Members of the IRR may be required to serve one day of Muster Duty each year in or-der to accomplish continuous screening requirements as set forth in law and DoD regula-tion.

A requirement if ordered to attend, they serve as an oppor-tunity to not only meet DoD Title 10 requirements, but an opportunity to network with former Marines and interact with Veteran supporting bene-fits, employment, and educa-tion professionals such the Veteran’s Administration (VA), Local and National Companies looking to hire Veterans, and universities of-fering service connected fund-ing and GI Bill accreditation.

“Semper Fi” BGen Paul K. Lebidine

I hope you find the newsletter helpful. It will be published Quarterly to provide you updated information about the Marine Corps and the Individual Ready Reserve (IRR). Thank you for your service and the sacrifices of your families in support of your service to our Country. There are many benefits in support of your accomplishment. PLEASE, if you have an issue contact

MCIRSA, and I am confident they will take care of any prob-lems. I am hopeful you will have an opportunity to attend an IRR Muster while serving in the IRR.

The Marine Corps Individual Support Activity (MCIRSA) is a subordinate command un-derneath the Force Headquar-ters Group.

Their mission is the engage-ment, management, and ad-ministrative and mobilization readiness support for the IRR, IMAs, Mobilization Training Units (MTUs), and the Readi-ness Support Program.

The IRR is composed of for-mer Active Duty or Reserve component personnel who have not completed their Mili-tary Service Obligation (MSO), or have completed their MSO and are in the Ready Reserve by voluntary agreement.

Welcome from the Commanding General

Commanding General’s Comments

1

Sergeant Major’s Comments

1

What to Expect at an IRR Muster

2

Requirements for Retirements

3

Job Resources 4

Mental Health Resources 4

Survivor’s Benefit Summary

5

Remembering our Past 6

Inside this issue:

A Salute to Wounded Warriors

2

Information on Promotions 3

The Sentinel IRR Quarterly Newsletter APRIL 2014 VOLUME 1, ISSUE 1

Paul k. Lebidine Brigadier General

Commanding General Force Headquarter Group

Sergeant Major’s Comments part of something greater than themselves. If they are to feel that, their morale must, if it is to endure – and the essence of morale is that it should endure – have certain foundations.

These foundations are spiritual, intellectual, and material, and that is the order of their im-portance”.

1. Spiritual first, because only spiritual foundations can stand real strain

2. Intellectual second, be-cause men can be swayed by both reason and feeling

3. Material is last, because the very highest kinds of mo-rale are often met when material conditions are at their lowest (when vices

I recently started reading Field Marshal Viscount Slim’s (1891-1970), “Defeat Into Victory – Battling Japan in Burma and India 1942-1945.

The former British General is almost unknown in the United States and has only limited notoriety in his native Great Britain. However, his book is and should be required reading for the military professional.

There is a section in the book where the author discusses the foundations of morale.

“Morale is a state of mind. It is that intangible force which will move a whole group of men to give their last ounce to achieve something, without counting the cost to themselves; that makes them feel they are a

are purged and virtuous characteristics shine through)

Spiritual in this sense is not merely religious in its meaning; it represents a common belief in a cause.

Semper Fi, SgtMaj Michael E. Sprague

SgtMaj Michael E. Sprague Sergeant Major

Force Headquarters Group

MCIRSA 2000 Opelousas Avenue Building 1, Suite 1E5300 New Orleans, LA 70114 PHONE (800)255-5082 (504)697-5082 (FAX) E-MAIL mcirsa_muster@nmci.usmc.mil LINKS TO RESOURCES

IRR Website

Mental Health

Hero-2-Hire

Military One Source

Veteran Affairs

Wounded Warriors

Marine for Life

www.facebook.com/

MARINESIRR

Page 2 THE SENTINEL IRR QUATERLY NEWSLETTER

Twenty-eight year old Marine veteran, Rob Jones, a double-amputee, completed a 5,200-mile cross-country bike ride aboard Camp Pendleton today. Jones started his trip in Octo-

ber from Maine, crossing through 18 states, often encounter-ing extr...eme weather, to raise funds for organizations that provide assistance to injured service members. Jones was

injured by an improvised explosive device while deployed to Afghanistan in 2010. He went on to win a Bronze medal in

rowing at the Paralympics in London. U.S. Marine Corps video by Lance Cpl. Anna Albrecht/Released. http://dvidshub.net/r/8h74qf

A Salute to Wounded Warriors

Individual Ready Reserve IRR Muster The Marine Corps hosts annu-al IRR administration musters in 5 regions across the United States.

These musters are conducted to ensure individual infor-mation such as change of ad-dress, telephone, marital sta-tus, number of dependents, civilian employment, change in medical condition, or any oth-er information that may affect potential mobilization in the event of national emergency.

