MALMSTROM AIR FORCE BASE, Mont. -- With recent changes to career job reservations and the fiscal 2012 force management program, it is imperative that Airmen take advantage of Malmstrom's in-service recruiter and career assistance advisor when considering early separation, cross training, special duties and reenlistment.

Career Job Reservation
For first term Airmen, in identified career fields, who want to reenlist, making sure they receive a career job reservation is critical.

Senior Master Sgt. William Smith, 341st Force Support Squadron career assistance advisor, educates Airmen on cross training, special duties and CJRs.

"For the past seven years everyone was automatically getting a CJR and was allowed to reenlist," Smith said. "Now, there is a constraint list of AFSCs that restrict the number of CJRs in specific careers. Now, Airmen have to compete for a CJR."

If the Airman is in a constrained AFSC, they will automatically be placed on the CJR waiting list the first month of their CJR eligibility window. The Airman will remain on the waiting list until he or she receives a CJR or is removed from the waiting list at the end of their CJR window, whichever comes first. The Virtual Military Personnel Flight provides a link, which displays CJR status, waiting list number for specific constrained skills and CJR expiration date for those Airmen. Additionally, supervisors and Airmen will receive a memorandum, which will display their status.

Those included in the constrained AFSC list who wish to remain in their current AFSC in the are reminded that EPRs, time in grade, time in service and forecasted rank determine whether or not they receive a CJR.

"This means if you're a four-year enlistee competing against a six-year staff sergeant enlistee, then the CJR automatically goes to the six-year enlistee because the Air Force has invested more time in that individual," Smith said.

Early separation
Master Sgt. Derek Hudson, 341st FSS in-service recruiter, provides career counseling, regarding early separation and helps with special duty applicants.

Palace Chase is an option for Airmen in their first enlistment who would like to separate before their scheduled date of separation. Airmen may apply six months before halfway into their enlistment. Palace Front is switching from active-duty to a reserve component, upon completing enlistment.

"All Airmen have the right to apply for Palace Chase; however, whether or not the Airman is approved for early separation depends entirely on Air Force manning [in their career field]," Hudson said.

Another option for Airmen seeking early separation is cross-training. When switching from an active duty to reserve component, many guard and reserve bases do not have the same mission that some active duty ones have.

"If an Airman wants to goes into a reserve component they may choose to stay in their current Air Force Specialty Code or retrain depending on the needs of the base and the needs of their future location," Hudson said.

According to Hudson, many Airmen make quick decisions regarding separation, without fully examining the change in benefits.

"When someone comes to me, I try to relay the right information to them," he said. "I make sure they have a plan. If they're going to apply for Palace Chase or Palace Front, Airmen need to know either reserve component is not there to supplement them 100 percent. Sometimes Airmen are in such a hurry to get out that they don't realize all the great benefits active duty has. For example, a married Airman with a child may not want to Palace Chase because it may only provide two-days-worth of income. Ultimately, I want to make sure the member is on a career path - active or reserve - so that they're financially sound."

Another aspect of early separation is the fiscal 2012 force management program.

"Under the traditional program, when an Airman applies for Palace Chase, their remaining time in service is doubled upon entering a reserve component. Under the fiscal 2012 force management program, Airmen with certain AFSCs will simply, serve the remaining years in their active duty enlistment," Hudson said.

Special Duty Assignments
Smith and Hudson also encourage Airmen who fall under the constrained AFSC list to apply for a special duty assignment. In order to be eligible for a special duty, a member must meet the time on station in order to PCS.

"A special duty is an opportunity to maintain your AFSC," Smith said. "If an individual is picked up for special duty, they will do another job for two to three years, then return to their original AFSC. A special duty is also good for promotion, because the Air Force likes to see how a member performs outside their primary AFSC. There is a plethora of special duty assignments; anything from a dorm manager to a military training leader."

Cross Training
Airmen in their first enlistment are also given the option of retraining.

"Applying to cross-train is a guaranteed option for first term Airmen, no matter what their AFSC," Smith said. "However, you must go into an AFSC that has openings. (For example), not everyone can retrain into contracting. There is also an opportunity for first term airmen to apply early into a chronic-critical AFSC. Members need to keep in mind that if they don't get picked up to cross-train early, then they cannot apply again as a first term airman. For both CJR's and cross training, the selections are made using quality force indicators first then current rank, time in grade and finally time in service. Cross training is very competitive and will only get tougher with the Air Force restricting CJR's. I do not recommend anyone apply early without speaking with me first."

From cross training to special duty assignments or applying for Palace Chase, in an Air Force that is constantly changing the way members reenlist and separate, it is necessary for Airmen to talk to the career assistance advisor and in-service recruiter to help them make the best decisions regarding their future.

Appointments can be made by calling Smith at 731-4766 or Hudson at 731-3776. They are located in the Professional Development Center, Building 581, with office hours from 7 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.