Air Force Two-Year Enlistment Option

Air Force Two-Year Enlistment OptionAir Force Two-Year Enlistment OptionThis National Call to Service Incentive program is a Department of Defense program that is run by Veterans Administration (VA). Under the National Call to Service program there are three layers of requirements of service to qualify 1 After basic training, the individuals in the National Call to Service program must serve in a job specialty designated by the Department of Defense as a critical needs billet for 15 months. 2 After this 15 month period, they must serve their additional time or they can go into the Reserves in active position for 24 months. 3 After this period, any period of obligated service can be done in the active duty Air Force, Reserves, or Individual Ready Reserve (IRR).One can also opt to serve in AmeriCorps, Peace Corps, or another domestic service program designated by the Department of Defense. As part of a Congressional initiative called the National Call to Service, the Air Force and o ther branches of the U.S. military introduced shorter two-year enlistment cycles. The goal of theprogram was to let people serve their country who might otherwise shy away from a regular four or six-year active-duty enlistment. In the Air Force The 15-month obligation for these airmen does not begin until they complete their initial training- ?basic military training and technical training school. When airmen nearthe end of their enlistment, they have the opportunity to choose whether 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.After the additional two years of service are complete, these airmen leise have another four years of service to fulfill in the reserves. Reenlisting After National Call to Service This servicerequirement can be met in the Air Force either by re-enlisting in the active-duty Air Force, extending aGuard or Reserve commitment, transferring to the Individual Ready Re serves, or participating in another national-service program such as Americorps or the Peace Corps. Not all Air Force jobs are available under the National Call to Service program, only certain specialties.Some of these specialties will have specific requirements, such as civilian certification or training, that prospective airmen must possess before being considered for entry into the career field. Airmen who enlist under the program can pick one of three special incentives. These include a $5,000 cash bonus, $18,000 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 incentive and can elect to participate in the MGIB. parte of the goal of National Call to Service was to introduce people to the military and give them a taste for what serving in the armed forces is like. It was aimed at those who wanted to serve but didnt want to make a career of the military. Ca ll to Service in Other Branches The Air Force isnt the only branch of the U.S. military to offer reduced tour-of-duty incentives. The Navy, Army and Marines have all offered some variety of a Call to Service in the post-911 era. For instance, also in 2003, the Navy announced a similar program that required 15 months of active duty service after a sailor had completed Navy school. At the time, the Navy said the Call to Service was geared toward top performing high school students looking for a meaningful experience between high school and college. Pro and Cons A two year term of service is enough time to test the waters and landsee if the military is something you would like to do longer as a career. The training received alone in these first two years can be worth a lifetime of a career training for your future. However, not all the military is in favor of such a short training service program. Though this was a popular option among new recruits and some members of Congress (wh o voted to implement the new rule), Some military brass believe it doesnt provide the young military personnel long enough periods of time before they move into the active reserves. Current Status of Call to Service Currently, the National Call to Service is still available with the Veterans Administration however, the needs of the military truly drive how one will be eligible for the National Call to Service two year enlistment program. But, it is the shortest available enlistment program to date. After 9-11 it was used significantly, now it is still used on a case by case fundament by the branches of the military.