On Thursday, Joe Biden issued an Order to “augment the active Armed Forces of the United States for the effective conduct of Operation Atlantic Resolve” to include up to 3,000 members of the Selected Reserve, with up to 450 members of the Individual Ready Reserve (IRR). Meanwhile, our border remains open with over a hundred thousand arrests made last month alone by overworked US Border Patrol and other law enforcement officials.
The IRR is particularly interesting as it hasn’t been utilized in almost two decades. This Order does not call them to service but only gives authority to do so if “they deem necessary” The IRR consists of former active duty and reserve members who are no longer under obligation to drill, conduct annual training, or participate in any military activities until ordered by Presidential Authority. Essentially, it is junior enlisted officers who have an obligation after leaving their service once their contract has expired. Typically, a contract would be four years followed by four years of IRR service.