ROBINS AIR FORCE BASE, Ga. –
Are you separating from the Air Force, but don't want to leave the Air Force family? Then the Air Force Reserve is for you.
Becoming a Traditional Reservist or an Individual Mobilization Augmentee offers Airmen the opportunity to pursue a civilian career and still serve their country.
Traditional Reservists join a Reserve unit, usually near their homes, and train with the unit one weekend a month and perform two weeks of annual training a year. TRs also deploy with their units and have opportunities to cross train into a new career field.
Many TRs remain in their unit for their entire career, but can transfer to another unit if a position is available.
IMAs are assigned to active-duty wings or major commands throughout the world where they work alongside their active duty counterparts.
"Working with active-duty Airmen at headquarters NORAD and Northern Command allowed me to share my years of experience with them and for them to witness the Reserve in action," said Senior Master Sgt. Walter Sheehan, newly assigned IMA chaplain assistant to the headquarters, Air Force Reserve Command, Chaplain Functional.
They are not members of a Reserve unit and don't work the traditional one weekend a month. IMAs are required to do 12 continuous days of annual training and 24 inactive duty (IDT) periods. The annual training must be done at the same time, but the IDTs are more flexible.
You and your supervisor create your own training schedule. "Being able to work with my supervisor to schedule my training allows me to work around the needs of my job, family and the Air Force", Sergeant Sheehan said.
IMAs may also transfer to a different position for career enhancement, but the opportunities to cross train are limited.
Reservists normally keep their previous rank and may have opportunities for promotion. They also continue to accrue retirement benefits. Reservists have access to base facilities such as the exchange, gym and unlimited commissary privileges. The Reserve also offers educational opportunities. TRs and IMAs can take courses with the Air Force Institute for Advanced Distributed Learning. They can attend Professional Military Education schools and technical schools or pursue an associate degree at the Community College of the Air Force.
To become a Reservist, contact the local In-Service Recruiter. They can explain the program to you and help locate available positions. You can also go online to www.afreserve.com or call 1-800-257-1212. Individuals interested in becoming an IMA can also contact the Base IMA Administrator.
"It's best to begin the process 4-6 months prior to your separation," said Master Sgt. James Scapperotti, Robins AFB In-Service Recruiter. "Starting early will facilitate a successful transition from active duty to the Reserve."
"If you're an officer, it is important that you don't resign your commission when you separate," he said.
Required documents are an AF Form 1288, your last three performance reports, your last AF Fitness Assessment score and a Preventative Health Assessment completed within the last 12 months. You will also need a resume or a copy of your Verification of Military Experience & Training which can be accessed on the Air Force Portal.
To see what positions are available, go to Air Force Personnel Center Secure Applications on the Air Force Portal and go to the Reserve Vacancy Finder page.