Notes on Air Force Handbook 1, dated 1 Nov 21, Chapter 10, Personnel Programs and Benefits


A new version of the Study Guide for Testing to Staff Sergeant was posted on the WAPS website on 1 February 2024. The new study guide is based on the 1 Nov 2021 version of the Air Force Handbook again and the content of the study guide hasn't changed. However, the ADTC for the new 2024 study guide changed five sections (4B, 8B, 13C, 14D, and 14F) from testable to not testable. And one section (18A), which was not testable before, is now testable. Chapter 10 was not affected by these changes.

The two testable sections in chapter 10 of the 23E5 and 24E5 study guides (sections A and B) were compared and there are no changes so no updates to this chapter are necessary.




Section 10A, Benefits and Services

Under paragraph 10.3., there are two paragraphs of new content: Emergency Data (DD Form 93) and Service members' Online Election System (SOES). There is also new content under the Casualty Assistance paragraph.

Under paragraph 10.5., the reference, AFI 36-2908, Family Care Plans, was changed to DoDI1342.19_AFI36-2908.

Under paragraph 10.8., there are two paragraphs of new content: Waivers to Retire and Application Submission.

Under paragraph 10.11., the term, Guardian, was added as a reference to members of the Space Force.

The term, "Air Force", was replaced globally by "USAF". The term, "Regular Air Force" was replaced by "RegAF".

The content in this chapter came from 2019 AFH-1, Chapter 11, Personnel Programs and Benefits.

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10.3. Air Force Aid Society Assistance. The Air Force Aid Society serves as the official charity of the USAF as a private, nonprofit organization that promotes the USAF mission by helping to relieve financial distress of USAF members and their families as a step toward a lasting solution to financial problems, enabling educational goals, and seeking opportunities to improve quality of life.

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11.3. Air Force Aid Society Assistance. The Air Force Aid Society serves as the official charity of the Air Force as a private, nonprofit organization that promotes the Air Force mission by helping to relieve financial distress of Air Force members and their families as a step toward a lasting solution to financial problems, enabling educational goals, and seeking opportunities to improve quality of life.

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10.3. Air Force Families Forever. Air Force Families Forever provides immediate and long-term bereavement care, service, and support to identified family members of Airmen who die while serving on RegAF status.

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11.3. Air Force Families Forever. Air Force Families Forever provides immediate and long-term bereavement care, service, and support to identified family members of Airmen who die while serving on Regular Air Force status.

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10.3. Casualty Assistance. Casualty assistance representatives and survivor benefit plan counselors provide counseling on benefits offered by a wide variety of programs including Department of Veterans Affairs, Social Security Administration, Internal Revenue Service, Department of Health and Human Services, as well as state and local agencies.

When a casualty occurs, the USAF will promptly notify the Primary Next of Kin (PNOK) in a dignified, professional, and understanding manner. Additionally, in cases where the military member is declared deceased, Duty Status Whereabouts Unknown (DUSTWUN), or missing, the USAF appoints a Casualty Assistance Representative (CAR) to advise and assist the PNOK. The CAR assists to meet very important timelines, such as the NOK notifications within 12 hours of a casualty. Therefore, when an Airman's Record of Emergency Data (RED) is current and has up-to-date information, beneficiaries receive timely notifications. As a result, the RED and the Service members' Online Election System (SOES) mentioned below are critically important for an Airman to understand, review, verify, and certify that they are up-to-date at least once a year.

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11.3. Casualty Assistance. Casualty assistance representatives and survivor benefit plan counselors provide counseling on benefits offered by a wide variety of programs including Department of Veterans Affairs, Social Security Administration, Internal Revenue Service, Department of Health and Human Services, as well as state and local agencies.

