IRR Airmen coming to base for exercise Published June 14, 2007 By Lilly Flores-Janecek 37th Training Wing Public Affairs Office LACKLAND AIR FORCE BASE, Texas -- Starting June 18, the Air Force "Push-Pull 2007" Exercise will call up to 320 Individual Ready Reserve Airmen from across the country, for active duty at Lackland. A push-pull exercise, typically conducted every two years, tests the mobilization process and evaluates the skill level of the participants. "This is a call-up under Title 10 U.S.C. 12301 (b)," said Chris Sharp, Team Lackland's chief of readiness and plans who is serving as the point of contact for the push-pull exercise. "We will bring them in and activate them into the Air Force." IRR Airmen have had training, served on active duty or as part of the Selected Reserve and still have some period of military service obligation remaining. These Airmen do not perform regularly scheduled training and will return to their former Reserve status after the exercise is complete. The two-phase exercise begins with the "push" here at Lackland, Monday through June 22, which will involve the processing of the IRR Airmen, similar to what basic trainees do each week. They will be checked for skill and medical qualifications, go through uniform issue and records review and other tasks necessary to re-enter the active force. After completing this, approximately 100 IRR Airmen will be selected to move to the next phase of the exercise. The remaining IRR Airmen will take part in the second phase, June 23-29, which is called the "pull." They will stay at Lackland or go to Keesler AFB, Miss., or Sheppard AFB, Texas, where they will be evaluated on their Air Force Specialty Code skill levels and be assigned to units at those bases for the duration of the exercise. Mr. Sharp said the impact of the push-pull should be minimal on the base. "We will use manning assistance to bring in individuals from other units, including Lackland's 433rd Airlift Wing, both on the medical and on the military training instructor side of the house," Mr. Sharp said. IRR Airmen participating in the exercise will receive active-duty pay and allowances commensurate with their grade and years of service. Airmen required to participate in the push-pull are protected by law from any repercussions by their civilian employers.