Airmen may continue serve through Palace Chase and Front

Published June 30, 2011
By Airman 1st Class Dennis L. Sloan
Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst Public Affairs

JOINT BASE MCGUIRE-DIX-LAKEHURST, N.J. -- Have a desire to serve in the military and have the time to obtain a degree?

The U.S. Air Force has two programs to serve its Airmen who have different goals.

"Airmen wanting to obtain their college degree, but having trouble doing this with the Air Force's current ops tempo have the option of transferring or joining an Air Reserve component," said Tech. Sgt. Pedro Consuegra, 514th Force Support Squadron recruiter.

The 514th Force Support Squadron is hosting a Palace Front and Palace Chase briefing 8 a.m. Thursday at the Air Force Reserve Military Personnel Flight, Building 2217.

The briefing is open to all enlisted Airmen, E-3 and above, as well as officers, O-3 and above, looking to join the Air Force Reserve or Air National Guard.

"I chose to apply for the Palace Chase program because I still want to serve, but not as an active-duty Airmen," said Capt. Hope Bauer, 87th Air Base Wing equal opportunity deputy director. "Serving in the reserve also provides us (me and my husband) with another income."

The economy may play a factor in a servicemember's ability to separate or retire. Through these programs, Airmen have opportunities allowing them to continue to serve outside the active-duty realm. More than 69,000 Air Force Reserve members and more than 100,000 Air National Guard members maintain the same careers as active-duty members, but are on duty one weekend a month and two weeks a year.

The Palace Front program allows those separating the opportunity to continue serving in the military as a reservist, while Palace Chase gives Airmen the opportunity to end their active-duty commitment early to join the AFR.

"Not many Airmen on base know there is a reserve unit here," said Consuegra. "I hope the briefing informs Airmen of the opportunities the Guard and Reserve offer active-duty members."

Airmen in the Reserve have the opportunity to take advantage of the 100-percent tuition assistance program is offered, according to the AFR website. The Reserve also allows Airmen to keep benefits active-duty members might lose once they separate.

"The United States unemployment rate is at 9 percent, as where the retired or separated servicemember unemployment rate is at 11 percent," said Consuegra.

Call 754-2918 for more information on both programs.