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10.3. Emergency Data (DD Form 93). Record of emergency data (RED) maintained initially on the DD Form 93 and ultimately input into the virtual record of emergency data (vRED) via vMPF enables Airmen to list those they wish to be notified should they become ill, injured, wounded, missing or deceased. Additionally, Airmen determine beneficiaries of Death Gratuity, Arrears of Pay, and designate the Person Authorized to Direct Disposition (PADD) of their remains. To update your vRED, log into vMPF: Select 'Self-Service Actions', select 'Personal Data' and then select 'Record of Emergency Data.' Service members are responsible for entering information, reviewing/submitting annually, or updating their vRED when there are life-changing events such as marriage, divorce, births, before deployments, TDYs more than 30 days, and PCS. For more information go to myPers: https://mypers.af.mil/app/answers/detail/a_id/48325

2019 AFH-1

Not in 2019 AFH-1

2021 E5 Study Guide

10.3. Service members' Online Election System (SOES). The Service members' Group Life Insurance Online Enrollment System for the uniformed services (SOES), is an enterprise solution developed by the Department of Defense (DoD) and the Veteran Benefits Administration. SOES is a self- service based data system that centralizes Service members' Group Life Insurance (SGLI) and Family Service members' Group Life Insurance (FSGLI) information into one authoritative system capable of providing consistent information to authorized users. SGLI provides up to $400,000 in life insurance coverage; FSGLI provides up to $100,000 in coverage for the spouse and $10,000 for dependent children. Service members can use the system to change the amount of SGLI or FSGLI coverage. You can view, save, print or email a SGLI coverage certificate. SOES Enables Airmen to make automated SGLI and FSGLI coverage/beneficiary elections 24/7/365. NOTE: Airmen married to other Airmen (military-to-military) who have not updated DEERS with their spouse's information will not be able to properly certify their SOES Record. Airmen meeting this criteria must go to the Customer Service Element or the nearest RAPIDS station to add their spouse as a dependent. Please note hard copy (SGLV Form 8286, Servicemembers' Group Life Insurance Election and Certificate) SGLI elections remain valid until superseded by a SOES election. SOES is available through DMDC's milConnect web application. After signing in, click on "SOES" under the "Benefits" tab. For more information go to myPers: https://mypers.af.mil/app/answers/detail/a_id/34552/

2019 AFH-1

Not in 2019 AFH-1

2021 E5 Study Guide

10.3. Legal Services. Legal offices provide legal assistance in connection with personal civil legal matters to support and sustain command effectiveness and readiness. The ability to offer legal assistance and legal services to the eligible categories of personnel is contingent upon the availability of legal staff resources and regulations as may be prescribed by the Secretary of the Air Force. Legal services are not performed by or within A&FRCs, this is performed by OSJA office on the installation.

2019 AFH-1

11.3. Legal Services. Legal offices provide legal assistance in connection with personal civil legal matters to support and sustain command effectiveness and readiness. The ability to offer legal assistance and legal services to the eligible categories of personnel is contingent upon the availability of legal staff resources and regulations as may be prescribed by the Secretary of the Air Force.


AFI 36-2908, Family Care Plans, was replaced with DoDI1342.19_AFI36-2908.

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10.5. Family Care Plans

According to AFI 1-1, the USAF must have people in the right place at the right time, ready to perform the jobs for which they have been trained. Unless specifically deferred or exempted, all USAF members must be available to perform military duties and assignments, including but not limited to, permanent change of station or assignment, unaccompanied tours, temporary duty, deployments, alerts, recalls, extended hours, or shift work. Single-member parents with custody of children who bear sole or joint responsibility, and military couples with dependents, must have a family care plan. Members who are solely responsible for the care of a spouse, elderly family member, or adult family member with disabilities who is dependent on the member for financial, medical, or logistical support, must also have a family care plan. This includes family members who have limited command of the English language, are unable to drive, or unable to gain access to basic life-sustaining facilities. Suitable arrangements must be planned in advance for a nonmilitary member to assume custody of dependents in the event the military member is unavailable to provide dependent care due to military obligations.

