Policy helps reservists keep per diem, avoid paperwork

Citizen Airman, August, 2009

About 3,000 Air Force Reservists will not have to submit a waiver this summer to keep getting per diem. The Air Force has authorized Reservists on active-duty orders for more than 180 days at one location supporting Operations Noble Eagle, Iraqi Freedom or Enduring Freedom to continue to get per diem until Sept. 30, 2009, without submitting a waiver.

Air Force Reserve Command has about 3,000 Reservists on extended orders supporting these contingency operations, said Chief Master Sgt. Beatriz Swann, chief of sustainment policy at the Pentagon.

Reservists on orders but not supporting one of the contingencies are not authorized per diem for tours exceeding 180 days at one location unless a secretary of the Air Force waiver is approved in advance. The 180 days could either be consecutive or cumulative within a 12-month rolling period and include travel time, Chief Swann said.

Reservists can obtain more information about the policy from their servicing finance office. (Air Force Reserve Command News Service)