Getting Called back while on Inactive Reserves

[Calident562]

Hi,

I was wondering if any of you knew what the likelihood of being calling back while on the inactive reserves. I am considering taking the HPSP scholarship for either the Navy or the Airforce. After my years of active service, I was wondering how likely it would be that I would be called back for service.

Also, If i was called back, would it be for several years? or just the deployment that i was needed for.

Is being called back more common in the navy because more dentists want to work for the air force?

any information would be greatly appreciated!

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[Lesley]

Hi,

I was wondering if any of you knew what the likelihood of being calling back while on the inactive reserves. I am considering taking the HPSP scholarship for either the Navy or the Airforce. After my years of active service, I was wondering how likely it would be that I would be called back for service.

Also, If i was called back, would it be for several years? or just the deployment that i was needed for.

Is being called back more common in the navy because more dentists want to work for the air force?

any information would be greatly appreciated!

After your active duty term you will be placed in inactive reserves for, usually, an equal amount of time. You are completely touchable at this time. They can call you up, tell you to pack your bags, and you are theirs. It doesn't happen often, but it is within their right to call you to active duty if there is a need during your inactive reserve commitment. During inactive reserves you will be living a civilian life.

After you have reached the end of your contract and finished your active and inactive duty commitment, you can request honorable discharge. You will write a letter. They will usually give you some idea of what information to include and how the letter is to be written. You will send it off to your appropriate branch headquarters and wait.

After completing inactive duty, until the time you are honorably discharged, you are in the ready reserves. If the military has a need and you are in the ready reserves, they can also pull you out of civilian life for duty. This also happens rarely, but can happen.

I speak from experience. In 82, I joined the Navy. My active duty commitment was up in 85. My inactive reserve commitment was up in 88. However, I was unaware that, as a commissioned officer, you need to request honorable discharge and that it must be accepted. So, in 1990, I started receiving post cards asking, "What had I been up to???, What courses had I taken?" Eventually, I called Louisiana and asked what was up. That's when I got the word from one of the secretaries, telling me, "Honey, your still in." I quickly dashed off my letter requesting honorable discharge. They said it would take weeks, it took months from when I sent my letter until I received my honorable discharge, DD214, about two weeks before Desert Storm.

So, If you are contemplating the military, you will get good experience, they will sometimes pay for school, they did not pay for mine, and you will have a commitment equal to your active and inactive duty where you are vulnerable. After that, their decision to give you an honorable discharge, will be up to them and the needs of the country. I can not say if there is one branch that is more vulnerable to recall than another. According to our hygienist, who is in the national guard, she feels that all branches are a little underserved when it comes to dentists. If you are re-activated, it more than likely would be for a mission. How long a mission can last, is anyone's guess, months, maybe even a year or more.

In today's enviornment, who knows what will be. There are no guarantees, but you can request honorable discharge after your inactive reserve commitment has been honored...and then you are over and out! Good Luck.

 

[mola_pulla]

It doesn't really sound like Lesley did the HPSP., They will always pay for schooling if you are awarded the HPSP. It sounds to me like you signed up without the agreement to have them pay for your schooling. If you want great information about the HPSP then just get in contact with a dentist on the nearest base and ask them how they are liking their experience. Get it right from the source, from someone that is going through it right now. It has probably change a little bit in the last twenty years.

 

[Lesley]

It doesn't really sound like Lesley did the HPSP., They will always pay for schooling if you are awarded the HPSP. It sounds to me like you signed up without the agreement to have them pay for your schooling. If you want great information about the HPSP then just get in contact with a dentist on the nearest base and ask them how they are liking their experience. Get it right from the source, from someone that is going through it right now. It has probably change a little bit in the last twenty years.

The post title was "Getting called back while on In-active Reserves." I was addressing the post. I wasn't discussing HPSP, I was discussing the Dental Corps though, and the possible implication of in-active duty, requesting discharge after completion of active and in-active duty and the implication of being in the ready reserves. Not everyone who joins the dental corps joins during dental school, therefore the military will not have paid for everyone's schooling, as I correctly stated. The information I gave is accurate, even today. It's good advice to do research before joining. An HPSP is a great, fantastic scholarship, especially considering the cost of a dental education, if the military is something you want and are prepared to do. Best Wishes.

