Accession is the entry or re-entry into Active Duty, ARC or Air Force civilian status.
The commissioning of every Air Force officer is predicated on an approved original appointment for the specific grade in which the nominee is accessed. To ensure only qualified applicants are nominated for original appointment, the Air Force implements a set of procedures to effectively and efficiently identify and review nominees.
Nominees are evaluated against statutory, Air Force, component and appointment source specific eligibility criteria during the accession process. To ensure nominees selected for appointment are approved in a timely manner, each component consolidates nominees into formatted nomination packages and processes them through an approval chain that includes Headquarters Air Force, DepSecDef, SecDef, White House and Senate.
Scrolling Nominations are a small yet critical piece of the accession process. All nominees must meet statutory accession requirements
•Nomination risks – Speed versus Errors
•Must have an approved nomination to commission
Available USAFR appointment Types: Judge Advocates, Chaplains, Physicians, Dentist, Nurses, Medical Service, Biomedical Science, Line Pilots, Navigators. All others to include logistics, acquisition and mission support AFSC Inter-service Transfers and OTS Resigning Regular Officers.
Air Force Reserve Direct Officer Appointments
Applicable to: Air Force Reserve
Applicants considering commissioning as an officer directly into the USAF Reserve, and that meet the minimal requirement of an accredited Bachelor’s degree may seek appointment into a professional or medical specialty by contacting a local Air Reserve Component recruiter.
NOTE: Current or formerly commissioned officers, of any uniformed U.S. military service branch, may be eligible for an USAFR appointment to fill an Air Force specialty equivalent to the formerly awarded career specialty.
Available USAFR appointment types
Professional and medical specialties (non-line appointments):
• Judge Advocates
• Chaplains
• Physicians
• Dentists
• Nurses
• Medical Service
• Biomedical Sciences
Line of the Air Force appointments (examples):
• Pilots
• Navigators
• All others to include: operational, logistics, acquisition and mission support Air Force Specialty Codes (AFSCs)
Reappointment/Re-Designation
• Line of the Air Force to Non-line (i.e. mission support to medical services corps)
• Non-line to Line of the Air Force (i.e. JAG to pilot)
Interservice Transfer
Applicable to: Military
The Inter-service Transfer Program allows commissioned officers from Reserves of other of Uniformed Services to transfer to the Reserve of the Air Force.
Non-Extended Active Duty Airmen Commissioning Program
Applicable to: Air Force Reserve
Enlisted Air Force Reserve Airmen who are currently participating with an AFR unit or assigned as an Individual Mobilization Augmentee, who have an accredited Bachelor’s degree, normally having not obtained age 35, and desire an appointment as a line officer can apply through this program. This program was formerly known as the Deserving Airman Commissioning Program.
Note: Reserve health professions recruiters will assist enlisted members with information on AFR health professions commissioning programs and positions.
Unit Assigned Positions
Enlisted AFR members seeking appointment as a commissioned reserve officer must obtain written recommendation from their immediate supervisor, be tentatively selected, and endorsed by the commander in order to secure an AFR officer position (category A or B position only).
•
Category A - Unit Assigned Program
•
Category B – IMA program
The servicing Military Personnel Section will identify the documents required (i.e. Non-EAD Airmen Commissioning checklist) and provide assistance with processing the application package. Once completed, the commissioning application will be forwarded to the immediate unit/NAF commander for endorsement and final processing through HQ Air Force Reserve Command.
IMA Positions
IMA members will work with their program manager to identify the documents required (i.e. Non-EAD Airmen Commissioning checklist) and receive assistance with processing the application package to HQ ARPC/RIO for final approval or disapproval. Once, reviewed HQ ARPC/RIO will forward to ARPC Accessions Branch will forward to review and processing.
Note: Contact the MAJCOM program manager, local Base IMA Administrators or HQ ARPC Reserve Accessions Branch for assistance.
Officer Training School for Reserve Commissioning
Applicable to: Air Force Reserve
Officer Training School is the direct commissioning source for USAF Reserve Line Officers. The mission of OTS is to produce world-class officers of character possessing the American warrior ethos, prepared to lead Airmen and embodying the Air Force core values.
OTS is a 12-week course of military instruction and leadership development for college graduates leading to a commission as a second lieutenant. The goal of this training is to instill high standards of conduct and provide officer candidates with the essential military knowledge and skills needed for effective performance as Air Force leaders. Specific information is available on the
Officer Training School web page.
Additionally, all candidates will complete the Air Force fitness assessment during the first week of training and be regularly assessed in accordance with AFI 10-248,
Fitness Program.
Applications approved by the Numbered Air Force commander must be forwarded to HQ ARPC for final administration (i.e. scheduling of OTS, approval of Reserve officer appointment by the Secretary of Defense and publication of appointment orders upon successful completion of OTS). To ensure officer appointments are approved by the SECDEF before OTS graduation and to maximize use of OTS quotas, all approved packages must be submitted to HQ ARPC a minimum of 60 days before the OTS class start date.
Pilot and navigator unit applications will be processed and approved by HQ AFRC at Robins AFB, Ga. Contact local MPS for assistance.
Related Resources
•
AFI 36-3205, Applying for the Palace Chase and Palace Front Programs
•
ANGI 36-2005, Appointment of Officers in the Reserves of the Air Force
• For AFR commissioning opportunities, call 800-257-1212 to talk with a recruiter or visit
Air Force Reserve Website
• For AFR unit members wishing to refer applicants to a recruiter, visit
http://www.get1now.us/