Some AF Reserve bonuses now $15,000

Airman Thomas Trower

“One weekend a month, two weeks a year.” We’ve all seen or heard the slogan for the Air Force Reserve on the television, radio and Internet.

What many may not know is that the Reserve has increased the maximum enlistment bonuses from $8,000 to $15,000 for selected Air Force Specialty Codes (AFSCs).

These bonuses vary from place to place and depend on how badly the local Reserve unit needs that job filled. The only AFSC guaranteed a bonus from any unit is security forces, said Tech. Sgt. James Ring, Cannon’s in-service Reserve recruiter.

The Reserve offers a maximum of three bonuses for each member. Airman transferring from active duty to reserve status, while holding a military obligation, can receive an affiliate bonus, said Sergeant Ring. Upon finishing their obligation, they may enter the Reserve as a first enlistment and receive an enlistment bonus.

The final bonus is received when the Airman enlists for the second time and receives a re-enlistment bonus, he said.

With all branches of the military filling jobs overseas, many are not meeting their enlistment quotas, said Sergeant Ring. The Air Force Reserve is the only section to surpass their required enlistment numbers.

While many Air National Guard units have recently been sent overseas, the Reserve is a completely different entity. The current percentage of Reserve Airmen taking an initial deployment is 9.2 percent, said Sergeant Ring, while active duty Air Force has a 27.4 percent initial deployment rate.

Airmen in the Reserve can expect to be sent on 90- or 120-day deployments. Many of these Airmen volunteer for deployments, said Sergeant Ring. Very few deployments are involuntary.

Airmen who have an AFSC that the Reserve does not need or have, or that want a new AFSC, are offered retraining opportunities, said Sergeant Ring. The Reserve does not have retraining windows, so Airmen can retrain whenever they would like.

For more information on the Air Force Reserve, Airmen should call Sergeant Ring at 784-6057.