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Show Hilltop 4 TIMES HILLTOP TIMES July 3, 2014 Pilots, combat systems officers may be eligible for retention incentives Air Force News Service WASHINGTON — Eligible active-duty pilots and combat systems officers have until Sept. 30 to apply for the fiscal year 2014 Aviator Retention Pay Program, Air Force officials said June 25. "As we resize our force with the right balance of skills to meet Air Force mission requirements and continue to focus on retaining high-performing Airmen, ARP is a necessary hedge against external factors that could adversely impact the Air Force's rated inventory," said Brig. Gen. Brian Kelly, the director of force management policy. This year, ARP provides specific eligible pilots and combat systems officers with monetary incentives in exchange for active-duty service commitments of five years, he said. Similar to the fiscal 2013 ARP program, fighter pilots are eligible for longer contracts of up to nine years. Additionally, the program permits Airmen who will complete their undergraduate flying training active-duty service commitment anytime in fiscal 2015 to lock in a contract for next year. Aviators in this category were not included in past ARP programs, Kelley said. "The Air Force's early signup option will contract aviators to a future service period before their current undergraduate flying training ADSC expires," Kelly said. "Kind of a bird-in-the-hand approach to ARP — since budget pressures and force dynamics have created such a fluid environment. Payments will not begin until after completion of the undergraduate flying training ADSC, but they will be guaranteed." This year's ARP program applies to lieutenant colonels and below who will not reach 16 years of total active federal military service by the end of the fiscal year that their undergraduate flying training ADSC expires. Applicants must not be eligible for any voluntary or involuntary force management programs as of the implementation of the fiscal 2014 ARP program. Also, these officers must be qualified for operational flying duty and entitled to and receiving monthly flight pay. Depending on the aviator category and length of the ARP contract, incentives will vary from $15,000 to $25,000 per year with some categories eli- gible to receive 50 percent of the ARP total payable up front. "Aviator retention pay remains a viable and cost-effective method to help retain our experienced Air Force aviators and plays a huge role in sustaining a predictable inventory of well-trained rated officers to execute the Air Force's warfighting mission," Kelly said. For complete eligibility requirements and application instructions, visit the myPers website, select the compensation link in the left hand column and select the Aviator Continuation Pay Program link. WINNER BEST OF STATE Come is us, in Clinton weenteryille t or SIX! t Centerville 84 W Parrish Lane (Next to Dick's) 801-298-0473 Clinton 1917 W 1800 N (Next to Wal-Mart) 801-825-6544 SLC 633 E 400 S (Next to Zupas 801-419-0531 SPECIAL Buy one OFFER', Get one FREE! Lesser value burger is FREE. Expires 08130114. Must show this coupon. Not good with other coupons or military discount. STAFF SGT. KELLY GOONAN/U.S. Air Force Staff Sgt. Mike Hamm, left, explains to Chief Master Sgt. of the Air Force James A. Cody the role of controls within an E-8 JSTARS aircraft June 25 on Robins Air Force Base, Ga. Cody met with more than 2,000 Airmen while visiting Robins AFB June 24-25. Hamm is with the 116th Air Control Wing. a facebook.com/standardexaminer Chief Master Sgt. of the Air Force stresses total-force unity BY STAFF SGT. KELLY GOONAN 439th Airlift Wing Public Affairs ROBINS AIR FORCE BASE, Ga. — There is no distinction among Airmen within the Air Force components when it comes to how they perform their jobs, how they live up to standards and how they embrace the service's core values, said Chief Master Sgt. of the Air Force James A. Cody during a visit here June 24-25. "Robins (AFB) is a great example of our Air Force," he said during an enlisted call. "I'm looking out at all of you, and you represent the United States Air Force. We have four distinct components — active duty, Air National Guard, Air Force Reserve and civilian Airmen. Together they make up our United States Air Force." For the past 20 years, the reserve components have been called upon and have served in the same capacity as their active-duty counterparts. According to Cody, they offer unique strengths — strength in community and resiliency in units — because they are able to stay connected for longer periods of time. "What our reserves bring to the table is their civilian experience," Cody said. "A different level of depth than active-duty Airmen, who predominately focus on the way they must do their Air Force job." Because there is only one Air Force, Cody explained that all Airmen must understand and appreciate the fundamental differences between the components. The unity among the active duty, Guard, Reserve and civilians is crucial to the Air Force mission. "Airmen serve worldwide," Cody said. "When they are where the nation needs them to be, we don't have this discussion. We just see Airmen doing what our nation calls them to do, but somehow when we get back home we revert back to this 'I'm in the Guard, I'm in the Reserve, I'm in the active duty.' No, you are in the United States Air Force." In addition to speaking to the importance of unified components, Cody talked about the challenges facing today's Air Force. "We're going to be a smaller Air Force," he said. "Where we maintain capability and capacity is important for what our nation is going to ask us to do." Cody said fiscal challenges are forcing tough and sometimes unpopular decisions. He assured the Airmen that they and their families are always a major consideration. "The future will always change and if we don't shape it ourselves we will be shaped by it," he said. "The fact is that what you do has purpose to our nation and is impacting people around the world. Don't lose sight of that. You and your families are without question our most valuable asset. Our nation treasures each and every one of you." 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