Establishing a Pay File

Establishing a Pay File

IR’s who enter into the Air Force Reserve from active duty, Guard or IRR will be paid by the HQ IR RIO Reserve Pay Office (RPO) located at Buckley AFB, Colo., and must establish a new pay file. The IR welcome package, which is sent to the new member from their detachment via myPers, will contain the required documents needed to establish the pay file. If transferring from another IR unit, the new pay file part of the package is not required unless the member is updating the information already in the system. If you are a Traditional Reservist (TR) coming to IR status, you only need to submit AF IMT 1288 (Application For Ready Reserve Assignment), ARPC IMT 92 Appointment or Assignment Order. All pay inquiries can be submitted to the pay office via myFSS. The pay office may require additional information to update the member’s military pay record. 

​Required Documents (Links in bold)

Direct deposit

Direct Deposit is mandatory for all IR members. IRs have the capability to change their direct deposit information via MyPay on the Air Force Portal or by submitting an SF 1199A to the pay office via myFSS. NOTE: Do not close the old direct deposit account until military pay funds have been deposited into the new account.

Document Links

Thrift Savings Plan

The Thrift Savings Plan (TSP) is a Federal Government-sponsored retirement savings and investment plan. The National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2001 extended participation in the TSP, which was originally only for Federal civilian employees, to members of the uniformed services, and members began enrolling on October 9, 2001. The TSP offers the same type of savings and tax benefits that many private corporations offer their employees under so-called "401(k)" plans. The retirement income that you receive from your TSP account will depend on how much you have contributed to your account during your working years and the earnings on those contributions.

Helpful Links

Pay Navigation

The HQ RIO Pay Office is currently working pay cases with the following submission dates: 

- Long Tours: Aug 21, 2026
- Welcome Packages: Aug 26, 2026
- Leave Part 1: Aug 24, 2026
 
Case tickets will be worked in chronological order from oldest to newest. 
Information is current as of August 31, 2026.

IDT Payments: If your UTAPS calendar is blacked out and you have not received an LES within two weeks, please submit a myFSS help ticket.

Average processing times once the ticket begins being worked by a technician:
- Leave Carryover: 60-90 days to process; IMA to AGR leave carryover requests 60 to 120 days (requires CMS case to process).
- Short/Long Tours: 5 business days to process; 8-9 business days to produce LES.
- Accessions: 10 business days to process; If sent to DFAS it will take 15 days to process.
- OCONUS entitlements: 12 business days to process; 12-15 business days to produce LES.
- Pay Inquiries, including dates that are more than 11 months back: 60 business days.
- Leave sell backs: Working oldest request first. No definitive timeline currently.
Order-Based Pay
- Getting paid for orders for 29 or fewer days
- Starting pay for orders of 30 or more days

Special Pay

Defense Finance and Accounting Service Special and Incentive Pays
- Basic Allowance for Housing
- Overseas Housing Allowance
- Family Separation Allowance
- Bonuses
- Cost of Living Adjustment
- Hostile Fire/Imminent Danger Pay
- Incentive Pay

Establishing a Pay File
- Establishing a Pay File
- Direct Deposit
- Thrift Savings Plan

IDT Pay
- IDT Basic Pay
- IDT Travel Pay
- IDT Pay Process Expectations
- UTAPS

Contingency Pay Guidance

In order to receive entitlements authorized for a contingency area, please complete a DD 1351-2 listing your itinerary from the date you departed the states to present day. Please ensure yourself and your supervisor sign the DD 1351-2. Also submit a copy of your certified 938 and 1610 or CED order that shows which contingency area you are located.
- DD 1351-2

Leave
- Leave Requests
  • NOTE: RIO RPO WILL NOT ISSUE A NEW LAN UNTIL ALL PREVIOUS PART 3’S HAVE BEEN RETURNED TO THE RESERVE PAY OFFICE
- Leave Sellback
- Retirement (Career Management retirement page)                              
For concerns regarding Reserve Pay, contact your detachment for assistance. contact the Total Force Service Center at DSN: 665-0102 or Comm: 800-525-0102 or  You can also submit a query ticket through myFSS.

myFSS Submission Links

Choose from the links below to submit your reserve pay request. No travel requests are to be submitted here.

- IMA RPO Requests: BAH AF Form 594, BAH Waiver, COLA, Clothing/Uniform Allowance, IMA RPO Welcome Packages, Misc. inquiries.
- Leave Request: AF Form 988 Part 1, AF Form 988 Part 3, Leave Carryover, Leave Sell Back, Other leave inquiries.
- Short Tour Request: Mandatory use of the AROWS-R Tour of Duty Certification for orders of 30 or fewer days began 1 Dec 20. For instructions, go to the TODC Quick Guide.
- Long Tour Request: MPA/RPA Orders greater than 31 days, Pre-certified & Close-out CONUS/OCONUS orders, Temporary Lodging Allowance (TLA), Move in Housing Allowance (MIHA), Cost of Living Allowance (COLA), Overseas Housing Allowance (OHA).

Pay-Related Links:​
- myPay: Official site for Leave and Earning Statements, tax withholdings, travel voucher advice of payments, etc. 
- Bonds at Treasury Direct: Official site for U.S. Savings Bonds, as well as a bond calculator.
- DFAS: Defense Finance & Accounting Service - Pay Tables and much more.
- Military Compensation: DoD information about basic military compensation and benefits information about basic military compensation and benefits.
- AFMAN 65-116 Vol 1 Financial Management: Manual of Finance Guidance.

Mailing Address:
HQ RIO/IRO
Attn: Reserve Pay Office
18420 E. Silver Creek Ave.
Bldg. 390, MS68
Buckley AFB, CO 80011
Customer Service Hour link

guides

Quick Guides page graphic link
 

Graphic link The Guide for Individual Reservists page