Reserve offers released lieutenants chance to serve

  • Published
  • By Master Sgt. Gary Johnson
  • Air Force Reserve Command Recruiting Service Public Affairs
Air Force lieutenants involuntarily separated as a result of force reductions have until Aug. 1 to join the Air Force Reserve to continue their military careers without a break in service. 

On May 10, the Air Force released the names of 884 lieutenants who are to be involuntarily separated because of force reductions. The Air Force removed 192 names from the list May 25 after a records review. Those officers will have their records reconsidered during a special review board June 26. 

Officers not selected for retention can submit Palace Chase applications to join the Air Force Reserve and apply for positions identified in the Reserve Management Vacancy System. Many Reserve vacancies are in the pilot, navigator, special operations, command and control, combat control, space and missile, intelligence and health profession career fields, according to Reserve recruiting officials. Officers can apply for retraining into some of those career fields if they qualify. 

“We will do our best to place these officers using the resources available to us,” said Col. Francis Mungavin, commander of Air Force Reserve Command Recruiting Service. 

Over the next few months, Air Force Reserve in-service recruiters will contact the affected lieutenants to provide opportunities to continue serving as traditional reservists. 

According to Senior Master Sgt. Vincent Meyer, senior recruiter in Denver, all officers with fewer than eight years of total military service are required to sign an Inactive Ready Reserve agreement. The agreement automatically gives them a Reserve commission. 

Also, all released officers who qualify for separation pay are required to sign and accept a Reserve commission. 

“It is imperative that our in-service recruiters continue to brief all of these officers and reiterate their options so they can make a well-informed decision,” Sergeant Meyer said.
 
“We have begun contacting those officers who were on the non-retention list released on May 10. The Air Force Reserve is one option that will allow them to continue to serve as part of the Total Force,” said Senior Master Sgt. Leslie Russell, senior recruiter in Europe.