JOINT BASE ANDREWS, Md. –
More than 25,000 Airmen will be searching for a new career path in the coming year as the entire DoD tightens its belt in the wake of sequester-driven budget cuts.
For the active-duty Airmen here who don't want to hang-up their uniforms for good, opportunities exist in the Air Force Reserve.
"Force management has made many Airmen question if they will be able to stay on active duty," said Master Sgt. Jerry Harms, the Air Force Reserve In Service Recruiter here. "Although they may not be able to stay active duty, they can continue their career in the Air Force Reserve as Citizen Airmen."
Reserve service provides a benefits package highlighted by programs familiar to most Airmen such as tuition assistance, the Post 9-11 G.I. Bill and the opportunity to work toward a military retirement plan. Additionally, Harms said low-cost healthcare insurance is available to most reservists at significantly lower rates than comparable plans, and enlistment bonuses are available for some career fields at specific duty locations.
Active-duty Airmen transitioning into the Reserve stand to receive many benefits, but they also provide plenty of benefits themselves. New Citizen Airmen who have active-duty experience are valuable to Reserve units because they are mission-ready.
"When an active-duty Airman decides to continue their career in the Reserve, everyone wins," said Col. Steve Fulaytar, Air Force Reserve director of recruiting. "The Airman retains the benefits of continued service, the Reserve gains an Airman who can contribute immediately and the regular Air Force has one less Airman that must be involuntarily separated."
One key difference between active and Reserve service is that Citizen Airmen won't have to relocate to suit the needs of the Air Force. Many reservists spend the majority of their career with one unit and only agree to a permanent change of station when the timing is right for them.
Airmen who are ready to separate may not have to wait until their original enlistment or commission obligation is complete. The Palace Chase program enables Airmen to separate from their active enlistment or commission as long as they continue their service with the Reserve Component.
Airmen should be aware the recruiting process is somewhat different from when they joined the active-duty Air Force. Once Airmen are deemed eligible for Reserve service, they must work with an in-service recruiter to locate a duty location and position that meet their needs.
"Our Reserve units love fully qualified Airmen who can hit the ground running," Fulaytar said. "But finding duty positions for new recruits takes time, so they can help themselves by contacting their in-service recruiter as soon as possible."
Harms can be reached at
301-981-9373, and more information is available at
www.afreserve.com and
www.facebook.com/airforcereserve.
Master Sgt. Shawn J. Jones, Air Force Reserve Command Recruiting Service, contributed to this story.