CIPP: AFPC hosts Facebook live chat Sept. 9 Published Sept. 5, 2014 By Debbie Gildea Air Force Personnel Center Public Affairs JOINT BASE SAN ANTONIO-RANDOLPH, Texas -- The Air Force Personnel Center will host a Facebook live chat Sept. 9 from 9 to 10 a.m. central time to answer questions about the Career Intermission Pilot Program, officials said today. Approved in the 2009 National Defense Authorization Act, the program allows selected high-performing active duty and career status active Air National Guard or Air Force Reserve members to take one, two or three years of partially-paid time out of uniform and seamlessly return to their military role. In addition to AFPC subject matter experts, Reserve and Guard personnel specialists will be online during the Facebook question-and-answer session to explain component-unique requirements and processes. "CIPP offers Airmen who are at a juncture in their life facing decisions that might require separation from service a great opportunity to take care of personal or professional priorities without sacrificing their military career," said Lt. Col. Marcos Garcia, Air Force Personnel Center Accessions Branch chief. "It's also beneficial to the Air Force because we will be able to retain high-performing Airmen who will be able to continue to support the mission." A Total Force selection board will convene in November to select up to 40 (20 officer and 20 enlisted) regular Air Force and eligible ARC officers and enlisted members for one, two or three year participation. The application window, which opened Aug. 15, will close Oct. 15. "A lot of Airmen who are interested may have questions and concerns. We can address those during the upcoming live chat," Garcia said. "We're excited about the opportunity to get the word out and to chat with potential applicants about the program." CIPP allows participants to retain full medical and dental benefits for themselves and their dependents, as well as exchange and commissary benefits, a stipend of 1/15th of their monthly basic pay, an Air Force-funded permanent change of station move to anywhere in the United States upon entering the program, and a move to their follow-on base of assignment when they complete the program. While participating in CIPP, members will be required to maintain all Air Force standards, including health and fitness, and be ready to fully resume their duties. Participants won't be able to compete for promotion while in the program, and those selected for promotion who enter CIPP before their promotion date will have to wait until they complete CIPP to be promoted. Upon return to active duty, participants will have their date of rank adjusted to remain competitive with those of similar time in grade. Those who receive career field or skill level bonuses will not receive those while in CIPP, and they won't be eligible for tuition assistance. They will, however, be able to use any veteran's benefits they have accrued - and they will also be able to retain up to 60 days of earned leave. Airmen approved for CIPP will incur an active duty service commitment of two months for every month they participate in the program, Garcia said. "For example, a major who has two years left on an undergraduate pilot training active duty service commitment who participates in CIPP for two years to get an advanced degree will have a six-year ADSC upon return to active duty," Garcia explained. "The major will still owe the two years for training, along with an additional four years for the CIPP participation." For more information about the program, join AFPC, the Air Reserve Personnel Center and Air National Guard experts on Facebook Sept. 9, 9-10 a.m., at https://www.facebook.com/pages/Air-Force-Personnel-Center/285437941864. To apply for CIPP, go to the myPers website at https://mypers.af.mil, select "search all components" from the drop down menu and enter 27945 in the search window. Scroll down to the application procedures section and select the link for the Regular Air Force (officer or enlisted), Air Force Reserve or Air National Guard application process.