Reserve Personnel Management Division
Frequently Asked Questions
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Do IRR Members receive Vehicle Decals/ Morale, Welfare and Recreation Programs/ Exchange use?
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Do my years in the IRR, ASL, or ISL earn me points towards retirement?
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Can I drill while I’m in the IRR without being a SELRES member?
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When my enlistment/obligation is complete can I request reenlistment in the IRR?
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I just received my 20-year-letter and am eligible for retirement. How do I request my retirement?
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Are IRR Members eligible for the Tri-Care Dental Program (TDP)?
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Are IRR members eligible for the Reserve Good Conduct Medal?
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Are IRR/ASL members eligible to receive Coast Guard Mutual Assistance?
What’s the difference between the IRR, ISL, and ASL?
Members in the Individual Ready Reserve, IRR, generally consists of individuals who must fulfill their military service obligation (MSO). They are not required to meet the same IDT and ADT training requirements that Selected Reservists (SELRES) are; however, they may voluntarily participate in Reserve training programs for retirement points only, no pay, and may apply for Active Duty Special Work (ADSW) or Readiness Management Periods for pay. Enlisted IRR members are also eligible for promotion and may compete in the annual Reserve Servicewide in October. Members in the IRR are under the umbrella of the Ready Reserve along with the Selected Reserve, SELRES. IRR members are subject to involuntary recall.
Members on the Active Status List, ASL, generally consists of reservists who may be ordered to active duty in time of war if it is determined that not enough qualified Ready Reservists are available in the categories available. Usually, members on the ASL are temporarily assigned due to hardship, disability, or other cogent reasons, and who intend on returning to the Ready Reserve at the earliest possible date. Although these members may also drill for retirement points without pay and are eligible for promotion, this category is strictly temporary. ASL members are subject to involuntary recall.
Members on the Inactive Status List, ISL, also consists of reservists who may be ordered to active duty in time of war if it is determined that not enough qualified Ready Reservists are available in the categories available. These members may not train for pay or retirement points and are not eligible for promotion. Placement on the ISL is a case by case basis usually due to weight or other temporary situations.
If you wish to read more about the different categories, you may learn more from the Reserve Policy Manual, Chapter 1 Section C.
Do IRR Members receive an ID Card?
Yes, per DEERS Manual Chapter 1.6 pg. 28 & Chapter 13.2 pg. 112, members with a remaining MSO and/or members in the Ready Reserve and Standby Reserve not on active duty in excess of 30 days are entitled to a DD Form 2, Reserve Green Card.
Do IRR Members receive Commissary privileges?
Yes, under the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2004, members of the Ready Reserve and their dependents (which includes members of the Selected Reserve, Individual Ready Reserve and Inactive National Guard) and members of the Retired Reserve who possess a Uniformed Services Identification Card receive unlimited
commissary benefits.
Department
of Defense Message
Do IRR Members receive Vehicle Decals / Morale, Welfare and Recreation Programs / Exchange Use?
Yes, your Reserve ID allows you to have a vehicle decal and facilities use on military installations.
Do my years in the IRR, ASL, or ISL earn me points towards retirement?
Yes and no. By being in the IRR you accrue 15 points automatically; however, a good year for retirement purposes is 50 points. If you wish to drill without pay and earn your 50 points you may accrue a good year and only then will that year in the IRR count towards retirement. So, if you decide to “sit” in the IRR for 4 years without any activity in the Coast Guard, those four years will not be counted towards your 20 year retirement. ASL members have the same type of deal. ISL members do not earn retirement points and may not drill for points at anytime while in the ISL. You may read more about Coast Guard Retirement in the Reserve Policy Manual, Chapter 8 Section C.
What is the Annual Screening Questionnaire (ASQ)?
As a member of the IRR/ ISL/ ASL, you are obligated by U.S.C. Title 10, to keep the U.S. Coast Guard informed of any changes that would prevent you from being mobilized and to update your address on an annual basis. We track your information through the use of a form named the Annual Screening Questionnaire (ASQ). The ASQ is usually mailed at the beginning of October each year. As a reminder, failure to keep the Coast Guard informed of your mobilization status via the ASQ may result in either your recall to active duty for a period of up to 45 days, transfer to the Standby Reserve Inactive Status List, or immediate processing for separation. Please ensure that you respond to these annual ASQ’s and that you maintain your most current address with us throughout the year so that we may reach you if needed. See also our ASQ page.
Yes, depending on the reasons you requested placement in the IRR. In order to return to Active Duty you will need to contact your nearest recruiter for current positions and any programs that may be available to you.
To find the nearest recruiter go to GoCoastGuard.com and click on Find a Recruiter.
Can I return to Selected Reserve drilling status (SELRES)?
Yes, provided there is a billet available in the area you request. Complete the online IRR to SELRES request and return to us either by E-mail, facsimile, or mail. All three of these options are given at the bottom of the form. Form can be found here, IRRtoSELRES
Can I drill while I’m in the IRR without being a SELRES member?
