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IMAs, units to share Air Force Reserve personnel reductions

  • Published
WASHINGTON --  Faced with eliminating 7,700 personnel authorizations, Air Force Reserve Command officials have decided to divide those cuts between individual mobilization augmentees and unit reservists.

"To do our part in the Air Force's recapitalization and modernization efforts, as well as participate in high-priority missions identified by the Air Force chief of staff, the Air Force Reserve looked across both its unit and IMA programs to pay its Program Budget Directive 720 bill," said Lt. Gen. John A. Bradley, chief of Air Force Reserve and AFRC commander. "In the end, we split the bill in half, with 50 percent coming from the IMA program."

In the next three years, the Air Force will cut about 40,000 positions in the active force. The reductions will help fund aircraft modernization as the Air Force relies more on future technology.

Air Force Reserve's contribution to PBD 720 includes not funding Category A unit reservists and Category B IMAs. Both categories of reservists receive pay for their service and training.

Reductions in Category A will occur as a result of Base Realignment and Closure drawdowns and force realignments.

Some of these cuts will be offset by BRAC plus-ups and new or expanded Total Force Initiative missions. Recruiters will be challenged to attract the right mix of reservists to serve, General Bradley said.

Many of the Category B IMAs will be able to continue to serve as a Category E in the Participating Individual Ready Reserve (PIRR). While reservists in both categories train and earn points toward retirement, there are some differences between the programs.

Under Category B, Air Force Reserve Command pays reservists to perform annual tours of duty and inactive duty for training. Category E reservists performs inactive duty for training for points only; however, they may perform MPA tours for pay and points.

It is important to understand that just because your position is identified for unfunding it doesn't mean your reassignment date, if you request a Category E (PIRR) assignment will be 1 October 2007 when the position is unfunded. There are many factors to consider. For example, if you are in Reserve Sanctuary (18 to 20 years satisfactory reserve service) you will remain in the IMA program until your 20th anniversary date. For those airmen in upgrade training, you will remain in the IMA program until you meet your -on-the-job training requirements and are fully qualified in your Air Force specialty.

"The move to Category E is an option for those facing a position loss. We will work with each reservist to ensure they are aware of all their options," said Col. Roxane Towner, commander of the Readiness Management Group, which administratively manages IMAs from Robins Air Force Base, Ga. "There are still job opportunities in the Air Force Reserve - that currently exist or are being created - for those interested in serving in the Selected Reserve." (AFRC News Service)