Joe Biden issued a directive on Thursday to deploy 3,000 reservists to Europe, with the aim of strengthening the current U.S. troops involved in Operation Atlantic Resolve, aka the Russia-Ukraine war.
The order grants the Secretary of Defense and the Secretary of Homeland Security the authority to mobilize active duty units, as well as individual personnel from the Selected Reserve and the Individual Ready Reserve.
As per the order, the deployment of units should not surpass a maximum of 3,000 members concurrently, with a limit of 450 members of the Individual Ready Reserve (IRR).
The inclusion of the Individual Ready Reserve (IRR) in this order is particularly noteworthy since it has remained largely unused for nearly two decades. It’s important to note that this order does not immediately activate members of the IRR, but rather grants the authority to do so if “they deem necessary”. The IRR comprises former active duty and reserve members who are no longer required to participate in drills, annual training, or other military activities unless called upon by Presidential Authority. Essentially, it consists of junior enlisted officers who have an obligation to serve after their active duty contract expires. Typically, a service contract spans four years, followed by an additional four years of IRR service.
This directive comes in the wake of Biden’s recent five-day visit to Europe, where he visited the United Kingdom, Lithuania, and Finland. The primary objective of the trip was to demonstrate the solidarity and power of the international coalition in response to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
From the White House:
By the authority vested in me as President by the Constitution and the laws of the United States of America, including sections 121 and 12304 of title 10, United States Code, I hereby determine that it is necessary to augment the active Armed Forces of the United States for the effective conduct of Operation Atlantic Resolve in and around the United States European Command’s area of responsibility. In furtherance of this operation, under the stated authority, I hereby authorize the Secretary of Defense, and the Secretary of Homeland Security with respect to the Coast Guard when it is not operating as a service in the Navy, under their respective jurisdictions, to order to active duty any units, and any individual members not assigned to a unit organized to serve as a unit of the Selected Reserve, or any member in the Individual Ready Reserve mobilization category and designated as essential under regulations prescribed by the Secretary concerned, not to exceed 3,000 total members at any one time, of whom not more than 450 may be members of the Individual Ready Reserve, as they deem necessary, and to terminate the service of those units and members ordered to active duty.
This order is not intended to, and does not, create any right or benefit, substantive or procedural, enforceable at law or in equity by any party against the United States, its departments, agencies, or entities, its officers, employees, or agents, or any other person.
JOSEPH R. BIDEN JR.
