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Retirees, reservists to be asked to fill jobs

The Air Force is putting out “Welcome Back” signs for retired rated officers and rated officers on Individual Ready Reserve status.

Faced with 1,600 vacant cockpit and rated staff positions, the service wants former active-duty rated officers in the rank of lieutenant colonel and below to volunteer and come back on active status. Roughly 18,650 rated officers — pilots, navigators and air battle managers — are in the active-duty Air Force.

“We don’t know what the response will be,” said Lt. Col. Dewey DuHadway, who oversees rated force policy at the Air Staff.

The recalled officers will serve up to four years in flying and staff positions and be expected to deploy for up to six months, just like other active-duty officers.

Rated officers serving as traditional Reserve and Guard members are also invited back to active duty with the approval of their commands.

If an applicant doesn’t like the position or base offered, he can turn down the contract and stay a civilian, said Col. Chuck Armentrout, chief of military force policy at the Air Staff’s personnel directorate.

Flying positions carry a three-year tour, plus any time needed for retraining. If the Air Force and officer agree, the contract can later be extended for one year.

Staff positions require a two-year commitment with options to extend for up to two additional years if the officer and Air Force agree. Officers headed to staff positions will not go through pre-assignment training.

The only age restrictions are that the officer must be younger than 60 when his contract starts and must not serve past his 62nd birthday.

The Air Force will not waive fitness requirements, Armentrout added.

Returning officers will be paid based on their rank and years of service, Armentrout said.A major who left with 15 years of service would come back as a major and restart his career at the 16-year mark.

The officers will not receive aviation continuation pay. They will be eligible for flight pay, hazardous-duty pay and routine allowances such as housing and medical care.

Recalled retired officers will not be eligible for promotion. Reserve and Guard members will continue to compete for higher ranks through their respective promotion systems, however, and their service will count toward retirement eligibility.

Retirees will not get their retired pay. However, at the end of their contracts, their retirement pay will be adjusted to reflect the additional years of service.

Officers who took voluntary separation pay would need to pay back at least some of the money — a move that’s required by law, Armentrout said.

Application details are available at the Air Force Personnel Center Web site.