Family Care Arrangements. Each USAF member must make and maintain dependent care arrangements that will allow the member to be world-wide deployable at all times. Advance planning is the key to dependent care arrangements. Every USAF member with dependents must take the initiative to use all available military and civilian resources, including other-than-immediate family members, to ensure dependents receive adequate care, support, and supervision that is compatible with the member's military duties. Dependent care plans must cover all possible situations in the short- and long-term, and must be sufficiently detailed and systematic for a smooth, rapid transfer of responsibilities to another individual during the absence of the military sponsor.

Family Care Certification. Commanders or first sergeants counsel all Airmen with family members on DoDI1342.19_AFI36-2908, during inprocessing. During this counseling, commanders or first sergeants must stress the importance of, and confirm the need for, family care certification by completing AF Form 357, Family Care Certification. Also, commanders or first sergeants are required to annually brief all military members with family care responsibilities, individually. During this briefing, the commander or first sergeant signs the AF Form 357 each time the plan is reviewed and certified, determining the actual workability of the family care plan. The member signs and dates the AF Form 357 to document that the briefing was completed. In the event of geographical separation, commanders may delegate responsibility, in writing, to detachment and operating location chiefs to counsel members and certify the form. The original signed AF Form 357 will be filed with the member's administrative office and a copy will be sent to the commander for review and filing.

Family Care Plan Changes. Members must notify their commander or first sergeant immediately, or within 30 days (60 days for Selected Reserve) if changes in personal status or family circumstances require completion of an AF Form 357. Specific circumstances that may warrant development of a family care plan are provided in DoDI1342.19_AFI36-2908. Note: Failure to produce a family care plan within 60 days of the discussion with the commander, supervisor, or commander's designated representative may result in disciplinary action or administrative separation. Duty deferments, primarily for a four-month period, when applicable, are offered to assist USAF military members in developing family care plans and establishing a pattern of childcare. DoDI1342.19_AFI36-2908 provides more detailed information regarding duty deferments and to whom they may apply.

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11.5. Family Care Plans

According to AFI 1-1, Air Force Standards, the Air Force must have people in the right place at the right time, ready to perform the jobs for which they have been trained. Unless specifically deferred or exempted, all Air Force members must be available to perform military duties and assignments, including but not limited to, permanent change of station or assignment, unaccompanied tours, temporary duty, deployments, alerts, recalls, extended hours, or shift work. Single-member parents with custody of children who bear sole or joint responsibility, and military couples with dependents, must have a family care plan. Members who are solely responsible for the care of a spouse, elderly family member, or adult family member with disabilities who is dependent on the member for financial, medical, or logistical support, must also have a family care plan. This includes family members who have limited command of the English language, are unable to drive, or unable to gain access to basic life-sustaining facilities. Suitable arrangements must be planned in advance for a nonmilitary member to assume custody of dependents in the event the military member is unavailable to provide dependent care due to military obligations.

Family Care Arrangements. Each Air Force member must make and maintain dependent care arrangements that will allow the member to be world-wide deployable at all times. Advance planning is the key to dependent care arrangements. Every Air Force member with dependents must take the initiative to use all available military and civilian resources, including other-than-immediate family members, to ensure dependents receive adequate care, support, and supervision that is compatible with the member's military duties. Dependent care plans must cover all possible situations in the short- and long-term, and must be sufficiently detailed and systematic for a smooth, rapid transfer of responsibilities to another individual during the absence of the military sponsor.

Family Care Certification. Commanders or first sergeants counsel all Airmen with family members on AFI 36-2908, Family Care Plans, during inprocessing. During this counseling, commanders or first sergeants must stress the importance of, and confirm the need for, family care certification by completing AF Form 357, Family Care Certification. Also, commanders or first sergeants are required to annually brief all military members with family care responsibilities, individually. During this briefing, the commander or first sergeant signs the AF Form 357 each time the plan is reviewed and certified, determining the actual workability of the family care plan. The member signs and dates the AF Form 357 to document that the briefing was completed. In the event of geographical separation, commanders may delegate responsibility, in writing, to detachment and operating location Chiefs to counsel members and certify the form. The original signed AF Form 357 will be filed with the member's administrative office and a copy will be sent to the commander for review and filing.

