The Career Intermission Program, or CIP, is designed to allow Airmen the flexibility to manage short-term conflicts between service responsibilities and life priorities.

CIP offers Airmen the opportunity for a one-time temporary transition from active duty to the Individual Ready Reserve. The participation period is a minimum of one year, not to exceed three years, and provides a mechanism for seamless return to pre-CIP active-duty status. CIP also provides an effective means to enhance retention of Airmen by preserving their valuable experience and training that might otherwise be lost by permanent separation.

CIP is open to regular Air Force and career-status Active Guard and Reserve Airmen who meet the eligibility requirements. As of April 2018, 113 Airmen have been selected to participate in the program since its inception in 2014. This work-life flexibility initiative enables the Air Force to retain talent, which reduces cost and adverse impacts on its mission.

Program participants sign an agreement that says they will return to active duty in the same component from which they separated and serve two months of active duty for every month of CIP participation.

An Airman’s potential to serve the Air Force in the future, including leadership, duty performance, professional development, depth and breadth of experience and achievements are all factors in evaluating applications. The Air Force also considers manning and mission requirements when evaluating applications for approval or disapproval.

The Air Force’s Personnel Center commander is the approval authority for active-duty Airmen. For ANG Airmen, the approval/disapproval authority is The Adjutant General.

AFPC tentatively announces CIP selections seven weeks after the close of the application windows. Airmen can separate no earlier than 12 weeks after their approved selection and no later than the last day of the 12th month after their selection is approved. AFPC considers separation dates outside this window on a case-by-case basis.

For detailed eligibility requirements and application instructions, visit myPers and search, “Intermission.”

Airmen who meet basic eligibility criteria and who apply for transition to the IRR under this program are not guaranteed approval. Air Force manning and mission requirements will be considered when evaluating applications for approval or disapproval. Airmen should not begin outside employment, relocate families, etc., based on an assumption their application will be approved. Airmen selected for CIP participation should not enter into any irrevocable commitments until their separation date has been approved.