The Army announced plans last year to mobilize almost 5,700 soldiers from the Individual Ready Reserve, or the IRR.
That number of call-ups was needed so the Army could reach a goal of 4,402 IRR soldiers back on active duty.
Currently, 3,802 mobilization orders have been approved.
The move is not unprecedented, as Ready Reserve soldiers were activated during the Vietnam War.
But the recent call-up is the biggest since the 1991 Gulf War, when more than 20,200 soldiers were mobilized.
Not all of the Army’s Ready Reserve troops have been eager to put on uniforms again, however.
Some have settled into civilian life and are seeking exemptions because they are in college, have medical or family care problems, or have financial reasons. A smaller group of Ready Reserve soldiers have filed lawsuits to get out of serving, or have not shown up on their reporting dates.
A total of 1,992 soldiers have requested a delay before they report for duty, or have asked for exemptions.
Most of those requests, approximately 40 percent, have been for medical reasons. About 25 percent are based on family care issues.
Army spokeswoman Lt. Col. Pamela Hart said 364 of the 1,992 are pending a decision; 1,539 requests have been approved for extension or exemption, and 89 have been denied.
So far, out of all the soldiers who have received mobilization orders, 357 soldiers have not reported for duty.
Hart said the Army hasn’t charged any of them for being absent without leave, or AWOL, but is continuing attempts to contact those service members and let them know what the requirements are.
Approximately 114,000 soldiers are in the Ready Reserve.
Service in the Ready Reserve is a standard part of enlistment contracts, and soldiers are put on the IRR roster if they have any time remaining in their eight-year contracts at the end of their active duty or reserve service.
The top categories for soldiers getting called up include those trained as motor transport operators, light-wheeled vehicle mechanics, clerks and combat engineers.
Although some of those called up may have not put on an Army uniform in years, they will be ready for duty before they are deployed.
“We would not send anyone into any combat situation without that soldier being fully trained and being capable of performing,” Hart said.
“Everyone who goes is indeed ready and capable.”
Hart said there isn’t any current talk of future call-ups of Ready Reserve soldiers.
“We don’t have any future plans. Of course, it’s possible. We’re not leaning toward doing that in the near future,” she said.
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