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Corps involuntarily activates 870 IRR members

The Corps is reaching back into the Individual Ready Reserve this week to involuntary activate 870 Marines, most for duty in Iraq, service officials said.

The involuntary activations for the U.S. Central Command area of operations mark the third time since 2006 the service has tapped the Reserve pool to help fill billets taxed by frequent combat deployments.

Of the 870 activated, about 38 percent will go to ground-support billets, 31 percent to aviation support and 31 percent to service support, said Col. Steven Driggers, head of mobilization at Manpower and Reserve Affairs, in a phone interview. Military occupational specialties tapped for the call-up include motor transport, communications, engineers and some artillery.

The Corps had hoped to activate 1,500 from the IRR, but were unable to because of the volume of waivers given for medical and hardship issues, he added.

To date, the Corps has involuntarily activated and issued orders to 1,464 reservists. Those receiving orders are expected to deploy in May, Driggers said.