(This was sent to all IMAs and PIRRs 2 July 2020. 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. 10
As we head into a holiday weekend where we gather to celebrate the independence of this incredible country we call home, I want to tell you what a great honor it is for me to serve alongside an amazing team who is working very hard to make it easier for you to serve. There are IRs on duty all around the world protecting America’s people, interests, and allies against all sort of threats, including COVID-19. Our job is to ensure our IRs have the support they need to accomplish those missions.
I’ll tell you what I’ve told the HQ RIO team: Be safe, be strong, and be smart. Enjoy the celebration, but make the right choices to protect you and your loved ones. Now for the buzz …
OCP ISSUE FOR ENLISTED IR MEMBERS: DEADLINE IS 15 JULY
Enlisted IRs were allowed to request one set of OCPs in FY20. If you have not done so already, send in your request for your initial OCP issue by following the instructions below before 15 July 2020. The funds currently authorized for the initial OCP purchase are FY20 funds and we have a deadline to obligate this money before the end of the FY. If you do not take action, you risk not being issued a set of OCPs in time for the April 2021 required wear date.
To request your OCPs use the link below:
https://mypers.af.mil/app/dynamicforms/display/form/333
Product: Enlisted
RIO Detachment: HQ RIO
Category: Uniform Program—Replacement
Ensure you upload a completed AF Form 656 and IR agreement. Both can be found at: https://mypers.af.mil/app/answers/detail/a_id/31543
ANNUAL TOUR ORDERS MUST BE IN BY 7 JULY
IRs must have their AT requests submitted by COB 7 July. This gives HQ RIO enough time to produce orders by the 15 July deadline established by AFRC. After 15 July, AFRC pulls all remaining funds from our account and you could be denied performing AT. Requests submitted after the cut-off date of 7 July may be considered case by case and would require a late letter signed by you and your supervisor acknowledging you missed the cut-off, the reason for the late submission and the fact that you understand there is no guarantee funding exists to publish your orders after 15 July.
VIRTUAL TRAINING LINKS NOW AVAILABLE ON THE HQ RIO WEBSITE
We continue to hold our popular virtual training sessions every 2 to 3 weeks. All the recordings and slides are available on our website. Our most recent session was for IR Supervisors and was very well received. If you haven’t watched the sessions, you can find them here: https://www.arpc.afrc.af.mil/hqrio/training.aspx.
COMING SOON: WE WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU!
Last, but not least, please keep an eye out for announcements regarding an upcoming survey of the IR force that will begin on 13 July. We are really excited to hear directly from you about HQ RIO and how we can make it easier for you to serve. More info on that soon!
That’s the buzz for now. Happy 4th of July, and thanks for ALL you do!
v/r,
Col Amy Boehle, HQ RIO Commander