After a life-changing event you have one year, from the date of the event, to update your Survivor Benefit Plan election by submitting a DD Form 2656-5 via myPers.

If your completed election form (DD Form 2656-5) is not postmarked within 90 calendar days of receipt by HQ ARPC, your automatic survivor benefit election will remain unchanged? If you are married, the immediate annuity option will be elected for you. If you are unmarried, the defer payments until age 60 will be elected for you.

If you have a former spouse when eligible to elect Survivor Benefit Plan coverage, you may designate your former spouse or former spouse and child(ren) as a beneficiary.

If you participate in the Reserve Component Survivor Benefit Program with either spouse or spouse and child(ren) coverage and later divorce, you may elect to change your option to former spouse coverage within one year of divorce.

The total amount withheld monthly from your annuity payment will be based on the pay tables in effect at that current date. As reserve pay increases, your cost will increase and your beneficiaries’ annuity will increase proportionately.

If you lose your spouse and have no eligible beneficiary, survivor benefit plan annuity withdrawals will be stopped effective the first day of the month after the death of the spouse after contacting the Total Force Service Center. Any money deducted in error will be refunded after receipt of the death certificate.

You can discontinue Survivor Benefit Plan coverage in accordance with Public Law 105-85 which now provides a one-time option for you to discontinue participation. You will have a one-year period to discontinue participation in the SBP beginning on the second anniversary of receipt of retired pay (typically age 62) and ending on the third anniversary (typically age 63). Once participation discontinues under this provision, the following applies:
                - There will be no refund of premiums.
                - No benefits will be paid in conjunction with your previous participation
                - You may not resume participation for any category of beneficiary

When service members separate from field locations an input to the payroll records system by the servicing Force Support office is needed to stop Service Members Group Life Insurance premium activity.

The Air Force Reserve pay system automatically deducts life insurance premium payments from each insured member’s pay, or creates a debt if the reservist is in a non-pay status. When an individual is insured and no duty activity is input for the month (i.e. non-pay status), a debt (account receivable) is created for the reservist and an insurance premium payment is made to VA from appropriated funds. This debt is repaid by the reservist from the next pay period generated by the system.

Service members with 20 years of active military service are eligible to convert active duty retirements to an AF Reserve retirement. This action requires two years of satisfactory service minus any active duty service performed.  

Service members are eligible to begin drawing pay at age 60, but did you know that service members can serve past age 60?  To earn points and service credit after age 60, service members must apply for a points/service past age 60 waiver, which is the Title 10 USC 12308 waiver.  Waiver submission must start no later than 6 months and no later than 1 year out from the service member’s 60^th birthday. 

Our Reserve Separations section can only provide separation documentation (Discharge order, DD256) for members that separated from the Inactive Ready Reserve. All unit-assigned members should reach out to their unit for any separation documents they may not have received at time of out-processing.

Reserve members do not receive a DD214 or NGB22 for cumulative service time.

An Adjutant General approval letter or delegation of authority letter is required for all separations that require TAG approval.

We no longer process documents for scanning and indexing into a member's individual personnel record within ARMS. In order to ensure data is updated correctly and there are no breaches in the process, please ensure all authorized items sent from your unit for ARMS updates are forwarded to:
AFPC/DP1ORM5
50 C Street West Suite 21
JBSA Randolph, Texas 78150-4723

On AF911 (MSgt-SMSgt) EPRs Section IX, Final Evaluator is mandatory. Please have applicable Squadron, Group or Wing CC complete, sign and date this section. Ref AFI 36-2406 Table 4.10.

Units should verify the report’s appropriate dates by verifying both MilPDS and PRDA. Please reference the Evaluation checklist on the myPers website for help with completing the evaluation.

The start date for SrA Initial EPRs will be the member’s Date of Initial Entry into Uniformed Service and the end date will be the first 31 March Static Closeout Date after the member promotes to SrA. Ref AFI 36-2406 paragraph 4.6 and 4.7

We are unable to process evaluations through the myPers ticket system.  All reports must be submitted through the vPC application.

If there is an evaluation in your record that is incorrect or has errors on it, you can submit an Evaluations Report Appeals Board (ERAB) case to correct these discrepancies. Ref AFI 36-2406 Chapter 10 and Attachment 2.

If you are submitting a referral report, all of the documents (EPR, referral memo and rebuttal comments if applicable) must be attached as one continuous document.  The referral documents should not be attached in the additional attachments section of vPC.

AF Reserve members receiving tuition assistance that do not receive a satisfactory grade or withdraw from a course must initiate the reimbursement of tuition costs no later than 30 days after notification.

All waiver requests for Tuition Assistance debt must be accompanied by a letter signed by the Squadron Commander/Director/First Sergeant and submitted via the Air Force Virtual Education Center.

You can pay for a reimbursement action via check/money order (coordinated with HQ ARPC Education Services Office) or from your payroll (initiated within Air Force Virtual Education Center).

As of Jan 12, 2020, members with more than 16 years of service will not be eligible to transfer their Post 9-11 GI Bill benefits.

A member who separates or is released from the Armed Forces prior to completion of an agreed upon additional service commitment will have their transfer of benefits revoked by the Dept. of Veterans Affairs. Benefits already used by a dependent will be recouped by the VA. Any dependent who is not allocated at least one month of benefits will be ineligible for transferred benefits after member retires, separates, or is deceased.

Developmental Education school board panel members review and consider the DT vectors of each applicants’ Officer Development Plan (ODP) and Enlisted Development Plan (EDP) when scoring packages for the RSSB, RDEDB and EDEB.

