reaching retirement eligibility. As far as I know, there's no law that says they have to let IRR folks do correspondence courses for retirement credit.

I'm not sure why they even let people go IRR when they are on the RMP. Maybe they have no statutory basis for forcing you to remain in a drill status before orders are cut.

BDGERJMN

That is exactly right. I wont even touch the topic of SELRES aviators being put on the RMP list to begin with.

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On Wisconsin!!