Family Care Plan Changes. Members must notify their commander or first sergeant immediately, or within 30 days (60 days for Selected Reserve) if changes in personal status or family circumstances require completion of an AF Form 357. Specific circumstances that may warrant development of a family care plan are provided in AFI 36-2908.

Note: Failure to produce a family care plan within 60 days of the discussion with the commander, supervisor, or commander's designated representative may result in disciplinary action or administrative separation.

Note: Duty deferments, primarily for a four-month period, when applicable, are offered to assist Air Force military members in developing family care plans and establishing a pattern of childcare. AFI 36-2908 provides more detailed information regarding duty deferments and to whom they may apply.


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10.6. Educational Benefits. The VA offers a variety of educational benefits to service members and veterans to pursue a higher education during or following their service. Benefit programs include the Post-9/11 GI Bill, Montgomery GI Bill, Reserve Educational Assistance Program, and Survivors' and Dependents' Educational Assistance. The Yellow Ribbon GI Education Enhancement Program is a provision of the Public Law 110-252, Post-9/11 Veterans Educational Assistance Act of 2008, 30 June 2008.

2019 AFH-1

11.6. Educational Benefits. The VA offers a variety of educational benefits to service members and veterans to pursue a higher education during or following their service. Benefit programs include the Post-9/11 GI Bill, Montgomery GI Bill, Reserve Educational Assistance Program, and Survivors' and Dependents' Educational Assistance. The Yellow Ribbon GI Education Enhancement Program is a provision of the Post-9/11 Veterans Educational Assistance Act of 2008.


Paragraphs titled, Waivers to Retire and Application Submission are new content.

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10.8. Retirement Benefits

Enlisted members are eligible to retire if they have 20 years of Total Active Federal Military Service (TAFMS) and there are no restrictions per AFI 36-3203, Service Retirements, 23 February 2021. Enlisted members must apply for retirement, otherwise they will separate on their date of separation. Officers must have 20 years of TAFMS and 10 years of total active federal commissioned service to be eligible to retire.

Waivers to Retire. AFI 36-3203, tables 3.1 and 3.2, identify restrictions to retirement. Some restrictions, such as not completing an active duty service commitment, may be waived if the member can provide sufficient justification to show the waiver is in the best interest of the USAF or that the member is experiencing an extreme personal hardship uncommon to other military members. Not all waivers are approved, so applicants should include detailed evidence to support their requests.

Application Submission. A retirement application can typically be submitted through the myPers website up to 12 months, but no less than 4 months before the desired retirement date. Airmen applying for retirement under the 7-day or 3-day option program may be able to submit an application more than 12 months in advance. DAFI 36-2110, chapters 5 and 7, outline information on those programs and the applicable exceptions. Before submitting any application, the member must request an eligibility review through the myPers website. The system will provide an automated response of the member's retirement eligibility status and identify any restrictions or waiverable conditions at the time of submission. After receiving the eligibility results, the member may submit their application through the on-line submission process in myPers.

Place of Retirement. In general, a member retires at the current duty station and may travel to a home of selection anywhere in the United States. If the member is overseas, the member retires at that location when outprocessing facilities exist, and the member and family proceed to the final home of selection. When outprocessing facilities do not exist at the overseas location, the member may request travel to a separation processing base in the United States. If the member elects to retire overseas and live permanently in that country, he or she must comply with command and host government residency rules before the date of retirement.

Retirement Pay Plans. The Date Initially Entered Uniformed Service (DIEUS) normally determines which retirement pay plan applies to a member. DIEUS is the date an individual was initially enlisted, inducted, or appointed in a Regular or Reserve Component of a uniformed service as a commissioned officer, warrant officer, or enlisted member. The DIEUS is a fixed date that is not subject to adjustment because of a break in service. Current RegAF personnel will fall under one of the retirement plans described in Table 10.1.