Musters are not a recall to active duty

IRR Marines who are required to attend, meet administration

requirements, and are in re-ceipt of orders may be paid per diem up to approximately $210 per day. Musters gener-ally do no exceed 4 hours.

In addition, these musters serve to provide information on reserve obligations as well as other opportunities. Ma-rines often receive information regarding supporting health, employment, and educational benefits.

Facts: these efforts were initiated as a result of the attack of September 11th where the Marine Corps “physical’ musters fell below expec-tations. The lack of updated indi-vidual information prevented the Marine Corps from reaching out to the IRR Marines.

“Lets do our part to ensure we continue to provide and maintain a force in readiness”

BGen Paul K. Lebidine

Planned FY-14 Musters:

Apr 26: New Orleans, LA Harrisburg, PA May 10: Portland, OR Salt Lake City, UT Savannah, GA May 17: Canandaigua, NY Jun 7: Phoenix, AZ El Paso, TX San Antonio, TX Manhattan, KS Minneapolis, MN South Bend, IN Memphis, TN Dam Neck, VA Jun 14: Baltimore, MD San Diego, CA Jul 12: Battle Creek, MI Aug 16: New York City, NY Sep 20: Ft Devens, MA

Marine Corps Association & Foundation congratulates

Cpl Ivan Sears, the recipient of 2014 Service Member Award at the Wounded Warrior Reception at the National

Museum of the Marine . More information: https://

www.mca-marines.org/gallery/recognizing-our-wounded-warriors-mcaf-2014-wounded-warrior-awards-reception

You may or may not be aware that you can be promoted while a member of the IRR. If you ensure to complete the

items mentioned in this article, maybe you will be pinning on a new rank in the near future.

You can be promoted while a

member of the IRR

Sergeants and below have several re-quirements to remain eligible for promo-

tion while in the IRR. You must have

completed a PFT and CFT within the last 24 months. If these are out of date

you can contact your closest reserve unit or Recruiting Station to complete these

events.

You also must earn 27 points towards retirement in your last anniversary year.

Please refer to the article on earning points while a member of the IRR to meet your 27 point requirement.

Corporal, you must also have completed “Leading Marines,” which can be found on MarineNet.

Sergeant, you must have all of the

above and completed Corporal’s Dis-tance Education, which can also be found on MarineNet.

Staff Non-Commissioned Officers

and Commissioned Officers, to re-

main competitive for promotion you must have completed a PFT and a CFT

within the last 24 months. You will also need to make sure that you have a cur-rent certified picture when you are in

zone for promotion.

To maintain competitiveness you will want to ensure that all Distance Educa-tion is completed.

If you have additional questions about promotion, you can contact Sgt Fudge at shaun.fudge@usmc.mil

or HQMC Promotions Branch FAQ:

https://www.manpower.usmc.mil/portal/

page/portal/M_RA_HOME/MM/PR/

MMPR2/Z_FAQS/Selection_Boards

when Reserve Marines refer a member to the ac-tive duty or reserve component.

50 points annually will earn you a

satisfactory year towards retirement Each member of the Selected Marine Corps Re-

serve is awarded 15 membership points annually. Active Duty Points can be earned by completing active service such as monthly drills, executing

Active Duty for Operational Support (ADOS) orders, executing mobilization orders, or executing

Inactive Duty Training (IDT) orders. If you have additional questions on how to earn points, please contact SSgt Sharpe at Eugene.sharpe@usmc.mil.

For a reserve retirement, you must perform at least 20 satisfactory years of qualifying service to be eligible for retirement pay at age 60.

Annual qualifying service requires a minimum of 50 retirement points in which you may earn

through any combination of Reserve annual train-ing, mandatory drill requirements, membership

points, other active duty points, non-resident PME, MCIs, Associate duty, etc.

Another way to earn points is by providing assis-tance to the Marine Corps Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps. Reservists providing assistance

will earn one inactive duty point for each four hours of participation, not to exceed two points a

day. Referral retirement points can also be earned

Promotions in the IRR

Earning Retirement Points while a Member of the IRR

Page 3 VOLUME 1, ISSUE 1

Mental Health Matters

Are you or do you know of someone who is struggling with their mental health? The Veterans Crisis Line offers free, confiden-tial support to Veterans in crisis, as well as their family and friends. If you ever need to reach out for help call: 1-800-273-8255 and press 1. You can also text professional responders at 838255.

Visit http://veteranscrisisline.net/

Page 4

We know that searching for a new job is a big undertaking. That’s why Hero2Hired (H2H) was created: to make it easy for Reserve Component service members to connect

to and find jobs with military-friendly companies. H2H also offers career exploration tools, military-to-civilian skills translations, education and training resources, as well

as a mobile app. Support for H2H is provided through the Department of Defense’s Yellow Ribbon Reintegration

Program. H2H provides information on live hiring events and virtu-al hiring events.

