South Carolina National Guard

INNOVATIVE READINESS TRAINING

PROGRAM ADVANTAGES:

• Supplemental federal funding available
• Create excellent partnerships between requesting community organizations and the military.
• Incidental benefits for the community
• Promotes recognition of the Guard as a community-based organization.
• Conduct training that makes a lasting difference.
• Soldier and Unit Development: Excellent recruiting and retention opportunity

TYPICAL PROJECTS:

Combat Support/Combat Service Support

(Engineering/Medical/Transportation/Maintenance/Aviation)

• Public schools or parks.
• Vertical or horizontal construction.
• Medical service to under-served populations.
• Medical & engineering support to Native American tribes.
• Support to eligible Law enforcement Agencies.
• Lewis & Clark Bicentennial events.

ELIGIBLE ORGANIZATIONS

Reference: 32 USC 508

- Certain Youth and Charitable Organizations:

• Boy or Girl Scouts of America
• Boys or Girls Clubs of America
• YMCA or YWCA
• Civil Air Patrol
• United States Olympic Committee
• Special Olympics
• Campfire Boys & Girls
• 4-H Club
• Police Athletic League

- Eligible federal, regional, state, or local Governmental entity (Non-DOD). Any Other youth or charitable non-profit Organization designated by Secretary of Defense.

PROGRAM DESCRIPTION:

1. Background:
   National Guard Bureau’s Innovative Readiness Training (IRT) program is the largest of all the separate services and components accounting for 45% of federal funded projects and programs. No military department can match the National Guard’s IRT presence in America’s communities conducting meaningful real-world training that sustains war-time readiness. The purpose of IRT is to provide mission essential training for units and personnel, while building upon the long-standing tradition of the Armed Forces of the United States, acting as good neighbors at the local level, in applying military personnel to assist worthy civic and community needs.
2. Scope:
   More than 7,000 soldiers and airmen from over half the states and territories participate annually in IRT sponsored projects and programs within the 54 states and territories. Assistance can be provided only to eligible non-DoD organizations and training is conducted primarily by Combat support and Combat Service Support units in the areas of Engineering, Transportation, Maintenance, Aviation and Medical assistance. The assistance provided to eligible organization is incidental to the benefit of training.

PROGRAM INTENT

• Build upon the long-standing tradition of the Armed Forces of the United States, acting as good neighbors at the local level, in applying military personnel to assist worthy civic and community needs.
• Accomplish military readiness training.
• Training mission alternative for meeting mobilization readiness requirements.
• Assistance is incidental to military training and maintains individual operational readiness skills and unit combat mission capabilities.

IRT Request Procedures

Requirements:

All projects request must originate from a responsible individual of authority with an eligible organization. Project scope must meet National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) requirements, demonstrate the service provided is not reasonably available within the private sector, meet legal requirements and portray the Guard in a positive light. Projects can be conducted using state funds or request approval for federal supplemental funds in conjunctions with state funds. After Action Report is required within 60 days of project completion/cancellation.

IRT Project Requests:

• IRT Project Requests may be submitted to NGB-ARO-Y (IRT) anytime during the year.
• “Federal” Requests must be received NLT 20 Nov, of the FY preceding the FY of the proposed project execution, for supplemental funding approval consideration.
• Allow up to 8 weeks for required staffing at NGB.
• Reviewed by NGB-ARO, -ARE, -PA, -JA, -G#, -ARZ.
• Approval Authority:
  1. State: Director, Army or Air National Guard
  2. Federal: OASD/RA

IRT Project Request Components:

Tab A: Letter of Request from Eligible Organization

• From a responsible official in the organization.
• Specifies what assistance is required.

Tab B: Certification of Non-competition

• Requestor publishes public notice in local newspaper for 2 days, 1 day per week, for 2 consecutive weeks. Adhere to State Laws regarding Public Notice.
• Affidavit certifying that public notice has run.
• Letter from the requestor stating what responses received and actions taken to mitigate concerns.

Tab C: NGB Environmental Checklist or Record of Environmental Consideration

• IRT complies with NEPA process.
• Reviewed by State Environment Officer.
• Provide other supporting documentation as applicable to specific project.

Tab D: Task List Spreadsheet

• Identify training to be conducted.
• Collective METL task(s).
• Pre and Post Assessment (T, P, U).
• Individual MOS/AFSI Skills.

Tab E: Funding Cost Breakdown Spreadsheets

1. Task Organization & Project Funding Breakdown.
   • If requested IRT ADSW project staff funding, then list total P&A and O&M requirements as separate element on lead IRT Request Packet.
   • Task Organization.
   • Project Funding Breakdown.
2. O&M Funding Cost Breakdown
   • Identify all costs associated with project O&M.

TAB F: Public Affairs Support Plan

• Recommend extract from the Annual State Public Affairs plan (NGB Pam 360-5).
• May be customized to fit project.
• Intent is to publicize the achievements of National Guard Units providing assistance to communities while sustaining readiness.

TAB G: State Legal Opinion (Highly Recommended)

TAB H: Medical IRT Checklist (If Applicable)

Basic Guidelines

• Provision of assistance shall not result in significant increase to the cost of training.
• Assistance is conducted off military installation.
• Assistance is in conjunction with, not separate to, civilian efforts meeting a valid and appropriate need.
• Assistance is not reasonably available from commercial entities.
• AAR Required.
• Funding becomes available @ 2nd quarter FY of execution.

All NGBIRT forms, templates, references and guidance are posted in the IRT Reference Library on the Guard Knowledge Online (GKO) website, for your convenience. All documents posted are the most current and authorized versions.

For the Requester call the IRT Coordinator.

For Military Personnel - http://gko.ngb.army.mil

• ARNG Directorate [left side of homepage]
• Operations/Training (G3) [from menu]
• (AR0-Y) Innovative Readiness Training (IRT)

NGB IRT Reference Library Site Map

• IRT Basic Guidelines: READ FIRST!
• IRT Applicable Directives and Regulations
• IRT Policies
• IRT Request Packet (Everything needed is here)
• IRT Template for AAR and SITREP Format
• IRT Task Force Information (Brochures)
• Opportunities with IRT

National Guard IRT Team

IRT Coordinator
SGM (Ret) Barr, John W., Jr.
Comm.: 803.806.2490
Cell: 803.667.2034
Fax: 803-806-4459
E-mail: john.barr2@us.army.mil

ALL REQUESTS for ASSISTANCE: Please send to OFFICE OF THE ADJUTANT GENERAL
ATTN: JFHQ-SC-PA
1 NATIONAL GUARD ROAD, COLUMBIA, SC 29201

References:

• IRT Web page on GKO!
• Title 10, USC Section 2012
• Title 32, USC Section 508
• DoD Directive 1100.20
• OASD/RA Guidance Memorandum
• USAF AFI 36-2250 (Mar 99)
• Dept of Army Policy (MAR 00)

Please Note: Information is current as of April 10, 2009.