Community

COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIP

Military Training that Provides Key Services to American Communities

Overview

Understand what IRT is and how you can become a part of this program for military and communities.

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Authorizations

IRT was authorized in a Department of Defense response to "Rebuild America" initiative.

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Testimonials

Hear how IRT has impacted communities across America while strengthening our military.

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FAQs

Find answers to your IRT questions and understand how to start the application process.

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Military Training that Provides Key Services to American Communities

Innovative Readiness Training (IRT) is a Department of Defense (DoD) military training opportunity, exclusive to the United States and its territories, that delivers joint training opportunities to increase deployment readiness. Simultaneously, IRT provides key services (health care, construction, transportation, and cybersecurity) with lasting benefits for our American communities.

IRT in Action

Watch how the process of civil-military partnerships take place in this short two minute video.

Building Community-Military Partnerships

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Learn more about the benefit of IRT for communities »

24-Month Community Timeline

Click here to begin a new IRT mission application or continue an existing application.

IRT Restrictions

Must take place within the U.S. and its territories
Must accomplish mission essential training
Must result in 100 hours of training or more
Must not compete with the private sector
Must not include commercial development (CE missions only)
Military members cannot provide law enforcement during IRT missions
IRT authorities cannot be used to respond to natural or manmade disasters

Authorized by U.S. Code

Innovative Readiness Training (IRT) was authorized under Title 10 U.S. Code §2012 in a Department of Defense response to the 1992 “Rebuild America” Initiative. The law grants authority the Department of Defense (DoD) to provide services and support for eligible non-Department of Defense organizations and activities. It includes subsections on the scope of covered activities, requirement for specific requests, relationship to military training, eligible entities, regulations, treatment of military participation in provision of support or services, and oversight and cost accounting.

Case Study

Innovative Readiness Training (IRT) Camp Kamassa Mission

PROJECT LOCATION
Crystal Springs, Mississippi

TIMELINE
April 2018 – August 2020 (3-year partnership)

Summer 2018

Cleared 45 acres of land, constructed 50 x 100 maintenance barn, installed storm water pipe and catch basins, established roads and environmental control measures.

Summer 2019

Vertical construction of duplex cabins (8), Site work (clearing, installation of culverts and improvements to roads, preparation of building and water tank pads). Installed a 90’ foot steel bridge to connect to land parcels.

Summer 2020

Vertical construction of family cabins (6), multi-use building, open air recreation building two large ponds and various nature trails.

MISSION GOALS
1. To provide real-world training platform for all participants

2. To encourage cross-training, leadership development and innovation

3. To promote civil-military partnerships

4. To provide sustainable, lasting construction projects

Participating Service Components

30+ Year History of Strong Civil-Military Partnerships

Dr. Tai Hunte-Ceasar Virgin Islands Department of Health Chief Medical Officer

“We are so grateful to the IRT program for their commitment to the USVI as a community partner to increase healthcare services and further reduce disparities in the territory… There is a tremendous need, specifically for the services that will be provided, and we look forward to continuously working together in the future.”

Kandy Barlow Maniilaq Association Vice President of Health Services

“Operation Arctic Care 2025 was an incredible experience for Maniilaq Health Center. The teamwork among all military branches and tribal leadership ensured smooth operations. The goal of having positive patient and community impacts remained at the forefront during the planning and implementation of the operation. I was touched by the team’s motivation and willingness to immerse themselves into the culture of our villages. The level of professionalism and organization was outstanding and well above any previous collaborative operations that I have experienced. During this experience, I learned of more opportunities to partner with IRT for civil engineering and cybersecurity.”

Tanya Mohawk Camp Kamassa Executive Director

“If you talk to fundraisers, they will tell you that if you're going to start a big capital campaign, you need to have that one big donor, that one big gift, that one big something. For us, that one big something was Innovative Readiness Training. I don't know if we would have even started by now, had it not been for Innovative Readiness Training.”

Joel Evans Delta Area Economic Opportunity Corporation (DAEOC) President and CEO

“I’ll tell you, from my heart, I’m really touched and really couldn’t be happier that we’re serving the population that are underserved… Many people ask, ‘what do you have to be, what are the requirements to be there?’ We tell them there are no income guidelines, no insurance guidelines, no residency guidelines, all you have to be is a human… It takes a dedicated team who love the missions and give their time and talents selflessly, for a mission to be a truly great experience”

Tanya Mohawk Camp Kamassa Executive Director

“It is like when you are buying a brand-new house and the builder has an inspector, but you want someone you trust to see what is wrong with the house, so you also get a private inspector. We are the builders, and the military are the private inspectors.”

IRT Frequently Asked Questions

What are the benefits of an IRT mission for my Community?
What types of Missions can my community apply for?
How do I create an IRT Account?
How do I create a new application?
When are community applications due?
Are there any restrictions?
When do missions occur?
My community participated in an IRT mission before, can we participate again?
What happens if my Community Application is not submitted prior to the deadline?
How long do I have to wait for a mission to start once my application is submitted?
What happens once my community application matches with a military unit?
What happens at the IPM and what/who do I need to prepare/bring?
What do I do if I am having issues with my application?

Click here to begin a new IRT mission application or continue an existing application.

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