Highlights from the Military Personnel Section Published Jan. 7, 2009 By 2nd Lt. Danielle Hummert Chief, Customer Support MALMSTROM AIR FORCE BASE, Mont. -- The following is provided as an information tool for active-duty personnel assigned to Malmstrom. Paternity Leave A Fiscal Year 2009 National Defense Authorization Act was signed by the President on Oct. 14, 2008. It included a provision for 10 days of leave for married members of the armed forces on active duty whose wife gives birth to a child (child must have been born on or after Oct. 14, 2008). The Air Force released its guidance on Dec. 12, 2008 (ref PSDM 08-63), which includes the following provisions: a) Leave is non-chargeable b) Must be taken on consecutive days within 60 days of the birth c) May be used with ordinary leave d) Ordinary leave taken after Oct. 14, 2008, will not be restored; however, Airmen may still request paternity leave e) Commander may disapprove for mission reasons Member are responsible for submitting a hardcopy AF IMT 988 and any documentation the commander may require for consideration (i.e. copy of birth certificate). If the commander approves the leave request for Permissive Paternity Leave, the member must submit the hardcopy AF IMT 988 to the Military Personnel Section Leave Monitor (Bldg. 1191, Rm 103) for processing. Upon return from leave, report to the MPS (Bldg 1191, Rm 103) to complete Section III of the AF IMT 988 Questions should be directed to the MPS Customer Support staff at 731-4377. Dress and Appearance Active-duty military members can submit comments, feedback, and/or suggestions for new or existing uniforms through the Virtual Uniform Board at https://ipds.csd.disa.mil. Anyone with uniform questions should first review AFI 36-2903 on the Air Force Portal. If they still have questions, they should go through their local resources. If questions still are unanswered, call the Air Force Personnel Center at DSN 665-5000 or toll free at 1-800-616-3775, select options 1, 1, 2. Withdraw/Cancellation of Voluntary Assignment Effective Dec. 18 2008, Withdraw/Cancellation of Voluntary Assignment Application is available through vMPF a) All permanent party active duty enlisted and officers (colonels and below) are eligible b) Applications to request withdrawal of a pending request will be automatically updated and approved on senior master sergeants and below c) AF/DPO/DPE will process colonel (AF/DPO), and chief master sergeant (AF/DPE), applications and notify Airmen of the final approval/disapproval d) AFPC will process applications on lieutenant colonels and senior master sergeants and below and notify Airmen of the final approval/disapproval Airmen will access vMPF on the AFPC secure Web site and initiate the request to withdraw a pending or approved voluntary assignment. They will receive an on-screen approval notification when they withdraw an application in pending status. Once completed, it is critical that all members return their assignment RIP to Career Development, Bldg. 1191, Rm. 206 if they cancel/withdraw a voluntary assignment. Contact MPS Career Development at 731-3334 with any questions. Retirement/Separation and ID Cards At the time of retirement or separation, all computer access cards and family Identification cards must be returned the MPS, Customer Service Element (Bldg. 1191, Rm. 102). The member may choose to hold onto their CAC throughout their Terminal Leave and transition assistance program permissive TDY. However, a retiring member may have either their CAC or their retiree card, not both. When they are ready to turn in their CAC (or they have reached their official date of separation), they can go to any Issuing Authority and exchange it for their retiree card. If the member is retiring to a location that is not conveniently located near an Issuing Authority, they should inquire about mail-order ID card service at the nearest location. Malmstrom AFB does participate in mail order ID card service. Contact MPS Customer Support at 731-4377 with any questions. What is this place called? MPF? MPE? MPS? We apologize for all of the confusion throughout the last year. We were just as confused. The Air Force Personnel Center has made yet another change to our official title. The Military Personnel Flight (MPF) became the Military Personnel Element (MPE) for a short time last year. And now, we are the Military Personnel Section (MPS). This should be the last name change and you will now hear personnelists refer to our organization as the MPS when you contact us.