IRR Muster rounds up prior-service members back to "Alamo Wing"

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  • By Elsa Martinez
  • 433 AW
JOINT BASE SAN ANTONIO-LACKLAND, Texas --  Col. Jeffrey T. Pennington, 433rd Airlift Wing commander, opened the Individual Ready Reserve muster, May 15 at Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland's Mitchell Hall to more than 160 prior-service members. He started out by thanking all attendees for coming and explaining the opportunities awaiting them at the "Alamo Wing." "We thank you for staying engaged while in IRR status," he said.

The muster is one, of several events at various active-duty, Guard and Reserve installations to assess the readiness and personal accountability of in-active reservists.

Several briefings were given during the four-hour session, such as IRR muster status and a Veterans Affairs brief. The muster program verifies and updates personal data on each member. Members were also issued ID cards and given civilian employment information.

As for the IRR members present, their reasons for attending were varied, as the people themselves. For instance, Cecilio Rosales, a former U.S. Army Reservist in security forces, took full advantage of the G.I. Bill by earning his bachelor's degree at Wayland Baptist University. He is now completing his master's degree in management with an emphasis in human resources, also at WBU.

Although he wants to remain in the security-forces career field, Rosales also hopes to be commissioned. "I'm open to anything the Air Force Reserve has to offer," Rosales said. "It's been helpful to meet so many people in similar place as I am," he remarked.

"This might be the first time in a long time that the Air Force Reserve Command has not met it recruiting goal. We are short of manpower," Pennington said, "The 433rd is an awesome place because of the people around me, and it's going to be busy and stay busy. We have a new group standing up on base. The 960th (Cyberspace Operations Group) for you cyber warriors. There'll be hundreds of positions and opportunity for you in that field in about 18-24 months."

Regardless of eventual final decisions, Col. Pennington invited attendees to seriously consider returning to the "Alamo Wing." "I'm extremely proud of the time you served with us, and you'll never know when the urge hits and you want to come back to us."