Opportunities exist for active-duty Airmen to become IMA Reservists

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WASHINGTON (AFNS) --  Air Force Reserve Individual Mobilization Augmentee program officials are currently looking for Airmen from all career fields to fill worldwide taskings, according to a Reserve management group official.

"Airmen who are leaving the active-duty force are encouraged to consider opportunities along the continuum of service as an IMA Reservist," said Lt. Col. Dewey DuHadway, the deputy chief of military force policy division.

The commander of the Reserve readiness management group also encourages Airmen to consider becoming an IMA.

"We're hiring, and that is terrific news on several fronts," said Col. Nancy Zbyszinski, the commander of the readiness management group. The Air Force Reserve IMA program has a goal of hiring 1,600 people by September. Positions are available worldwide in all career fields, and members have flexibility to decide when and where they want to work.

Located at Headquarters Air Force Reserve Command, Robins Air Force Base, Ga., RMG officials oversee the Air Force's 8,700 IMAs and 1,500 participating individual ready reservists.

"The IMA program offers a unique opportunity to serve in Reserve status for those who are not located near a traditional (Air National) Guard or Reserve unit, for anyone who cannot commit to one weekend every month, or for anyone who wants to participate in new Air Force missions," the colonel said.

The IMA program is one of several Reserve categories in the Air Force. IMAs do not serve in Reserve organizations but instead are assigned to active component units, either Air Force or joint. Rather than serving one weekend a month and two weeks a year, IMAs have flexibility in scheduling their annual training requirements each year. They coordinate with their active component supervisors to arrange duty dates according to the needs of the Air Force and the IMA's civilian schedule.

"IMAs are fully integrated into operations of the active component and are assigned to more than 40 major commands, combatant commands and defense agencies," said Lt. Gen. Charles E. Stenner Jr., the AFRC commander. "We want to maintain the right people with the right skill sets in the right places, and the IMA program, along with our other Reserve categories, allows us to do that."

Flexible duty dates and the chance to work in active-duty organizations are just a couple of advantages of the IMA program. There is also the chance to participate in emerging Air Force missions.

Like other Reserve or Air Guard members, IMAs can volunteer for man-day, similar to duty days, or tours or deployments. Base IMA program management staff members can provide more information about man-day opportunities. Active-duty functional managers and IMA program management staff can provide information on deployment options.

Another benefit of the IMA program is the potential to get paid for travel as well as annual duty.

"Inactive duty training travel can be funded," said Maj. Chuck Pittman, the RMG director of personnel. "We want to get the word out about that, since many members are used to (inactive duty training) travel being at the members' expense."

To learn more about the IMA program visit www.afrc.af.mil/shared/media/document/AFD-090326-113.pdf. To find vacancies visit https://w20.afpc.randolph.af.mil/RMVSNet20/SelectVacancies.aspx.

(Article courtesy of Citizen Airman magazine.)