Look at an alternative

  • Published
  • By Senior Master Sgt. Cheryl Henry
  • Headquarters Readiness Management Group Detachment 2
SCOTT AIR FORCE BASE, Ill. --  When you think in terms of a "reservist" most people at McConnell might think of the 931st Air Refueling Group, a tenant group that is home to more than 400 Air Force Reserve members. Team McConnell hosts many non-traditional but equally important reservists known as Individual Mobilization Augmentees and Participating Individual Ready Reservists.

These IMA and PIRR members are participating individual ready reserve members assigned and attached to active duty organizations. They train alongside the active duty in preparation for times of national emergency in positions relating to their Air Force specialty. They are force multipliers who provide first-line back-up for the Air Force.

The IMA and PIRR programs assist the active duty during times of deployment and manning assistance. An IMA and PIRR member can backfill the active duty unit they train with as well as other units worldwide that may have a need for their particular skill set.

These programs are a creditable resource in meeting peacetime and mission-critical needs. They provide commanders with a mission ready part-time workforce from a wide variety of Air Force specialties. Most served on active duty prior to joining the Air Force Reserve. Although reserve participation is part-time, these members work side-by-side with their active duty counterparts to accomplish the Air Force mission.

Most reservists balance civilian careers with military duty. Advance scheduling affords the reservists enough time to properly notify their civilian employer. However, training is ultimately scheduled to meet the needs of the mission and during times when the unit can provide the most valuable and productive training.

There are 19 IMAs and no PIRR members currently training at McConnell in six organizations. We have IMA and PIRR members filling critical roles in all facets of the AMC mission. Most of the time they work unnoticed, a fully trained, part-time work force that fills in when needed.

The training requirement for each IMA and PIRR member depends on the Reserve Section Code. While most perform 12 days of annual tour and 12 days of inactive duty training, there are some IMA and PIRR members who perform 14 days of annual tour and 24 days of inactive duty training per fiscal year.

Unlike the unit level reserve program, ADCON for the IMA and PIRR belongs to the active duty unit they are attached to for training. The only affiliation IMA and PIRR members have with the reserve unit is utilization of the reserve pay offices.

Active duty commanders, support staffs, first sergeants, supervisors and unit reserve coordinators work in coordination with their Base IMA Administrator's office to service and support the IMA and PIRR members, program managers, RMG/CC and AFRC/CC.

All reservists must have annual health assessments, immunizations, dental exams, valid security clearances and skill levels commensurate with their grade. Reservists must also meet the same annual fitness requirement as active duty members. The Air Force Fitness Management System must be updated to reflect current scores and the next due date. All IMA and PIRR members are required to have the same level of readiness as their active duty counterparts.

Transferring from active duty into a reserve program is an excellent way to maintain your affiliation with the military and continue to earn points/satisfactory years towards retirement. There are IMA and PIRR positions all over the United States and abroad.

McConnell Airmen separating from active duty interested in the reserve forces should contact the Air Force Reserve In-Service Recruiter, Master Sgt. Stephen Kimbrough at (316) 759-3766. For additional information regarding the IMA or PIRR program, please contact the BIMAA office Senior Master Sgt. Cheryl Henry and Master Sgt. Daniel Cassity at (618) 256-4264.