(This was sent to all IMAs and PIRRs 16 Oct 2025. 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 105

Important!!

Please read this message in full for critical updates on pay and travel.

Overview

Due to the recent government shutdown, HQ RIO is experiencing significant delays in processing pay and travel documents. Most of our civilian staff—the backbone of our finance and travel operations—were furloughed. While military personnel have stepped in to assist, staffing remains well below normal, and several new team members are still in training.

We recognize these delays are frustrating. Our team is doing everything possible to minimize impacts until the shutdown concludes and full staffing is restored.

Current Pay Status

• Last DFAS Pay Run: Covered transactions processed through 7 Oct 2025. Some members received mid-month pay (e.g., long-term orders, AT/IDT performed in FY25).  More on this below.
• Next DFAS Pay Run: Scheduled for 21 Oct 2025. We are processing transactions in good faith that this run will occur as planned. If DFAS cancels or delays it, we will notify you immediately.
• LES Availability: If the 21 Oct pay run occurs, Leave and Earnings Statements (LES) should be available around 24 Oct 2025.
• Out-of-Cycle Pay Runs: HQ RIO cannot request an out-of-cycle pay run for IMAs (see IMA Pay Process).

Who Does What

• HQ RIO/FM: Validates and enters pay actions into DMO (think: “submitting your paperwork for payment”).
• DFAS: Executes scheduled pay runs, generates the LES, and issues payment. DFAS pays valid entries and rejects incomplete or incorrect submissions.

Order Pre-Certification

• We are prioritizing pre-certifications for members on orders.
• We currently have 978 pre-cert myFSS cases (some are duplicates) still awaiting processing.  Right now we are able to process roughly 50 per day. The RPO is currently working cases submitted through 1 Oct 2025.
  • Our technicians are seeing a high number of duplicate cases being submitted for the same pre-certification, which is causing delays.  Please only submit ONE CASE per item.  You can always reply to the case if you need more information or have a question about that item.
• Members whose pre-certs have been processed will receive a reply via their myFSS case.
• Accuracy matters: Over 80% of recent submissions were missing information or signatures and had to be returned, delaying payment further.
  • Refer to this long tour guidance link for help submitting correctly.

Pay Scenarios and Status

Short Tours (TODC) Includes current and prior-year RPA and MPA, and prior-year annual tours. Processing of TODCs was completed through 30 Sept 2025 and is currently paused while the RPO focuses on processing order pre-certifications. If the RPO is able to catch up on pre-cert work, TODC processing will resume. We will keep members informed as the situation develops.

MPA Orders (Extended from FY25 into FY26) If your FY25 MPA order was extended into FY26 via a modification, pay should have been received if the modification was submitted and processed by 1 Oct 2025 on the DFAS 7 Oct pay run.  We will continue to process modifications to be paid in future planned pay runs.

New FY26 MPA Orders (Effective 1 Oct 2025 or later) Pre-certifications for new MPA orders are being processed for the DFAS 21 Oct pay run in the order they were received, and if DFAS continues pay operations during the shutdown, you can expect payment—including back pay to your order start date.  Based on the current workload, not all pre-certs will make the DFAS 21 Oct pay run, but work will continue for future planned pay runs.

RPA Orders (Extended from FY25 into FY26) Pay should be expected only if the modification was submitted and processed before 7 Oct 2025. We will continue to process pre-certs to be paid in future planned pay runs.  Please note that only RPA orders identified as “essential” by Air Force Reserve Command (AFRC) are authorized for work during the shutdown. These determinations are made at the command level—individual members or units cannot self-designate orders as essential.  All non-essential RPA orders must remain paused until the government shutdown ends and normal operations resume. 

New FY26 RPA Orders (Essential Positions Only) Only essential RPA positions (approved for duty during the shutdown) are being processed. If processed between now and 21 Oct, and DFAS continues pay operations during the shutdown, you can expect payment—including back pay to your order start date.

MEDCON Orders MEDCON pay will begin once the RPO processes the member’s orders. Per AFRC/SG guidance, MEDCON orders are considered essential.

Prior-Year IDTs RPO processed IDT pay through 10 Oct and then paused to focus on pre-certifications.  IDT pay processed by COB 7 Oct should have been received.  IDT pay for 8-10 Oct should be in the DFAS 21 Oct pay run. Remaining FY25 IDT pay will be processed once the RPO is caught up on pre-certifications.

Travel Scenarios and Status

FY25 DTS Vouchers

• Vouchers at or below the amount on the corresponding authorization are being approved and paid.
• Vouchers exceeding the amount on the corresponding authorization are temporarily rejected until additional funding is available. RIO is in the process of requesting those extra funds to be added to our DEAMS account (which funds DTS). 
• Rejected vouchers will automatically reprocess once per day for seven days.
  • If funding posts during that time, the voucher will auto-approve.
  • After seven days, members must edit and resubmit the voucher.

IDT Lodging and Local Mileage Processing is paused pending release of FY25 funds. Once funds are received, processing and payment will resume.

PCS Travel PCS travel vouchers are being processed; however, payment distribution is paused because furloughed civilian staff cannot currently release funds. Payments will be distributed as soon as staffing and funding authorities are restored.

Reminders

• No Annual Tour or IDTs are authorized during the shutdown. No exceptions.
• Avoid duplicate inquiries. Technician inbox overload slows processing for everyone.

Summary

• Next scheduled DFAS pay run: 21 Oct 2025 - Please remember HQ RIO is working the pre-certifications on a first come first serve basis and your pre-certification (based on where you are in the queue) may not make the 21 Oct pay run
• LES expected (if paid): ~24 Oct 2025
• HQ RIO will continue to process pay and travel as quickly and accurately as staffing allows.
• We will provide additional updates as the situation evolves.