2019 AFH-1

11.8. Retirement Benefits

Enlisted members are eligible to retire if they have 20 years of Total Active Federal Military Service (TAFMS) and there are no restrictions per AFI 36-3203, Service Retirements. Enlisted members must apply for retirement, otherwise they will separate on their date of separation. Officers must have 20 years of TAFMS and 10 years of total active federal commissioned service to be eligible to retire. A retirement application may be submitted through virtual military personnel flight up to 12 months, but no less than 120 days before the desired retirement date.

Place of Retirement. In general, a member retires at the current duty station and may travel to a home of selection anywhere in the United States. If the member is overseas, the member retires at that location when outprocessing facilities exist, and the member and family proceed to the final home of selection. When outprocessing facilities do not exist at the overseas location, the member may request travel to a separation processing base in the United States. If the member elects to retire overseas and live permanently in that country, he or she must comply with command and host government residency rules before the date of retirement.

Retirement Pay Plans. The Date Initially Entered Uniformed Service (DIEUS) normally determines which retirement pay plan applies to a member. DIEUS is the date an individual was initially enlisted, inducted, or appointed in a Regular or Reserve Component of a uniformed service as a commissioned officer, warrant officer, or enlisted member. The DIEUS is a fixed date that is not subject to adjustment because of a break in service. Current Regular Air Force personnel will fall under one of the retirement plans described in Table 11.1.


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10.9. Survivor Benefit Plan

Military pay stops when a member dies. The survivor benefit plan provides a monthly income to survivors of retired military personnel upon the member's death. The survivor benefit plan is a government program for retiring members to ensure their eligible survivors receive a portion of their military retired pay as a monthly annuity after their death. The plan was structured so a surviving spouse cannot outlive the annuity, and cost-of-living adjustments are incorporated to offset inflation. RegAF members with a spouse or dependent children are automatically covered by the survivor benefit plan at no cost while they remain on RegAF status.

The member's death must be classified in 'line of duty' for an annuity to be payable if the member is not yet retirement eligible (has not accrued 20 years of RegAF status) on the date of death. The annuity payable is 55 percent of the retired pay the member would have been entitled to receive if retired with a total disability rating on the date of death. An annuity may also be payable if the member's death is classified 'not in line of duty' as long as the member was retirement eligible on the date of death. In this case, annuity payable is 55 percent of the retired pay the member would have been entitled to receive if retired for years of service on the date of death. The surviving spouse of a member who dies in the line of duty while on RegAF status may request the survivor benefit plan be paid only to the member's children, avoiding the reduction caused by a spouse's receipt of dependency and indemnity compensation, the survivor benefits paid by the VA when a member's death is determined to have resulted from a service-connected cause.

2019 AFH-1

11.9. Survivor Benefit Plan

Military pay stops when a member dies. The survivor benefit plan provides a monthly income to survivors of retired military personnel upon the member's death. The survivor benefit plan is a government program for retiring members to ensure their eligible survivors receive a portion of their military retired pay as a monthly annuity after their death. The plan was structured so a surviving spouse cannot outlive the annuity, and cost-of-living adjustments are incorporated to offset inflation. Regular Air Force members with a spouse or dependent children are automatically covered by the survivor benefit plan at no cost while they remain on Regular Air Force status.

The member's death must be classified in 'line of duty' for an annuity to be payable if the member is not yet retirement eligible (has not accrued 20 years of Regular Air Force status) on the date of death. The annuity payable is 55 percent of the retired pay the member would have been entitled to receive if retired with a total disability rating on the date of death. An annuity may also be payable if the member's death is classified 'not in line of duty' as long as the member was retirement eligible on the date of death. In this case, annuity payable is 55 percent of the retired pay the member would have been entitled to receive if retired for years of service on the date of death. The surviving spouse of a member who dies in the line of duty while on Regular Air Force status may request the survivor benefit plan be paid only to the member's children, avoiding the reduction caused by a spouse's receipt of dependency and indemnity compensation, the survivor benefits paid by the VA when a member's death is determined to have resulted from a service-connected cause.


