LANGLEY AIR FORCE BASE, Va. –
Each year, more than 30,000 people will answer the nation's call, enlisting or accepting a commission in the U.S. Air Force. Some of these new Airmen may serve one term, taking on new challenges after their time in uniform, while others may spend more than 30 years working their way up the chain of command and leading the force.
Some Airmen may no longer choose to serve on active duty, but may not be prepared to leave the service behind. The Air National Guard offers these Airmen the opportunity to continue serving part-time while pursuing new opportunities in civilian life. ANG Airmen serve with a wing in the state of their choice, attending drill one weekend each month and participating in two weeks of training each year.
"Some Airmen have even explained how they want to be closer to home," said U.S. Air Force Master Sgt. Sylvia Kirchner, Langley Air Force Base ANG in-service recruiter. "There are [ANG] units in all 50 states, Washington, D.C., Guam, Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands. The options are there to serve across the entire country."
Airmen may pursue a career in the ANG through one of two programs: Palace Front or Palace Chase.
Palace Front
According to Kirchner, the Palace Front program allows Airmen approaching the end of their active-duty service commitment to make a smooth transition into the ANG with no break in service. The member is guaranteed a secured part-time position with an ANG unit of their choice before separating from active duty.
Kirchner will help applicants locate the closest ANG units and desired Air Force Specialty Code (AFSC). Members may choose to cross-train to other AFSCs based on Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery (ASVAB) scores and medical eligibility. Palace Front applicants may be eligible for a $20,000 enlisted incentive bonus if they enlist in particular AFSCs.
Airmen interested in the Palace Front program must meet the following requirements:
· Must have current Air Force fitness assessment score of 75 percent or better
· Must not be on a medical profile
· Must have current physical health assessment and dental assessment
· Must receive an honorable discharge with a qualifying reenlistment code
· Must have a valid security clearance
Palace Chase
A career in the ANG is not limited to those Airmen on the verge of separation, Kirchner explained. The Palace Chase program gives active-duty Airmen the opportunity to leave the Air Force early in exchange for their part-time service commitment in the ANG. The Air Force Personnel Center/Palace Chase office is the approving official for Palace Chase applications. The decision to approve or deny applications is based on overall manning, skill level and ranking Air Force-wide within the Airman's AFSC. However, there is no harm in applying; if a Palace Chase application gets disapproved, the member will continue their active-duty commitment.
If accepted for Palace Chase, Airmen double the remaining time on their active-duty commitment to determine their ANG service requirement. For example, if an Airman accepted for Palace Chase has three years remaining on their active-duty contract, that individual will incur a six-year, part-time service commitment to the ANG.
Approval is based on various factors. Basic requirements include:
· First-term Airmen (FTA) must complete at least half of their enlistment
· Officers must complete at least two-thirds of their active-duty service commitment (ADSC)
· Must not have permanent change of station (PCS) orders
· Must not be scheduled to deploy or attend professional military education (PME)
· Must not be on an unfavorable information file (UIF) or control roster
· Must not be on a medical profile (pregnancy excepted)
· Must have current physical health assessment and dental assessment
· Must have a minimum rating of "3" on most recent three enlisted performance reports (EPR)
· Must not be within six months of date of separation (DOS)
· Must have a valid security clearance
Why go ANG?
Kirchner said transitioning to the ANG allows Airmen to retain benefits they got accustomed to while on active-duty, including access to Exchanges, commissaries, base fitness centers, and morale, welfare and readiness (MWR) facilities. Additionally, Airmen can continue to use space-available travel, Servicemember's Group Life Insurance, Thrift Savings Plan, Montgomery G.I. Bill and Post-9/11 G.I. Bill benefits, and can retire after 20 total years of military service, which includes earned active-duty service.
By taking advantage of their military benefits, ANG Airmen can start the next chapter of their lives, begin or continue their college education, start a new full-time career or dedicate time to their families, all while serving their state's ANG unit one weekend a month, with two weeks of annual training each year.
Senior Airman Christopher Mastroianni, a Connecticut ANG 103rd Medical Group bioenvironmental engineer, formerly served on active duty with the 377th Aerospace Medicine Squadron at Kirtland AFB, N.M. Wanting to move back to New England and complete the two years remaining for his bachelor's degree in order to apply for commissioning, Mastroianni sought Kirchner's assistance, using the Palace Chase program to realize his educational and professional goals.
"I really enjoyed my active-duty time and wanted to stay in, but as I started learning more, I realized I could take on roles with a bigger impact," Mastroianni said.
He successfully transitioned to the Connecticut ANG and used his G.I. Bill benefits to continue his education.
"It may have been easier to stay active-duty and ride the waves as they were presented to me, but I'm glad I transitioned, because it was the necessary step to move forward in the direction I wanted," Mastroianni said.
Even Airmen that have not received a career job reservation (CJR) from the Air Force and are ineligible to re-enlist in their AFSC may be eligible for the Palace Front program, Kirchner explained.
For more information about opportunities in the ANG, contact Master Sgt. Sylvia Kirchner at 764-9995 or email sylvia.kirchner.1@us.af.mil.