From the first link

The Army is also considering plans to call up more reservists, including inactive reservists who don't drill or train regularly. And right now, the Army is having difficulty filling its professional schools, because so many officers and sergeants are deployed that it can't get them through the educational pipeline.

And from the second link

Unknown to most Americans, though, is the existence of the Individual Ready Reserve, which has more than 280,000 members.

The IRR is a distinctly different animal than the drilling reserves or National Guard.

Those in the IRR are people who have completed their active-duty tours but are subject to involuntary recall for a certain number of years. For example, a soldier who serves four years on active duty remains in the IRR for another four years.

I did my last few years serving in the Army Reserve at an Army Reserve School. During 1st GW a lot of our instructors were activated. Since I'm a trained instructor ...

What's mentioned in the above links is the IRR. What is not mentioned is that Retired Military are also subject to recall up until age? I know I have not hit that ? age yet, so if things keep going downhill, I may end up getting a notice. Being over weight and out of shape won't keep me out, but hearing loss and diabetes might. First time I've ever thought medical problems might be an asset. :-(

Draft notices ready yet?

to an event that you do today?

The IRR commitment is very well defined and detailed. Even 35 years ago when I enlisted to avoid being drafted and sent to 'nam, I knew that I had a 6 (currently 8) year obligation. 3 Active Duty, 2 Active Reserve (1 weekend a month) and 1 IRR. And I knew that I could be recalled to AD any time.

What's not so readily disclosed is that your acceptance of a Military Retirement benefit made you eligible for recall at the needs of the service. You do 20 years of service and then during the retirement processing, are informed that you have the sword dangling over you for a number of years to come. IIRC til age 60/65.

That means that the 18 year old kid (or in my daugher's case, 17) who decided to enlist, then decided to become a lifer, really did just become a lifer, instead of a careerist - 20 to 30 years of service and then done. The "done" isn't over for an additional number of years.

Of course I do have the option of declining the pension (that I don't get until I'm 60/65 since I didn't do 20 years of active service, only 11 with the last 10 in the Active Reserve).

Name me one other place where you can go to work as a teen, and then at your retirement party get told that you "could" be called back at anytime.

Like the soldier, Marine IIRC, who sued when ordered to active duty for GWI. Said he only signed up for the school benefit.

Or the soldier facing court-martial for deserting and attempting to file CO status.

You sign up, you perform the job. I remember on active duty fielding complaints about the soldier not getting the duty location of choice or the job of choice. In each case I asked if they had read paragraph g (iirc) of the contract which stated, paraphrased, "while every attempt will be made to give you the training of your choice and/or the duty station of your choice, you will be used at the needs of the Army."

I wasn't complaining or whining, at least I wasn't intending to do so, I was just stating that the proposed recall of the IRR was getting a little close. Next step would be either a draft or recall of the retirees. In either case, I am safe due to current medical conditions.

FWIW, after serving twenty years, I'd rather be risk the recall than forfeit the pension. (Decision is made when you "retire", not when faced with recall)

Now where's that First Sergeant/Master Sergeant rank icon when I need it. :-)