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10.10. American Red Cross

The American Red Cross offers unwavering commitment, free of charge, 365 days a year/24 hours a day, to members of the U.S. Armed Forces, veterans, and their families, to include: RegAF, National Guard, Reservists, Reserve Officer Training Corps, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, U.S. Coast Guard, and U.S. Public Health Service. Red Cross support enhances morale and contributes to increased operational capability by linking military families during an emergency, connecting families with local community resources, providing resiliency training, and supporting wounded warriors and military hospitals, non-Federal entity program, service or award. The Red Cross toll free number for service members and families in the United States is: 1-877-272-7337. Military members and family members overseas may call base or installation operators or the American Red Cross office at the overseas location. Local overseas Red Cross contact information can be found online at: http://www.redcross.org/. Note: For the American Red Cross to provide expedient service, provide as much of the following information available as possible: full name, rank/rating, branch of service, social security number or date of birth, military address, and information about the deployed unit and home base unit (for deployed service members only).

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11.10. American Red Cross

The American Red Cross offers unwavering commitment, free of charge, 365 days a year/24 hours a day, to members of the U.S. Armed Forces, veterans, and their families, to include: Regular Air Force, National Guard, Reservists, Reserve Officer Training Corps, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, U.S. Coast Guard, and U.S. Public Health Service. Red Cross support enhances morale and contributes to increased operational capability by linking military families during an emergency, connecting families with local community resources, providing resiliency training, and supporting wounded warriors and military hospitals. The Red Cross toll free number for service members and families in the United States is: 1-877-272-7337. Military members and family members overseas may call base or installation operators or the American Red Cross office at the overseas location. Local overseas Red Cross contact information can be found online at: http://www.redcross.org/.

Note: For the American Red Cross to provide expedient service, provide as much of the following information available as possible: full name, rank/rating, branch of service, social security number or date of birth, military address, and information about the deployed unit and home base unit (for deployed service members only).


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10.11. Recruiting Programs

Airmen of all ranks can have a positive impact on recruiting and help recruiters make contacts and develop leads.

Recruiter Assistance Programs. The Recruiter Assistance Program (RAP) is a RegAF leave program, run by the Air Force Recruiting Service, where an Airman or Guardian directly supports an USAF recruiter. Members may request nonchargeable leave in accordance with AFI 36-3003, Military Leave Program, 7 April 2021. RAP is beneficial to the USAF and to participants because Airmen can be a major influence in bringing the USAF story to their hometown or place of previous residence. RAP duties may include question-and-answer sessions, making presentations, or providing testimonials of their USAF experiences to high school and college students. For more information, visit: www.recruiting.af.mil, and review the RAP Fact Sheet.

We Are All Recruiters. The We Are All Recruiters (WEAR) Program may grant individuals permissive temporary duty status if they participate in an event that directly enhances the recruiting mission. All Airmen, regardless of their USAF specialty, are recruiters. A WEAR event is an event where the interaction of USAF personnel educates and increases public awareness of the USAF and could potentially generate interest in new recruits.

Approval for WEAR is limited to those events where Airmen are directly speaking to potential applicants or influencers about USAF opportunities. Applicants are defined as individuals within the age range of 17 to 39. Influencers are defined as parents, community leaders, teachers, counselors, or coaches. For events where multiple Airmen are attending, each attendee must submit a package for approval. WEAR requests must be first approved by the individual's commander in accordance with AFI 36-3003. Requests are then routed to the Air Force Recruiting Service Public Affairs office via e-mail: afrshqpa@us.af.mil. Members may request permissive temporary duty to attend a WEAR event. For more information about WEAR, visit: www.recruiting.af.mil, review the WEAR Fact Sheet, and download the WEAR form.

