5/31/2012 - JOINT BASE SAN ANTONIO-RANDOLPH, Texas –
Airmen in Air Force Reserve Command are only required to engage in full-time active duty if there is a need. Otherwise, they serve part time and have the opportunity to pursue other goals.
An Air Force Reserve recruiter informs people about the AFRC and helps interested and qualified candidates join the organization.
At Joint Base San Antonio-Randolph, Tech. Sgt. Christopher Moss, Air Force Reserve Command Recruiting Service, is an in-service recruiter.
"My job is to select highly qualified Airmen for the right Air Force Reserve job at the right time," Moss said. "I accomplish this task through informing, counseling, screening, interviewing and briefing people about Air Force Reserve benefits."
The Air Force Reserve has two full-time opportunities available for members to initially serve: the Air Reserve Technician program and the Active Guard Reserve program. Most of the positions are part-time traditional reservist or individual mobilization augmentee assignments.
Active Guard Reserve involves Airmen to work their Reservist job in uniform full time, while Air Reserve Technicians work as a civil service employee and as a Reservist.
For active-duty members in need of a transition, the Palace Chase and Palace Front programs are the best two options available, Moss said. The Palace Chase program is managed by the Air Force Personnel Center and allows active-duty Air Force members, officer and enlisted, the opportunity to request transfer from active duty to an Air Reserve Component to complete their military service.
"The Palace Chase program is a tool used to manage the end strength of the Air Force," Moss said. "It has been in place since the Air Force chose to reduce its end strength. As long as force shaping is effective, the Palace Chase program will remain an option for specific career fields. It is imperative to keep in mind that AFPC has the final authority on who gets approved for the program."
The Palace Front program applies to all non-retiring Air Force members with less than six months remaining on active duty. Palace Front allows active-duty Air Force members to transfer into the Air Force Reserve upon completion of their active-duty service commitment for officers and upon reaching their date of separation for enlisted members. Palace Front prevents the service member from having a breach in service.
Service members separating from active duty can contact an in-service recruiter 180 days before their date of separation. Beginning the process at this time gives the separating service member time to obtain all required documents and find a reserve position near his home or future home.
"The Air Force Reserve experience is entirely different from active duty," Moss said. "I highly recommend that members in transition schedule an appointment with me to learn more about opportunities that exist in the Air Force Reserve."
For more information, call Moss at 652-7532 or visit him in Bldg. 399.