Committee presents strategic issues to Air Force leaders

by Senior Master Sgt. Edna Gardner
Air Reserve Forces Policy Committee Delegate

11/30/2012 - WASHINGTON (AFNS) -- Sexual Assault Prevention and Response programs, permanent-change-of-station lodging inconsistencies and TRICARE inequities within the reserve component were some of the issues addressed by the Air Reserve Forces Policy Committee during its meeting in the National Capital Region Nov. 5-7.

Current issues being studied include the Air Reserve Component's DD 214 backlog, Reserve Component Survivor Benefits Program, TRICARE Reserve Select for participating Individual Ready Reserve members and more emphasis on Community College of the Air Force degrees.

The ARFPC, in partnership with others, strives to streamline current policies and influence the development of new ones. Resourcing of the Air Reserve Component Medical Continuation Case Management Division and the newly revised pregnancy policy represent two current examples of how the committee can influence and shape policy initiatives. Air Force pregnancy policy was modified to permit expectant reservists to serve on active-duty orders beyond their 34th week, if medically permissible. This change reflects an ARFPC recommendation made to senior Air Force leaders.

Members of the ARFPC continue to examine a wide-range of topics affecting the Air Reserve Component and how these issues impact reservists and the mobilization preparedness of the Air Force.

"ARC major command advisors serve as a critical link between their respective (MAJCOMs) and the ARFPC," said Maj. Gen. Brian Meenan, mobilization assistant to the Commander of Air Mobility Command at Scott Air Force Base, Ill., and chairman of the committee. "The past achievements of the committee have often originated with ideas from ARC advisors, NCOs, officers and civilians in the field."

Specifically authorized by Congress, the committee is charged with providing unfiltered, objective and independent advice to the secretary of the Air Force and the chief of staff of the Air Force. One of the primary goals of the committee is to provide Air Force senior leadership with more direct access to the perspectives and ideas of all Airmen.

After each meeting, the secretary of the Air Force is routinely briefed on the committee's findings or recommendations and the chairman provides a copy of these briefings to the chief of staff.

The secretary of the Air Force designates five general officers from the regular Air Force, Air National Guard and Air Force Reserve to serve as core members of the committee. Additionally, the committee has six permanent advisory members to include the deputy assistant secretary for reserve affairs, the commander of Civil Air Patrol - U.S. Air Force, the CAP national commander, the chief master sergeant of the air force, and the command chiefs of both the Air Force Reserve Command and the ANG.

Previous AFRPC sessions have addressed the topics of Total Force Integration/Total Force Enterprise, medical continuation policy, Personnel Reliability Program, per diem waivers, military personnel appropriation program management and ARC pregnancy policy.

Airman who have an issue the ARFPC should consider may keeping in mind the goal is to identify strategic level policy changes may contact the ARFPC executive director and the support staff at: saf.mrrp@pentagon.af.mil.