2019 AFH-1

11.11. Recruiting Programs

Airmen of all ranks can have a positive impact on recruiting and help recruiters make contacts and develop leads.

Recruiter Assistance Programs. The Recruiter Assistance Program (RAP) is a Regular Air Force leave program, run by the Air Force Recruiting Service, where an Airman directly supports an Air Force recruiter. Members may request nonchargeable leave in accordance with AFI 36-3003, Military Leave Program. RAP is beneficial to the Air Force and to participants because Airmen can be a major influence in bringing the Air Force story to their hometown or place of previous residence. RAP duties may include question-and-answer sessions, making presentations, or providing testimonials of their Air Force experiences to high school and college students. For more information, visit: www.recruiting.af.mil, and review the RAP Fact Sheet.

We Are All Recruiters. The We Are All Recruiters (WEAR) Program may grant individuals permissive temporary duty status if they participate in an event that directly enhances the recruiting mission. All Airmen, regardless of their Air Force specialty, are recruiters. A WEAR event is an event where the interaction of Air Force personnel educates and increases public awareness of the Air Force and could potentially generate interest in new recruits.

Approval for WEAR is limited to those events where Airmen are directly speaking to potential applicants or influencers about Air Force opportunities. Applicants are defined as individuals within the age range of 17 to 39. Influencers are defined as parents, community leaders, teachers, counselors, or coaches. For events where multiple Airmen are attending, each attendee must submit a package for approval. WEAR requests must be first approved by the individual's commander in accordance with AFI 36-3003, Military Leave Program. Requests are then routed to the Air Force Recruiting Service Public Affairs office via e-mail: afrshqpa@us.af.mil. Members may request permissive temporary duty to attend a WEAR event. For more information about WEAR, visit: www.recruiting.af.mil, review the WEAR Fact Sheet, and download the WEAR form.


Section 10B, Leave and Authorized Absences

There are no significant changes in Section B.


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10.15. Types of Leave

AFI 36-3003, outlines many types of leave, as briefly described here.

Annual Leave. Another name for "ordinary" leave is annual leave. Normally, members use annual leave to take vacations, attend to family needs, celebrate traditional holidays, attend significant events, or as terminal leave with retirement or separation from RegAF status.

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11.14. Types of Leave

AFI 36-3003, Military Leave Program, outlines many types of leave, as briefly described here.

Annual Leave. Another name for "ordinary" leave is annual leave. Normally, members use annual leave to take vacations, attend to family needs, celebrate traditional holidays, attend significant events, or as terminal leave with retirement or separation from Regular Air Force status.

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Advance Leave. Advance leave is granted based on a reasonable expectation that a member will accrue at least the amount of leave being requested during the remaining period of RegAF status. The purpose of advance leave is to enable members to resolve emergencies or urgent situations when they have limited or no accrued leave. When a member has taken all the advance leave that represents what he or she will accrue during the remaining period of RegAF service, commanders change the member's leave status from advance to excess leave.

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Advance Leave. Advance leave is granted based on a reasonable expectation that a member will accrue at least the amount of leave being requested during the remaining period of Regular Air Force status. The purpose of advance leave is to enable members to resolve emergencies or urgent situations when they have limited or no accrued leave. When a member has taken all the advance leave that represents what he or she will accrue during the remaining period of Regular Air Force service, commanders change the member's leave status from advance to excess leave.

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Terminal Leave. Terminal leave is chargeable leave taken in conjunction with retirement or separation from RegAF status. The member's last day of leave coincides with the last day of RegAF status. Normally, a member does not return to duty after terminal leave begins. The amount of leave taken cannot exceed the leave balance at the date of separation.

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Terminal Leave. Terminal leave is chargeable leave taken in conjunction with retirement or separation from Regular Air Force status. The member's last day of leave coincides with the last day of Regular Air Force status. Normally, a member does not return to duty after terminal leave begins. The amount of leave taken cannot exceed the leave balance at the date of separation.