CNN had an interview tonight on the Paula Zahn show with Capt. Bunch, an IRR soldier in a very similar position to ours.  The interview was very insightful and made some good points.  One important point in particular is the lack of training for IRR soldiers, which has already been lamented here.  Even if the training time is well spent, without knowing exact orders, it is difficult to bring these guys up to speed on two or more years of changes and lost skills in the time allotted.  Hopefully this issue will be limited in the future, since apparently the plan for future IRR soldiers is to integrate them into units during the mobilization phase, prior to deployment.  That way, they will know what they are doing and who they are doing it with well before hitting the ground overseas.  However, I am not certain if that is a change that will apply to the most recent round of IRR callups or for others in the future.

Which brings us to the next important point:  there will be future callups.  Apparently this round is the first and the 5600 or so number will be expanding.  This was a fact kind of slipped into the story and not emphasized, but it is not a shock.  Hopefully someone in some official capacity will address this issue so that the thousands of families who might be affected by this can have as much time as possible to prepare.

All in all a good interview and a good opportunity to let the world know what the IRR is (apparently some Army personnel don't even know, according to tonight's story) and how it is affecting “civilian” families.  Best wishes to Capt. Bunch's family and to all others affected by similar circumstances.