Marines seek to call up 1500 reservists for Iraq in early 2008

Above: Marines line up and fire during combined arms training at Combat Outpost Rawah in August.

The Marine Corps hopes to send 1,500 Marines from the Individual Ready Reserve to Iraq, a Corps spokesman said Thursday.

Right now, the Corps is waiting for authorization from Defense Secretary Robert Gates for the call-up, said Maj. Steven O’Connor. Gates is expected to decide on the matter within 30 days, O’Connor said. If Gates authorizes the call-up, the IRR Marines would report for duty in the first half of 2008.

Servicemembers in the IRR have left active duty but still have time on their obligation to serve. Unlike troops in the Select Reserves and National Guard, they do not drill.

The Corps has sent letters to 2,000 Marines in the IRR telling them they will be screened for a possible recall, O’Connor said. Those Marines are in military occupational specialties that include intelligence, combat service support, communications, military police and others, he said.

Read the rest at Stars and Stripes

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