Leave your feedback Share Copy URL https://www.pbs.org/newshour/show/u-s-marines-to-recall-1200-reservists-to-iraq-and-afghanistan Email Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Pinterest Tumblr Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Transcript The Pentagon announced Tuesday that in the next few months some 1,200 Marine reservists, formerly active-duty service members, will be recalled for duty in the war on terror in Iraq and Afghanistan. Experts discuss the consequences of the decision. Read the Full Transcript Notice: Transcripts are machine and human generated and lightly edited for accuracy. They may contain errors. MARGARET WARNER: As we just reported, some 1,200 Marine reservists are about to be called up to return to Iraq and/or Afghanistan. The Pentagon announced that yesterday.They are members of what's known as the Individual Ready Reserve, Marines who have left active duty and resumed civilian lives but are obliged to serve if called. Most already have served at least one tour in Iraq. An additional 1,200 Marine reservists could be added to this involuntary call-up, and as many as 35,000 Marines could be ultimately subject to it under authority granted the president for the duration of the, quote, "global war on terror."Three perspectives now on this from retired Marine Corps Lt. General Carol Mutter. Her last post was deputy commandant for manpower and reserve affairs.Marine Reserve Sergeant Todd Bowers, he did two tours in Iraq and completed his commitment in the Individual Ready Reserve this year. He is a member of the Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America.And retired Marine Lt. Colonel Gary Solis, he's now a lawyer and law professor.And welcome to you all.General Mutter, why don't you start out and explain for us, why are the Marines doing this now? Are they so short of manpower they need 1,200 more? LT. GEN. CAROL MUTTER, Marine Corps: It's not just a manpower shortage but a skills shortage. And there are certain skills that are required repeatedly that are fairly narrow skills, in communications, for example, and so on.And so it's a matter of finding where those people are with those skills. The Marine Corps looks at the total force, including the Reserves and the IRR. They have been using volunteers from the IRR, and the number of volunteers has been steadily decreasing. So now it's a matter of going to an involuntary recall. MARGARET WARNER: And explain for us, what is the difference between the IRR, or the Individual Ready Reserve, and just the regular Reserves in the Marines? LT. GEN. CAROL MUTTER: In the IRR, there's no requirement to show up for reserve drills as there is with the Reserves. They are just on call.Now, there are face-to-face meetings now annually, but they're not paid to come to drills and to stay involved. But it's for the eight-year total contract. If you've served active duty for four years, you have another four years in the IRR, if you don't go into the Reserves, Active Reserves.