Live hiring events, sometimes called job fairs or career fairs, are a great way to connect face to face with employ-

ers who are hiring. You can find out about available posi-

Job Resources:

tions and explain how your skills and training are relevant, and why you would be a great fit.

Virtual Hiring Events are a great way to speak directly with employers who are hiring and view their open jobs, all

from the comfort of your own home.

For more information visit https://www.H2H.jobs

THE SENTINEL IRR QUATERLY NEWSLETTER

Did you know that some VA benefits extend beyond the grave? In 2013, VA paid more than $7.3B in benefits to surviving spouses and children in pen-sion, burial benefits, and Dependency & Indemnity Compensation. If you have a loved one who’s passed, you may be eligible for some of these benefits. Find more information, including eligibility, here: http://benefits.va.gov/pension/spousepen.asp

Survivor’s Benefit Summary

Page 5 VOLUME 1, ISSUE 1

Survivors Pension The Survivors Pension benefit, which may also be referred to as Death Pension, is a tax-free monetary benefit payable to a low-income, un-remarried surviving spouse and/or unmarried child(ren) of a deceased Veteran with wartime service. Eligibility The deceased Veteran must have met the following service requirements: For service on or before September 7, 1980, the Veteran must have served at least 90 days of active military service, with at least one day during a war time period. If he or she entered active duty after September 7, 1980, generally he or she must have served at least 24 months or the full period for which called or ordered to active duty with at least one day during a war time period.

Was discharged from service under other than dishonorable conditions.

Survivors Pension is also based on your yearly family income, which must be less than the amount set by Congress to qualify. While an un-remarried spouse is eligible at any age, a child of a deceased wartime Veteran must be:

Under 18, OR Under age 23 if attending a VA-approved school, OR Permanently incapable of self-support due to a disability before age 18

Your yearly family income must be less than the amount set by Congress to qualify for the Survivors Pension benefit. Learn more about income and net worth limitation, and see an example of how VA calculates the Survivors Pension benefit. How to Apply To apply for Survivors Pension, download and complete VA Form 21-534EZ, “Application for DIC, Death Pension, and/or Accrued Benefits” and mail it to your local regional benefit office. You can locate your local regional benefit office using the VA Facility Locator. You may also visit your local regional benefit office and turn in your application for processing.

Over the course of his 38-year active duty career, he rose to the grade of general and served as the 30th Commandant of the Marine Corps, from July 1, 1991 through June 30, 1995.

During his distinguished career, Gen Mundy commanded at all levels. From 1966-67, Gen Mun-dy participated in combat opera-tions in Vietnam as operations and executive officer of the 3rd Battalion, 26th Marines, 3rd Ma-rine Division, and as an intelli-gence officer in Headquarters,

The Marine Corps’ 30th comman-dant, retired Gen. Carl Epting Mundy Jr., died April 2 at his home in Alexandria, Va. Mundy served as commandant from 1991 to 1995 and helped to restructure the Marine Corps fol-lowing the denouement of the Cold War.

“General Mundy was noted for his emphasis on ‘people issues’ and core values of honor, courage and commitment. During his ten-ure, ‘From the Sea’ became the Navy-Marine Corps joint strategic concept, wherein the Navy and Marine Corps reoriented doctrinal focus toward littoral warfare.”

III Marine Amphibious Force. Mundy service in the Vietnam earned him, among other awards, the Bronze Star with combat valor device, and the Purple Heart.

Following his retirement in 1995 after a 38-year military career, Mundy went on to serve as presi-dent and CEO of the USO and also served as chairman of the Marine Corps University Founda-tion.

All Marines mourn his passing but celebrate his lasting legacy of ser-vice and leadership.

Remembering our Past

Marine Forces Reserve Force Headquarters Group

If you have comments or questions, please contact the MARFORRES Customer Service Center by email: mcirsa_muster@nmci.usmc.mil.

www.facebook.com/MARINESIRR

Open Billets for Drilling SMCR Marines (sortable)

Open Billets for Drilling SMCR Marines (pdf)

Open Billets for IMA (sortable)

Open Billets for IMA (pdf)

Marines interested in filling one of these billets should contact the following, based on circumstance:

1. Not currently assigned to a reserve unit:: 1-800-MARINES to locate the servicing Prior Service Recruiter.

2. Already assigned to a Marine reserve unit: contact your unit Career Planner or S-1 to coordinate an inter-unit transfer.

3. Currently serving on Active Duty: Contact a Reserve Transition Coord at rct@usmc.mil or 1-877-415-9275, Option 3. The POC for questions concerning this report is Mr David Roberts, MARFORRES G1, at 504-697- 7193.

Global Billets (Active Duty Opportunities) (newest updates!)Review the list of open Reserve billets. Find opportunities listed by location, rank, unit, MOS, rank and duration. Complete Billet List

Reserve Opportunities (your Reserve career)