ARPC now sending U.S. flags to retiring reservists

  • Published
  • By Master Sgt. J.C. Woodring
  • Air Reserve Personnel Center Public Affairs
DENVER --  Honoring retiring reservists with an American flag just got easier through a centralized process at the Air Reserve Personnel Center here.

ARPC officials now purchase and distribute the flags for all reservists who request one for their retirement.

Flags used to cost units nearly $20 each and took between three and six months to get, but through the new process, the cost drops to $12 and will be sent with retirement orders, which is projected to save the Air Force Reserve about $60,000 annually.

The initial shipment of flags arrived here today allowing a backlog of 1,400-plus reservists to have their U.S. flags sent to them.

"It took us a bit longer than we anticipated to get the purchasing started and the initial shipment to arrive," said Tech. Sgt. Scott Beaudry, noncommissioned officer in charge of outbound support at ARPC, but "the flags are on their way."

Each of the more than 8,000 reservists approved for retirement since the virtual Personnel Center - Guard and Reserve retirement program was launched in July 2006 has been provided an opportunity to request a flag.

Before January, ARPC would provide flags only to Airmen in the individual mobilization augmentee, participating individual ready reserve and nonparticipating reserve categories. Those flags would be sent to a Colorado senator in Washington who would send them directly to the Airmen. And, sometimes the flag would not make it to reservists before their retirement ceremonies, Sergeant Beaudry said.

Through the new process, Airmen will receive their flags well before their scheduled ceremony, he said.

"Everyone deserves to have their flag on time," he said.

The flags are sent in a package that includes a letter from the Lt. Gen. John Bradley, commander of Air Force Reserve Command, certificates, retirement lapel pin, an informal letter to provide information regarding retirement and the ever important retirement orders. The retirement order is e-mailed when it's complete, and a hard copy is sent in the complete package.

While the team was waiting for the first shipment of flags to arrive, they continued to send the orders and other documents as they became available and kept the reservists' names on a list to send them a flag as soon as they arrived.

"Now that the backlog is taken care of, we will be able to send the flags out in the retirement package as soon as we get the approval notification," Sergeant Beaudry said.

All Airmen are entitled to receive a flag in honor of their retirement. To request a flag be sent from ARPC, Airmen simply must select "yes" on the "Would you like a U.S. Flag?" question within the vPC-GR retirement application.

Once the retirement is approved, Sergeant Beaudry and his team now automatically process the package.

For more information, call the Air Reserve Contact Center at 800-525-0102.