More news today on recent and future IRR callups.  The latest from Army officials:

1765 IRR soldiers were scheduled to report by September 28:  Of this group 622 have not shown up, but none have yet to be declared AWOL, as was previously reported.  There is some question as to what penalties these non-reporting soldiers will face.  (It is my impression that these numbers DO NOT reflect those like ArmySteve who were called to report earlier in the year.)

3988 IRR solders have already been contacted with report dates as late as March 2005: It is also my impression that this number does not necessarily include those who are to have already reported.

4402 IRR soldiers are needed for Spring 2005; the Army is calculating 5765 callups will be necessary to meet this number:  The larger number will be needed to account for soldiers who are undeployable due to medical or other issues

Thousands more IRR soldiers will be called up in summer/fall 2005 to meet troop rotation needs for 2006:  No numbers are confirmed on this yet, but more letters are coming to a mailbox near you.

Nearly 20,000 IRR soldiers were mobilized in 1990, during the Gulf War.  That was the last time this group of soldiers was called upon to serve.

Yes, that is right, coming to a mailbox near you.  As more and more IRR soldiers are called, more and more families and communities who didn't think they knew anyone in the military will find that they are mistaken.  And regardless of the right or wrong of the conflict in anyone's opinion, or what the role of these individuals will be once they do report, the fact is that these solders (and they ARE soldiers) need to be prepared financially, emotionally, vocationally, and physically, to meet their obligations WHEN they are called. 

In my opinion, in fairness to the men and women of this group, and their families, friends and employers, the Army needs to be as frank as possible about the potential that these folks may be needed.  Although it is a politically unpopular move, these soldiers need to be given as much time as possible to prepare for the possibility of deployment.  Even moreso than Reservists, who are at least actively drilling with a unit, these people are NOT accustomed to the military life and do not generally structure their lives around the possibility that they *might* be called at some point.  Sure, it could happen, but I could win the lottery too, and up to this year, the chances of winning the MegaMillions or a “lucky” IRR callup were about the same. (And in my case, about zero for each, since I am not in the IRR and do not play the lottery.  However, given ArmySteve's luck this year, I think he will have to start buying tickets...)

Improved notifications, both those of a general nature and in terms of specific orders for individuals, are also good for the Army.  Soldiers who are physically, financially, emotionally, and otherwise prepared are more likely to report.  They are also less likely to suffer from the poor morale that comes along with being plucked out of their civilian existence and spirited off to a foreign land on minimal notice.  (Think about it this way:  if you were told, today, that you had to leave your life and your family for a year or 18 months or 2 years, and you had about 4 weeks to prepare for a whole new career and a whole new life, could you do it?)  There are also obvious benefits to having a family with a preparedness plan and an employer who can consider their options as well.  (The last part is tricky, but between federal laws and the prevailing attitude of support by employers of citizen soldiers, I think that it is best to err on the side of allowing employers as much time to plan as possible when their employees may be called up.)  And I think the Army would also benefit in terms of public perception from being seen as forthcoming in their operations, rather than the architects of the “back door draft.“  (That doesn't mean that you have to like the callups, but many of us would at least like to see some acknowledgement that the callups exist.)

As for the soldiers of the IRR, I salute each and every one of you (and your families) who has reported for duty thus far.  It has not been an easy choice for any of you, but it has been the honorable one, and you deserve our respect and gratitude.  And I hope that you will all be home again with your families very, very soon.