For example, unit reservists, who satisfactorily participate in the Reserve accrue a minimum of 24 days of commissary shopping per year. They earn another 15 days of shopping for two weeks of annual tour, plus more days for any additional active duty performed. Smith and other Reserve senior leaders recently met with wing commanders. To close the information gap, the commanders were asked to send periodic letters directly to families regarding changes to benefits, unit family activities and other useful information. Every wing also now has video-phone capability, so members of deploying units can maintain audio and video contact with the family at home station.
Costs vary depending on the reservist s status and enrollment options.
A detailed news story, Dental program expands to cover families of reservists, Release No. 00119, is available on the AFRC Homepage by going to News and Information and clicking on AFRC News. In addition, the secretary of defense has directed a committee to explore the possibility of compensating reservists for expenses incurred traveling to and from unit training assemblies. Questionnaire respondents offered other suggestions that would require changes to current law. These included immediate retirement pay after 20 years of service, space available travel for accompanied spouses, free accommodations with spouses on UTA weekends and use of military medical facilities anytime a spouse performs duty regardless of the tour length. Increases in reserve benefits are sometimes slow in coming, but the past few years have seen changes that seemed impossible 10 years ago, Smith said.