 

[esclavo]

I was told by a senior officer (dental) that since the inception of the inactive reserves (late 70's early 80's-I can't remember) that a dentist or dental specialist had never been called back from INACTIVE reserves to serve in active duty or active reserve duty. The possibility always exists but this option has never been excercised. This was in the year 2001. I wonder if this is still true?

 

[Lesley]

I was told by a senior officer (dental) that since the inception of the inactive reserves (late 70's early 80's-I can't remember) that a dentist or dental specialist had never been called back from INACTIVE reserves to serve in active duty or active reserve duty. The possibility always exists but this option has never been excercised. This was in the year 2001. I wonder if this is still true?

I think that the chances are slim, and I stated that too, but the possibility always exists that if you are in in-active reserve or ready reserve status, you could get called back. I do know dentists who got called back for Desert Storm, I don't know about since 2001, but that option remains the military's prerogative.

 

[mola_pulla]

The post title was "Getting called back while on In-active Reserves." I was addressing the post. I wasn't discussing HPSP, I was discussing the Dental Corps though, and the possible implication of in-active duty, requesting discharge after completion of active and in-active duty and the implication of being in the ready reserves. Not everyone who joins the dental corps joins during dental school, therefore the military will not have paid for everyone's schooling, as I correctly stated. The information I gave is accurate, even today. It's good advice to do research before joining. An HPSP is a great, fantastic scholarship, especially considering the cost of a dental education, if the military is something you want and are prepared to do. Best Wishes.

That's great that you gave your opinion and then I gave mine. I was just making the comment that it would be in the OP's best interest to talk directly to a military dentist who is involved right now. The military changes policies, and the absolute best resources are those that are currently involved. IT's is great that we can both post our own thoughts about the subject. Oh, and the OP DID state that he or she was interested in the HPSP, which is why I suggested talking to someone who had been through the HPSP.

 

[SquidsLife]

Hi,

I was wondering if any of you knew what the likelihood of being calling back while on the inactive reserves. I am considering taking the HPSP scholarship for either the Navy or the Airforce. After my years of active service, I was wondering how likely it would be that I would be called back for service.

Also, If i was called back, would it be for several years? or just the deployment that i was needed for.

Is being called back more common in the navy because more dentists want to work for the air force?

any information would be greatly appreciated!

When you're finished with you active duty commitment, you'll take a new oath of office as either active or inactive reserves. Your chances of getting recalled while on IRR as a military dentist are so slim that you shouldn't even worry about how long the mobilization orders would last.

Being mobilized while an active reservist will increase every year until the Navy figures out how to increase retention of it's junior officers....all the LT's are jumping ship for dry land and the prospect of making $$ as a civilian.
Lot's of bonus' are in the works but it's going to get pretty bad before it gets better (be aware that this is affecting all the services but with the Air Force feeling a little less of the effects than the Army and Navy).

Good luck....go Navy!

 

[Lesley]

That's great that you gave your opinion and then I gave mine. I was just making the comment that it would be in the OP's best interest to talk directly to a military dentist who is involved right now. The military changes policies, and the absolute best resources are those that are currently involved. IT's is great that we can both post our own thoughts about the subject. Oh, and the OP DID state that he or she was interested in the HPSP, which is why I suggested talking to someone who had been through the HPSP.

I wasn't challenging your recommendations or opinions, I was affirming mine. I would think any honest insight and opinions are appreciated by the OP. Best wishes if you are considering a future in the military. It was a great experience for me. Truly.

 

[esclavo]

I think that the chances are slim, and I stated that too, but the possibility always exists that if you are in in-active reserve or ready reserve status, you could get called back. I do know dentists who got called back for Desert Storm, I don't know about since 2001, but that option remains the military's prerogative.

I just spoke to Ann Rochat who processes the orders for the Air Force. She says that in 23 years that she has been in charge of processing every order for dentists in the Air Force that there has never been a single dentist or dental specialist who has been involuntarily activated from the Inactive Reserve list to go on active duty or to go on active reserve/guard duty. She then transferred me to the dentists in charge of all orders at Randolph AFB and he confirmed that in the Air Force, inactive reserves has never been used to bring a dentist back on active duty or on active reserve duty since the inception of the inactive reserve status. They both qualified those statements with the statement that it is always possible. The direct quote that I got was that inactive reserve would be used in a case of "World War III or a catastrophy of unimaginable need".... whatever that means.

