Air Force offers short-term enlistments - Airman's World

Airman, Oct, 2003

WASHINGTON--Beginning this month. 1 percent, or about 370 recruits, can sign up for a 15-month enlistment as part of the National Call to Service program.

The congressionally mandated program will let people serve their country who might otherwise shy away from a regular four- or six-year active-duty enlistment, according to Chief Master Sgt. Dennis Drogo, Air Force chief of enlisted accessions policy at the Pentagon.

The 15-month obligation does not begin until airmen complete basic military training and technical training school.

"The [clock begins] on the date they report to their first duty station," Drogo said. "When they near the end of their enlistment, they will have the opportunity to choose whether they would like to extend their active-duty commitment for 24 months or join the Air National Guard or Air Force Reserve for the same length of time."

However, after completing the additional two years of service, these airmen still have another four years of service to fulfill.

They can re-enlist in the active-duty Air Force, extend their Guard or Reserve commitment, transfer to the Individual Ready Reserve, or participate in another national service program such as Americorps or the Peace Corps, the chief said.

Airmen who enlist under this program will be able to serve in only 29 Air Force specialties. These specialties were chosen based on recommendations from career-field managers. Some of these will have special requirements, such as civilian certification or training, that airmen must possess before being considered for entry into the career field.

"This will allow airmen to be 'spun up' quickly and begin contributing to the mission," he said.

Airmen will be able to choose from one of three incentives for the program. The incentives include a $5,000 cash bonus, $10,000 student-loan repayment for qualified loans or education assistance benefits comparable to the Montgomery GI Bill.

If they choose to re-enlist, airmen retain their chosen incentives and can elect to participate in the Montgomery GI Bill.

Drogo sees the program as having two major benefits.

"First, it will increase the number of people in the general public with military experience to better inform the American public about what we do in the military," he said. "Surveys have shown that what most people know about the military they have learned from family and friends who have served."

The second benefit will be to provide another source of members for the air reserve components, he said,

Air Force specialties open to 15-month enlistees

* 1COX1, airfield management

* ICOX2, operations resource management

* IT1XI, aircrew life support

* 2FOXX, fuels

* 2ROX1. maintenance data systems analyst

* 2R1X1, maintenance production management

* 2SOX1, supply management

* 2TOX1, traffic management

* 2T1X1, vehicle operations

* 2T2X1, air transportation

* 2T3X1, special purpose vehicle and equipment maintenance

* 2T3X4. general purpose vehicle mechanic

* 3AOX1, information management

* 3COX2. communication-computer systems programming

* 3ElX1, heating, ventilation, air conditioning and refrigeration

* 3E2X1, pavement and construction equipment

* 3E4XL utilities systems

* 3E7X1, fire protection

* 3MOX1 services

* 3P0X1, security forces

* 3S0X1, personnel

* 4A0X1, health services management

* 4AIX1, medical materiel

* 4COX1. mental health service

* 4DOX1, diet therapy

* 4E0Xl, public health

* 4Y0Xl, dental assistant

* 5ROX1, chaplain assistant

* 6FOX1. financial management and comptroller