Ordering the Selected Reserve and Certain Individual Ready Reserve Members of the Armed Forces to Active Duty

This executive order authorizes mobilization of Selected Reserve and certain Individual Ready Reserve members to active duty to support Haiti earthquake relief operations following the January 12, 2010 earthquake. It delegates activation authority to the Secretary of Defense and Secretary of Homeland Security (for Coast Guard) without specifying unit numbers or duration limits.

Federal Register Open PDF 75 FR 3331

Key directives

Authorize Secretary of Defense to order Selected Reserve and certain IRR members to active duty
Authorize Secretary of Homeland Security to order Coast Guard reserve components to active duty when Coast Guard not operating as Navy service
Authorize termination of active duty service for mobilized units and members

Who is ordered

Timeline

Immediate

authorization to order reserve units and individuals to active duty takes effect

Near term (90d)

potential deployment of reserve forces to Haiti relief operations

Long term

possible extended reserve mobilizations depending on operational needs; no explicit termination date set

Risks & tensions

No numerical cap on personnel or duration specified—scope entirely discretionary
No explicit Haiti-only geographic limitation; 'operational missions' language could permit broader use
Standard disclaimer clause limits legal enforceability of any rights claims by mobilized personnel
Text is vague on whether activation is mandatory or permissive for Secretaries