It gives the total force the option of capturing experienced fighter pilots who leave active duty but who still want to be a part of the Air Force Reserve. It also allows more active-duty fighter pilots to fill positions at operational assignments around the world. In an effort to stimulate recruiting and retention, Air Force Reserve Command plans to offer two new education incentive programs to unit reservists and individual mobilization augmentees. The incentives are the Montgomery GI Bill-Selected Reserve Kicker program and a full tuition assistance program. Officials from the Office of Air Force Reserve in the Pentagon, Headquarters AFRC at Robins Air Force Base, Ga., and Headquarters Air Reserve Personnel Center in Denver are working on the programs and plan to start them later this fiscal year.
Implementation depends on the availability of funding.
The kicker program is a congressional initiative designed to bolster recruiting and retention. Other reserve components have similar programs. The Air Force Reserve Tuition Assistance Incentive Program expands the existing Defense Activity for Non-Traditional Education tuition assistance program. The new program offers tuition assistance across the board to all eligible reservists seeking education up to a bachelor s degree. Command training officials say they will announce eligibility requirements and program features at a later date.