 

[Lesley]

I just spoke to Ann Rochat who processes the orders for the Air Force. She says that in 23 years that she has been in charge of processing every order for dentists in the Air Force that there has never been a single dentist or dental specialist who has been involuntarily activated from the Inactive Reserve list to go on active duty or to go on active reserve/guard duty. She then transferred me to the dentists in charge of all orders at Randolph AFB and he confirmed that in the Air Force, inactive reserves has never been used to bring a dentist back on active duty or on active reserve duty since the inception of the inactive reserve status. They both qualified those statements with the statement that it is always possible. The direct quote that I got was that inactive reserve would be used in a case of "World War III or a catastrophy of unimaginable need".... whatever that means.

I think what they are telling you is absolutely accurate. They would have no reason to not tell you the truth. Neither would I. While the likelihood is very, very, very slim, they qualified their statement with that it is "always possible." That was my only point. Very best wishes.

 

[MaxAnn]

I just spoke to Ann Rochat who processes the orders for the Air Force. She says that in 23 years that she has been in charge of processing every order for dentists in the Air Force that there has never been a single dentist or dental specialist who has been involuntarily activated from the Inactive Reserve list to go on active duty or to go on active reserve/guard duty. She then transferred me to the dentists in charge of all orders at Randolph AFB and he confirmed that in the Air Force, inactive reserves has never been used to bring a dentist back on active duty or on active reserve duty since the inception of the inactive reserve status. They both qualified those statements with the statement that it is always possible. The direct quote that I got was that inactive reserve would be used in a case of "World War III or a catastrophy of unimaginable need".... whatever that means.

I have to agree with this. Most of the people who were called up were active reserves. There were people I know who were on IRR when Sept 11th came out, and they weren't activated. Now something like combat arms would most likely be a completely different story.

 

[Tooth]

Yesterday, I attended a lunch and learn with a National Guard recruiter. She said that whether I join the Navy, AF, or Army, any of the branches could call you back on during your inactive ready reserve (IRR) time not just the branch you joined. This sounded new to me. So, when I'm on IRR, I could get called back to do time with the Army even though I've never been in the Army? Can anyone confirm this?

 

[MaxAnn]

Yes, you could legally be called back, but this is a rare occurrence. Given the current state of world affairs, you have a very good chance of being called back if you are active reserves. IRR is inactive ready reserves, and this is a very rare occurrence.

The only soldiers that I had heard (via CNN) that were being called back via IRR were marines who are all trained for the infantry.

Again, you could be called back on IRR, but I doubt that seriously. I was on IRR as an Army reservist right through 911 up until Sep 2003, and I actually had to call them to check on my status before they called me.

 

[SquidsLife]

Yesterday, I attended a lunch and learn with a National Guard recruiter. She said that whether I join the Navy, AF, or Army, any of the branches could call you back on during your inactive ready reserve (IRR) time not just the branch you joined. This sounded new to me. So, when I'm on IRR, I could get called back to do time with the Army even though I've never been in the Army? Can anyone confirm this?

This is false. You're attached to a specific reserve unit while on IRR and they keep tabs on you just to make sure they know where you are while you finish out your committment. They'll be the ones that will let you know if you're being recalled from IRR and it's the specific branch of the military that you separated from.

You know, there's a lot of things the government can do but worrying about the IRR should be low on the list of your worries as a dentist. You can even be called back after you retire but you don't see retiree's worrying about this.

 

[Tooth]

I know this is a little off topic but since there is a lot of experienced military personell here, I thought I'd take a shot. After being given the honorable discharge, after the IRR time is up, are we still subject to the uniform code of justice or is all that over and done with?

 

[Lesley]

I know this is a little off topic but since there is a lot of experienced military personell here, I thought I'd take a shot. After being given the honorable discharge, after the IRR time is up, are we still subject to the uniform code of justice or is all that over and done with?

Based on my knowledge, when you are honorably discharged and receive your discharge papers (DD-214) you are released of any military obligations and regain civilian status. As I know it, the Uniform Code of Justice is the justice system that prevails for military personel only. However, if you are seperated from the military which is different from discharge, I'm not sure if the if the uniform code of justice prevails.