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Recruiter assistance program offers ranks more than non-chargeable leave

  • Published
  • By Erin Madigan
  • Air Force Recruiting Service Public Affairs
RANDOLPH AIR FORCE BASE, Texas (AFPN) --  While preparing to move to his first duty base at Ramstein Air Base, Germany, Airman Todd West wanted to spend time with his family in Missouri, but he didn't know how to do it without using up his personal leave. Then he learned about the Recruiter Assistance Program.

RAP is an active-duty permissive temporary duty program run by Air Force Recruiting Service since 2001. Airmen of all ranks can participate in it multiple times throughout their career.

The program proves beneficial to the Air Force and its Airmen by providing recruiters in the field a temporary worker in exchange for the Airman's spending time in the location of his or her choice with no chargeable leave. It is designed to give recruiters an extra hand with one advantage: Airmen often are familiar with the area and thus can target prospective recruiting "hot spots."

"People think the Recruiter Assistance Program can only be done by first-term Airmen after they complete technical training, but in fact, we all can do it, even those of us who are already recruiting," said Tech. Sgt. Charles Roy, 345th Recruiting Squadron enlisted accessions recruiter. "It is a great way for someone who is from an area not near an Air Force base, but near a recruiting office, to earn up to 12 days non-chargeable time -- limited to one weekend -- with family and friends."

Airman West completed the application process and was assigned to assist Sergeant Roy in Ballwin, Mo., located less than one mile from his family home. During weekdays, he helped the recruiter by preparing Air Force information packages, conversing with applicants and visiting local businesses to spread Sergeant Roy's name in the area. The 723rd Air Mobility Squadron air transportation apprentice provided Sergeant Roy a live advertisement of what the Air Force offers through training, lifestyle and experiences.

"The goal was to get his name known since he was new to the area and share facts about my experiences in the Air Force with those who were interested," Airman West said.

Airman West also found the experience beneficial in ways he hadn't expected. Meeting people he had known before he joined the Air Force gave him a new perspective.

"Some didn't recognize me at first because my physical appearance was so drastically different," he said. "Some people congratulated me, some thanked me, others were simply curious about what I had done and what I planned to do in the future."

Assisting the recruiter also gave the new Airman the opportunity to gain advice from an experienced noncommissioned officer about his career and future.

Acquiring non-chargeable leave through RAP takes just a few steps. All Airmen, regardless of rank, must first obtain permission from their supervisors and commanders to participate. The second step is to complete and submit AFRS IMT 1327 applications to the appropriate recruiting squadron RAP monitors. The recruiters' RAP monitors notify Airmen of the approval status.

When applications are approved, Airmen then submit leave forms with the leave marked as "non-chargeable leave for dates of participation in the Recruiter Assistance Program."

While on RAP duty, Airmen must perform tasks in a satisfactory manner as determined by the assigned recruiters. Additional details are available on the official fact sheet on the AFRS Web site at www.rs.af.mil.  

The program is more than an easy way to gain leave, though, Airman West found. "Every encounter was a positive, uplifting experience that made me proud to wear the uniform," he said.