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Program offers troops short break in service

  • Published
  • By Kimberly Woodruff
  • Staff Writer
TINKER AIR FORCE BASE, Okla. --  The Air Force has a total force program that can take away some of the pressures of serving in the military. It offers troops a short break from the service to work on education or family-related issues.

Take Katie Evans, a temporarily separated captain and the former 18th Force Support Squadron manpower and personnel flight commander at Kadena Air Force Base, Japan, who took advantage of the program following the birth of her son and because she was feeling the stress of the job and raising a family.

"Some may think it's just 'mommy' leave; it's not," Captain Evans said. "I would recommend it to folks who would like to focus on a specific period of their life for a time, whether it's a spiritual focus, where they might want to do mission work, or an education focus without trying to balance deployments, families, exercises and temporary deployments and all their mission requirements."

Captain Evans added, "This is really for folks who would like to focus on a different part of their life for a period of time but also feel they have more to contribute to the Air Force and the mission. Recognizing that whatever they take this break to do, what they learn to do, whatever experiences they've had can be of huge value to the Air Force when they come back."

The Career Intermission Program, or CIP, has been around since 2014. In the beginning it was called the "pilot" program, but career assistance adviser Master Sgt. Joseph Tolley with the 72nd Force Support Squadron said that might have been a poor name, giving people the impression it was only for aircraft pilots.

With CIP, a person could take a break for up to three years from their military service. While that sounds great, those wanting to enter the program should keep in mind that for every month off, they'll owe back two.

Master Sgt. Loretta Yabut, a career adviser from the 552nd Air Control Wing, said that while the military member keeps their health insurance and dental coverage, they only receive one fifteenth of their monthly base pay.

"For a technical sergeant with a family, that could mean just $200 to $300 a month," Sergeant Tolley said.

Space in the program is limited, however. Sergeant Tolley said Air Force wide only 20 enlisted and 20 officer personnel are selected to participate each calendar year. He noted that last year only 32 people participated, so it is worthwhile to apply.

The application window for this calendar year closes Aug. 31. The link to the application and procedures can be found on the MyPers website. If you miss the cutoff for this year, it happens each year at this same time.

Master Sgt. Tolley said it would be a good idea to visit with a career adviser for key points and more information before making the decision to apply.

"Everyone's situation is different," said Sergeant Yabut. She also said that there are other things to consider before making the commitment, such as the Service Member's Life Insurance does not roll over, so while on the program, the member would need to purchase Veteran's Group Life Insurance. Additionally, the military member wouldn't be able to apply for other programs such as Reserve Officers' Training Course. There are a number of other factors to consider as well.

According to the Program Decision Memorandum, "The period of CIP participation does not count toward eligibility for retirement, transfer to the Ready Reserve, computation of retired or retainer pay, computation of officer's total years of service, or years of aviation service."

Other factors to keep in mind are:

· CIP participants are not eligible for promotion consideration.

· CIP participants will not receive any special or incentive pay or bonus to which they would otherwise be entitled. Provided the member still qualifies for such pay or bonus, the pay will be reinstated upon return to active duty.

· CIP participants must return to active duty, and at that time the member incurs an active duty service commitment/reserve service commitment of two months for every month of program participation.

· On the upside, those who take time off for the pursuit of education could come back and apply for Officers Training.

For more information, speak with a career adviser or visit the myPers website, https://gum-crm.csd.disa.mil/app/answers/detail/a_id/27945