(This was sent to all IMAs and PIRRs 29 Jul 2026. If you did not receive it in your personal email, please log in to the vMPF and make sure you have a good personal email in that system.)
RIO Buzz Vol 124
Individual Reservists,
This edition includes information on limited FY26 AT funding, completing the Waist-to-Height Ratio (WHtR) Requirement, the AT/IDT waiver process, the MHA/PHA clinic and the rental car policy for formal school training.
Limited funding available for FY26 AT requests
Limited funds are now available to support FY26 Annual Tour orders for IRs who were unable to submit an AT request before the 10 May deadline.
Funding will be approved on a first-come, first-served basis until available funds are exhausted. Members who still need to complete FY26 AT should submit their request as soon as possible through myFSS to the Orders Writing Cell (OWC).
See the Orders Request Quick Guide for submission instructions.
All requests remain subject to eligibility requirements, coordination with the assigned unit, and approval based on available funding.
NEW! Updated Guidance for Completing the Waist-to-Height Ratio (WHtR) Requirement
DEADLINE: 31 AUG 26
HQ RIO is providing additional guidance, tools, and targeted funding to help Individual Reservists (IRs) complete the Waist-to-Height Ratio (WHtR) requirement by 31 August 2026. In accordance with guidance issued by Chief of Staff of the Air Force Gen. Kenneth S. Wilsbach, Air Force Reserve members must have a current WHtR assessment uploaded in myBodyComp no later than 31 August 2026, unless medically exempt from the WHtR component.
While HQ RIO is providing guidance and funding mechanisms to assist IR members, the assigned active component unit retains responsibility for tracking completion and ensuring the requirement is met.
This guidance can also be found on the HQ RIO Portal HERE.
UPDATE YOUR DEERS & vRED TODAY!
Did you know that not keeping your family’s information current in the Defense Enrollment Eligibility Reporting System (DEERS) could delay their access to health care? Inaccuracies can also cause delays in claims processing and income tax reporting. If your contact information is out of date, you might miss vital communications. This includes mobile phone numbers.
Taking 15 minutes to update your records is the single most important step you can take to protect yourself and your family in an emergency. Don't leave your family's financial security and peace of mind to outdated data—log into milConnect and the vMPF to verify your records today!
NEW! AT/IDT WAIVERS NOW REQUIRE ARCNET READINESS REPORT
Individual Reservists who are unable to comply with fiscal year (FY) minimum requirements may submit a participation waiver. All waivers for requirements must be submitted in advance for consideration. Waivers may be submitted for the following reasons: substitutions or excusals.
Substitutions Substitution waivers must be submitted and approved in advance of tour start date and are used in cases where members are on orders (MPA, RPA, school, etc.) and may not have schedule availability to complete their FY requirements. See the template for more information.
Excusals Excusals are used for personal hardship or other extraordinary circumstances. NOTE: Having a participation waiver doesn’t necessarily authorize a member a good R/R year; instead, it gives a member a good FY requirement in the IR program, so that they aren’t subject to reassignment to the IRR discharge. R/R participation requirements cannot be waived.
When applying for AT/IDT waivers members must provide a current copy of their ARCNet report reflecting “Green” readiness in all areas. If items are showing “Yellow” or “Red” members are required to provide a plan of action with the waiver.
More information on AT/IDT waivers here.
For instructions on how to access your ARCNet Readiness report, check out this Quick Guide.
NEW! RENTAL CARS NOT AUTHORIZED FOR FORMAL SCHOOL TRAINING
Formal Schools are courses that require a training line number (TLN) to attend. If the course does not require a TLN, it is informal training and only requires Annual Tour or Inactive Duty Training (AT/IDT) activation to attend. Common examples are Sexual Assault Prevention and Response and Suicide Prevention course, foundation courses for Enlisted Professional Military Education (EPME), gas mask training, and most deployment training. As a reminder, rental cars are not authorized for formal schools for IMAs.
NEW! SCHEDULE YOUR IDTs IN UTAPS
DEADLINE: 15 AUG 26
The FY27 IDT calendar is now available in UTAPS. All IMA Reservists must enter their projected FY27 IDT schedule in UTAPS and route it to their supervisor for approval no later than 15 AUG 26.
In accordance with Air Force guidance, IMAs and their supervisors must work together to develop a projected FY27 IDT schedule consisting of 24 or 48 IDT periods, depending on the member's Reserve Section Code.
These projected schedules are used for budget planning purposes to help ensure IDT funding is available for FY27.
Don't know your exact dates yet? That's okay. Enter your best estimate now to meet the suspense. Your IDT dates can be modified later as your schedule becomes finalized.
Required Action
- Log in to UTAPS and enter your projected FY27 IDT schedule. Forgot how to do this? Check out this handy Quick Guide.
- Route your schedule to your supervisor for approval.
- Complete this process no later than 15 AUG 26.
Need Assistance?
UTAPS Calendar Build Quick Guide
PERIODIC HEALTH ASSESSMENT (PHA)/ MENTAL HEALTH ASSESSMENT (MHA) CLINIC AVAILABLE
Every Tuesday, HQ RIO Medical will offer PHA/MHA services for IMAs who do not require in-person PHAs. To begin, complete your PHAQ in ASIMS (PHAQ instructions can be found here: https://asimsimr.health.mil/imr/MyImr.aspx). Once completed, email the org box: RIO.IRM.Team@us.af.mil. Members will be scheduled appointments in 30-minute blocks (between 0800-1430 MT; Note: 1200-1300 MT will NOT be available for booking). Please include your availability every Tuesday. An email confirmation with appointment date and time will be sent along with a Microsoft Teams invite. Monitor your provided email (the one used to request an appointment) for a Teams meeting invite--if you have not accepted the invite by 1200 MT the Friday before your proposed appointment, we will move on and you will have to email our org box to restart the process. During the appointment, a records review, DD 2766 and subsequent MHA and/or PHA sign off as indicated.