Yes, however, drilling in the IRR is only allowed for points only without pay. If you wish to be paid you will need to request placement in the SELRES. Complete the online IRR to SELRES request. Make sure to include that you wish to drill for points only and not return to the SELRES. Once again, form can be found here, IRRtoSELRES
When my enlistment/obligation is complete can I request reenlistment in the IRR?
Generally no. At the end of your enlistment contract you may request to begin drilling or you may return to active duty, otherwise you will be discharged honorably. You may notify us in advance if you have a special need case, otherwise, your discharge certificate will be mailed to you within a month after your discharge date.
I just received my 20-year-letter and am eligible for retirement. How do I request my retirement?
Members who are retirement eligible and have reached age 60 may request RET-1, retired with pay. Members who are retirement eligible but have not reached their 60th birthday may request RET-2, retired awaiting age 60. Click here for form, and return to us either by Email or fax to 202-493-1723.
Note: Your request will not be effective for three months from the date the request begins processing. This means that if you put your request in on 12JUL06, your retirement will not be effective until at least 12OCT06.
Are IRR Members eligible for the Tri-Care Dental Program (TDP)?
Yes, although premiums for Ready Reservists and Standby reservists are slightly higher than Active Duty. Below is a link for you to enroll and research the premiums.
Do IRR Members receive any educational benefits?
At this time there are not a lot of educational benefits available to IRR members such as tuition assistance for active duty members, however, there are opportunities such as the Montgomery GI Bill, if you agreed to the allotment at the beginning of your career, and correspondence courses that may earn you points towards retirement. For a complete list of education opportunities visit the Coast Guard Institute.
Are IRR Members entitled to Servicemembers’ Group Life Insurance (SGLI) and/or Veteran’s Group Life Insurance (VGLI)?
SGLI is a program of low cost group life insurance for service members on active duty, ready reservists, members of the Commissioned Corps of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and the Public Health Service, cadets and midshipmen of the four service academies, and members of the Reserve Officer Training Corps. SGLI coverage is available in $50,000 increments up to the maximum of $400,000. IRR Members, Ready Reservists, are entitled to SGLI if they are scheduled to perform 12 periods of inactive training per year, for points alone without pay, or they volunteer for assignment to a mobilization category. For a regular IRR member who does not participate other than updating his or her ASQ once a year the answer is no.
Like SGLI, VGLI provides a maximum of $400,000 of group term life insurance for veterans. VGLI provides for life insurance only and does not provide for disability or other supplementary benefits. VGLI has no cash, loan, paid-up or extended insurance values and does not pay dividends. You have one year and 120 days from your date of separation from service to apply for VGLI. After this, you are no longer eligible for VGLI.
If you wish to read more about premiums or information on SGLI and VGLI, or wish to apply for either, you may visit the Veteran Affairs’ (VA) insurance website.
If you need to stop a SGLI allotment or have received a notice stating that you owe money for SGLI, please notify us.
Are IRR members eligible for the Reserve Good Conduct Medal?
The Coast Guard Reserve Good Conduct Medal is issued to
Reserve enlisted members who earn at least 70 retirement points during
each of three consecutive anniversary years in the Coast Guard Reserve.
You may earn 70 points a year in the IRR by drilling for non-pay, but
many members would rather drill for pay if they are training that much
in a year. See the question on returning to SELRES if you are
interested in drilling or the question on drilling for non-pay.
Medals and Awards Manual
Can IRR members use Space Available Travel?
Yes, per
DoD 4515.13-R,
National Guard and Reserve Members of the Ready Reserve, and members of the
Standby Reserve who are on the Active Status List; are authorized.
You may contact military bases for availability or by going to
Military Living
Are IRR/ASL members eligible to receive Coast Guard Mutual Assistance?
Yes, CGMA is available to Active Duty, Retired Military and Coast Guard Reserve (SELRES and Standby Reserve-Active Status).
Coast Guard Mutual Assistance (CGMA) is a non-profit charitable organization established to provide financial aid to the entire Coast Guard family. While CGMA works closely with the U.S. Coast Guard, it is an independent corporation. Its mission is to promote the financial stability and general well being of Coast Guard people through interest-free loans, grants, and financial counseling. CGMA is Coast Guard people helping Coast Guard people! It is the only assistance organization truly dedicated to providing assistance solely to all members of the Coast Guard family. With few exceptions, anyone associated with the U.S. Coast Guard may seek help in one form or another from CGMA for themselves or on behalf of their immediate family members. ISL members are not entitled to Mutual Assistance.
Remember, there are many benefits not listed here that you may be eligible for. The Veterans Affairs webpage has a complete listing of all benefits along with home loans, veterans hospitals and educational information. You may visit their website at: www.va.gov.