Many soldiers in the Troop Program Unit (TPU) are not familiar with the Reserve Reserve. Soldiers with dependency difficulties, labor disputes, or other issues that prohibit effective participation in the TPU may request a transfer to the Individual Ready Reserve (IRR).

Standby reservation is also available. Where the IRR offers a no-conflict solution for long-term drilling incompatibilities; The standby reserve offers a no-conflict solution for short-term drilling mismatches.

For example, if a soldier has a dependency hardship that is permanent or prolonged, they have the option of transferring to the IRR on dependency or hardship. However, if this dependency difficulty is short-term, the soldier may be transferred to the Reserve Reserve until the issue is resolved.

Standby Reserve soldiers maintain their military affiliation. It is one of the three main components of the Army Reserve. The other two are the Ready Reserve (TPU/IMA/IRR) and the Withdrawn Reserve. The Standby Reserve has two categories. They are the Active Status List and the Idle Status List.

Chapter 8, AR 140-10, Army Reserve Assignments, Attachments, and Details, covers the Reserve Reserve.

Active status list:

Soldiers on this list can earn retirement points. They can only punch for points and are eligible for the promotion. The highest promotion that can be achieved in this component is Colonel (O-6). Soldiers on this list include key employees, temporary hardships, temporary doctors, divinity students, overseas residents, missionaries, HIV positive, and secretarial determination.

Key Employees:

Soldiers in this group are crucial to their employment and organization. The Soldier’s absence negatively impacts the employer’s operations. Typically, the time between losing the Soldier to deployment and obtaining a replacement for the Soldier’s position is long enough to undermine the employer’s long-term mission. The Soldier generally possesses skills unique to the employer’s operation; finding a replacement is not easy.

Details of what constitutes a “key employee” are listed in 32 CFR Appendix A to Part 44, Guidance. Also included in this Code of Federal Regulations is a format letter that an employer may use to request that a certain Soldier, holding a key employee position, be removed from the Ready Reserve.

Temporary difficulties:

Soldiers with short-term difficulties that can be resolved in a year or two. These Soldiers want to return to the Ready Reserve when the temporary difficulties are resolved.

Temporary Medical Disqualification:

These are Soldiers who have a medical condition, or profile, that prohibits them from full participation in the Ready Reserve. This medical condition is temporary in nature; the Soldier expects to recover in a short period of time. The time period varies from one to two years. Soldiers may transfer to the Reserve Reserve until this medical issue is resolved. Once the medical disqualification is resolved and the Soldier is medically qualified to participate in the TPU, he has the option to return to Ready Reserve.

Theology students:

Soldiers pursuing ministerial studies at an accredited school that provides theological or theological training. These soldiers may remain on the active list for the duration of their studies.

This option is not available to soldiers involved in military versions of this training.

Residence Abroad or Missionary Obligation:

Troop Program Unit Soldiers with a legitimate non-military requirement to participate in a residency abroad or missionary assignment may transfer to the Reserve Reserve. The maximum time allowed, for this category, is 30 months. This has to be a temporary residence or a temporary missionary obligation.

HIV positive:

If a soldier tests positive for HIV, this soldier can be transferred to the reserve pool.

Secretarial determination:

The Secretary of the Army may decide that the transfer of a Soldier to this component is in the best interest of the Army. Soldiers can stay on this list for up to 2 years.

After these 2 years, the Soldier must transfer to the IRR, request to transfer to the Retired Reserve if eligible, or request discharge. If a soldier has yet to complete his military service obligation, this soldier will be transferred to the IRR.

Standby Reserve Idle Status List:

Unlike soldiers on the active status list, soldiers on the inactive status list cannot earn retirement points. Consequently, they cannot train for points or pay, and are not eligible for the promotion.

Two categories of soldiers are transferred to the inactive status list: key employees and general officers.

Soldiers can be removed from the Ready Reserve and placed in the Standby Reserve. If these Soldiers do not request to be assigned to the Active Status List, they are assigned to the Inactive Status List.

General officers, who do not hold positions associated with their rank, may request transfer to the Inactive Status List.

Standby Reserve List Projection:

Soldiers on the active and inactive status lists are subject to regular checks. The evaluations involve a review of the Soldier’s qualifications to remain in this component. Soldiers can be removed or given the option to stay if they qualify.

Soldiers who meet the removal requirements listed in AR 140-10, section I of chapter 7, will be removed.

If a Soldier still needs to complete their military service obligation and if they qualify to transfer to the IRR, that Soldier will transfer to the IRR.

A soldier who no longer has a military obligation has one of three options:

* Soldier may choose to transfer to the IRR.

* If eligible, Soldier may choose to transfer to the Retired Reserve.

* The Soldier may also choose to be discharged from the Army Reserve.

If a soldier qualifies for reenlistment and is in the reenlistment window, they may reenlist to remain in the standby reserve or reenlist with a simultaneous reassignment to the TPU, IMA, or IRR.

Advice:

See the references below for guidance on qualifications and initiating a transfer to the Reserve Pool.

References:

32 CFR Appendix A to Part 44, Guidance, Key Employee

AR 140-10, Army Reserve Assignments, Attachments, Details, and Transfers.

AR 140-111, US Army Reserve Reenlistment Program.