You can track the coordination of your RDEDB, RSSB, or EDEB application by clicking on the “Action Request Tab / Submitted By Me” from the drop down menu in vPC.

The Invitation to Apply (ITA) changes for each of the school boards (RSSB, RDEDB, EDEB) making it essential for potential applicants to fully read and understand.

There is a Developmental Education “Frequently Asked Questions” document posted on myPers under the Force Development Link.

As a member of the Key Personnel Listing that you are eligible for priority consideration for designated Key, Command, and Joint (KCJ) positions? Check out the KCJ website for more information and vacancy listings.

Officers attending in-residence schools are purposefully outplaced into positions of greater responsibility.

We screen more than 25,000 members of the Individual Ready Reserve each year.

When you entered the military you agreed to an 8 year Military Service Obligation.

We coordinate 20-25 IRR Musters each year across the CONUS to screen Individual Ready Reserve members.

Members of the Individual Ready Reserve are required to obtain/maintain a green Reserve military ID card.

Officers transferred to the Inactive Status List Reserve Section (ISLRS) with more than 20 years of satisfactory service will be discharged unless they apply for movement to the Retired Reserve.

Enlisted members released from Regular Air Force, prior to completion of their eight-year military service obligation, are sent to the Individual Ready Reserve.

Officers sent to the Individual Ready Reserve prior to completion of their military service obligation (MSO) are automatically transferred to the Non-Obligated Non-Participating Reserve Personnel Section (NNRPS) upon completion of their MSO unless they resign their commission.

If an AF Reservist or Guardsman in medical school selects the Health Professional Scholarship Program (HPSP) they will receive a monthly stipend, books and tuition are covered and when they complete their service commitment they are debt free.

AGR vacancies are posted on the first of every month on the AGR assignments page on MyPers. Complete application are due on the 15th.

Career AGR may now serve to their HYT (based on retainability after reenlistment), MSD or age 60 without requiring a continuation decision at their 20-year TAFMS date.

Look for a AGR Continuation Decision (ACD) worksheet in your vPC work list between 12-15 months from the end of your orders

Voluntary curtailment packages need to complete and turned in no less than 30 days from requested curtailment date.

Eligible officers can write a letter to the board bringing attention to any matter they believe is important for consideration (so long as the information isn’t prohibited).

Letters to the board are due 10 days before the board convenes.  No waivers or exceptions are permitted.

The Promotion Recommendation Form Accounting Date and Senior Rater Accounting Date is 150 days prior to the convening of each board.  However, if a member is reassigned to another senior rater, if agreed upon by the losing and gaining unit, the gaining senior rater may write the PRF.

The best source of information pertaining to Reserve Officer Promotions is posted on myPers. Go to Air Reserve, Officer, and Promotions for links to instructions and useful guidance.

HQ ARPC/Promotion Board Secretariat hosts Facebook Live sessions throughout the year to discuss upcoming promotion selection boards.

Eligible Position Vacancy candidates must be nominated by their senior rater by submitting a promotion recommendation form no later than 45 days prior to the convening of the board, in order to meet the position vacancy board.

Grade-ceiling approval must be obtained before an AGR major select or above can pin on.

Enlisted IMAs can receive three sets of new uniforms every three years.

You can find vacant positions in the Reserve Management Vacancy System via AFPC secure and contact the POC that is listed for position specific information before applying for the vacant IMA position.

Any VOCO order needs to be signed by your RIO Det commander for an individual reservist to be authorized to travel. IRs should NEVER travel without orders or a VOCO.

When submitting an MPA request, individual reservists need to submit a request in AROWS-R, have an M4S allocation, be green in readiness and have a fund cite authorization letter.

Newcomer’s orientation is offered by every detachment to help orient new individual reservists and IMAs to the new reserve organization.

Officers who are retirement eligible, are 59 ½ years old and intend to serve after age 60 but prior to their mandatory separation date require a Service Points and Credit Waiver.

When you’re ready to file your travel voucher, check page 2 of your orders to see which system to use.
                DTS – File online using the Defense Travel System
                RTS – Fill out a paper voucher (DD Form 1352-1) and submit it and substantiating records via the  
                IMA Management tab on myPers

Don’t forget to use the checklists to make sure you included all the needed documents.  This assures your voucher doesn’t get kicked back and you’re paid in a timely manner!

Rental car reimbursement for IMAs on annual tour is for lowest cost compact car only and no additional options, such as prepaid fuel, additional insurances or roadside assistance.

All readiness items must be green in order for and IMA to perform an MPA tour.

The SAPR/SP Training is a calendar year requirement for ALL AFRC members in a participating status.  IRs should make every effort possible to complete this training in a face to face training at a local Air Force installation.  Working with your supervisor to determine when the training is available in the calendar year 2020 and ensuring your duty schedule lines up is a great way to ensure this gets accomplished.

Updating your personal banking information in MyPay “does not update” TRAVEL.  Each member should always update their banking information by creating a MyPers ticket giving MilPay a complete Fast Start Direct Deposit Form FMS 2231.

It is advisable to attach your GTC Statement for conversion accuracy when performing an OCONUS tour. This will assure accuracy when using the Online Forex Trading & Forex Broker (OANDA).

Enlistment or reenlistment bonus applications can be approved retroactively. Contact your Wing Career Assistance Advisor or Servicing Detachment to find out if you qualify for an incentive.

The minimum service commitment to receive a bonus incentive is 3 years. Members signing a two year extension are not eligible to receive a bonus incentive.

If you are currently receiving a bonus, it must be terminated prior to being gained into an AGR or ART position.