Muster helps meet recruiting goals

  • Published
  • By Dhiana McKaig
  • 403rd Wing Public Affairs
KEESLER AIR FORCE BASE, MISS. --  The 403rd Wing held a muster for 35 Inactive Ready Reservists June 11 at the Roberts Maintenance Facility here.

The muster program exists to enhance readiness and to ensure the Air Force can "reach out and touch" the 45,000 members of the IRR, according to Senior Master Sgt. David Beach, 403rd Wing chief of recruiting.

"One of the top concerns of Lt. Gen. Charles Stenner, chief of the Air Force Reserve, is readiness and the muster process is the primary method utilized to verify readiness of IRR members," he said.

Due to existing vacancies, the Air Force Reserve Command selected the 403rd Wing to organize a muster, according to Sergeant Beach.

At the muster, participants ensured their medical records were up to date, renewed identification cards, verified their information in the Defense Enrollment Eligibility Reporting System and received Veterans Affairs benefit information.

"Approximately 20 percent of new recruits to the Reserve are from the IRR; a large number of those come from members attending a muster like the one we held here," said Sergeant Beach. "They are an excellent opportunity for us to recruit fully qualified, but currently inactive personnel."

"From those who attended, I've seen an unusually high percentage of people who are interested in the returning to the Reserve," said Tech. Sgt. Derrick Cooley, 403rd Wing recruiter.

"Overall, I'm pleased with the significant number of people who are looking to become active Reservists again," said Sergeant Beach.

This is the first muster to be sponsored by 403rd Wing in more than 10 years. The next muster is scheduled for 2013.