US Air Force,
WASHINGTON: The fiscal 2008 Aviator Continuation Pay program was approved here recently by Craig W. Duehring, the assistant secretary of the Air Force for manpower and Reserve affairs.
The 2008 National Defense Authorization Act., which was signed by President George W. Bush Jan. 28, provided authorization.
The 2008 ACP program will offer eligible pilots and air battle managers a bonus in return for a five-year commitment to the Air Force.
“ACP is a strategic retention tool designed to shape the aircrew inventory, allowing the Air Force to meet future combat requirements,” said Lt. Col. Kip Turain, the chief of the rated force policy branch. “The primary purpose is to retain critical rated expertise that is vital to the successful accomplishment of the Air Force mission. Over the years, ACP has been tailored to target specific year groups and categories of aviators. The fiscal 2008 program builds upon the successes of previous years' programs and will ensure combatant commanders have an adequate supply of experienced aviators to meet their growing needs.”
Specific program details and eligibility criteria are available through your local military personnel flight or by searching “ACP” on the Air Force Personnel Center's Web site at http://ask.afpc.randolph.af.mil. Eligible aviators are urged to seek the advice of commanders and carefully consider their options before submitting applications via AFPC's Assignment Management System.
The program is effective through midnight Sept. 30. Eligible members have responsibility to ensure the application deadlines are met and are advised to apply as soon as possible.
Those eligible aviators, who prior to the official program release date, have until May 26 to apply and, as per authority contained in the 2008 NDAA, may have their effective date moved back to as early as Jan. 1, 2008. For example, a pilot who met all eligibility criteria on Oct. 1, 2007, and applies Feb. 20, 2008, may elect to have Jan. 1 as their anniversary date for future payments. Applications received after May 26 will have the effective date computed as specified in the implementation message.
Please refer to the ACP Web site at http://ask.afpc.randolph.af.mil for further information and application instructions. Aviators can direct specific questions to the 24-hour Air Force Contact Center at 800-616-3775.
