Air Force initiates voluntary loadmaster recall

By Debbie Gildea

Air Force Personnel Center Public Affairs

JOINT BASE SAN ANTONIO-RANDOLPH, Texas - Air Force Reserve and Air National Guard loadmasters may be eligible to apply for a limited period recall to extended active duty, Air Force Personnel Center officials announced.

 The loadmaster career field is chronically undermanned, said Senior Master Sgt. Marvin Daugherty, AFPC accessions branch superintendent. Initiatives are underway to increase loadmaster manning levels from 82 to 95 percent by fiscal year 2014, he explained.

"While those initiatives are designed to address long-term loadmaster manning, this recall will help us address immediate combatant commander needs," he said. "We expect to bring a total of 110 ARC loadmasters on extended active duty during FY12 and FY13. They'll serve in active duty flying billets until manning initiatives mature."

 Eligible applicants must be master sergeants or below, be current and qualified on their major weapon system, have less than 16 years of Total Active Federal Military Service by the end of their extended active duty period, and have a current qualifying flying Class III physical, said Daugherty.

 Tours will be one or two years, during which time members will be eligible for deployment. While on extended active duty, members will remain affiliated with their AFR or ANG unit and will return to that unit when their active duty assignment ends.

 AFR members must have Air Force Reserve Command Operations director approval before coming on active duty, Daugherty said. In addition, ANG members may not be ordered to active duty without their governor's consent and a written endorsement from their adjutant general or commanding general.

 AFR and ANG loadmasters may apply for the program through Oct. 31, 2013. All application packages must include the appropriate approval memorandum and/or applicable endorsements based on the individual component; a flying hour summary; AF Form 942, Flight Evaluation History; AF Forms 8, Certificate of Aircrew Qualification (last two qualifications and last two mission evaluations); flight record summary, and the flying Class III physical. The specific application requirements are provided on the Air Force Personnel Services website.

 Interested AFR and ANG loadmasters should contact their local military personnel section for guidance on preparing and submitting the application package. For more information about the program and other personnel issues, visit the myPers website at https://mypers.af.mil.