---
kind: "section"
citation: "10 U.S.C. § 10144"
title: "10"
title_heading: "Armed Forces"
number: "10144"
heading: "Ready Reserve: Individual Ready Reserve"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/10/10144"
units:
  - "Subtitle E — Reserve Components"
  - "Part I — Organization and Administration"
  - "Chapter 1005 — Elements of Reserve Components"
---

# §10144. Ready Reserve: Individual Ready Reserve

- (a) Within the Ready [Reserve](/usc/10/101.md?p=c-6) of each of the [reserve](/usc/10/101.md?p=c-6) components there is an Individual Ready [Reserve](/usc/10/101.md?p=c-6). The Individual Ready [Reserve](/usc/10/101.md?p=c-6) consists of those members of the Ready [Reserve](/usc/10/101.md?p=c-6) who are not in the Selected [Reserve](/usc/10/101.md?p=c-6) or the inactive [National Guard](/usc/10/101.md?p=c-1).
- (b)
  - (1) Within the Individual Ready [Reserve](/usc/10/101.md?p=c-6) of each [reserve](/usc/10/101.md?p=c-6) component there is a category of members, as designated by the [Secretary concerned](/usc/10/101.md?p=a-9), who are subject to being ordered to [active duty](/usc/10/101.md?p=d-1) involuntarily in accordance with [section 12304 of this title](/usc/10/12304.md). A member may not be placed in that mobilization category unless—
    - (A) the member volunteers for that category; and
    - (B) the member is selected for that category by the [Secretary concerned](/usc/10/101.md?p=a-9), based upon the needs of the service and the [grade](/usc/10/101.md?p=b-7) and military skills of that member.
  - (2) A member of the Individual Ready [Reserve](/usc/10/101.md?p=c-6) may not be carried in such mobilization category of members after the end of the 24-month period beginning on the date of the separation of the member from [active service](/usc/10/101.md?p=d-3).
  - (3) The [Secretary](/usc/10/12521.md?p=4) shall designate the [grades](/usc/10/101.md?p=b-7) and military skills or specialities of members to be eligible for placement in such mobilization category.
  - (4) A member in such mobilization category shall be eligible for benefits (other than [pay](/usc/10/101.md?p=a-15) and training) as are normally available to members of the Selected [Reserve](/usc/10/101.md?p=c-6), as determined by the [Secretary](/usc/10/12521.md?p=4) of Defense.

## Source credit

(Added Pub. L. 103–337, div. A, title XVI, § 1661(a)(1), Oct. 5, 1994, 108 Stat. 2973; amended Pub. L. 105–85, div. A, title V, § 511(a), Nov. 18, 1997, 111 Stat. 1728.)

## Notes

### Editorial Notes

### Amendments

1997—Pub. L. 105–85 designated existing provisions as subsec. (a) and added subsec. (b).

### Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

### Effective Date

Section effective Dec. 1, 1994, except as otherwise provided, see section 1691 of Pub. L. 103–337, set out as a note under section 10001 of this title.