(This was sent to all IMAs and PIRRs 8 Apr 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 116
Individual Reserve Airmen,
An additional Customer Service Hour will now be offered on the second and fourth Saturday every month starting this Saturday, 11 April 2026. See details below. Also, the next IR All Call is scheduled for Friday, 08 May at 1400 MT. Now on to the Buzz!
New Saturday Customer Service Hours
To provide enhanced support for our IR Airmen, we are pleased to announce additional Customer Service Hours beginning this April. These Saturday sessions are designed to give you dedicated time to get your questions answered and receive focused assistance.
Schedule & Topics
- Customer Service Hour will be offered on the second Saturday of each month (0800–0900 MT) and the fourth Saturday of each month (1400–1500 MT).
- Breakout rooms will focus exclusively on pay, orders, and travel.
What You Need to Bring
- To help our team assist you efficiently, please come prepared with all relevant documents, case numbers, and supporting information.
- Having these items ready ensures we can address your questions more effectively during the session.
ACTION REQUIRED: 2026 TASKORD Acknowledgement
Deadline: PASSED
- Action Required: All Individual Reserve Airmen must read and acknowledge CAFR TASKORD 2026-01 from Lt Gen John P. Healy, Chief of the Air Force Reserve.
- TASKORD and instructions for acknowledgement can be found here:
Nominations for the Individual Reservist of the Year Award are Officially Open
Deadline: 01 May 2026
Do you work with an Individual Reservist who consistently goes above and beyond? A true rockstar who defines excellence? Now’s your chance to give them the recognition they deserve!
Your mission is to nominate your most outstanding IR Airman by the deadline. It's time to celebrate the best of the best!
- Submit Your Nominations Here:
- The Big Reveal: Winners will be announced this June
ACTION REQUIRED: Leave Carry Over/Sellback Election
Deadline: 01 May 2026
Members who have unused accrued leave and wish to carry over their leave balance to a new long-tour ADOS (RPA or MPA) order must make their election in myFSS.
- Action Required: Log into myFSS to make your election. More here:
- What Happens Next: Beginning 01 May 2026, the RIO Reserve Pay Office (RPO) will start processing sellbacks for members who have not made an election to carry over.
- Note: Due to the number of cases and available technicians, processing will occur on a rolling basis over the next several months until all eligible cases are completed.
- Refer to: DAF1089A Election Only Quick Guide found here:
SAVE THE DATE: HQ RIO to host Virtual IR Orientation on May 13-14
- The next session will be held May 13-14, from 0800 to 1600 MT both days, offering a two-day orientation designed to equip IR Airmen and Mission Partners with essential knowledge and resources.
- Sessions are led by HQ RIO and ARPC experts, with opportunities to hear directly from leadership and connect with peers across the IR community.
What’s Covered Over the course of two days, attendees will receive in-depth guidance on navigating the IR program, including:
- HQ RIO structure, roles, and responsibilities
- Pay, travel, orders, and UTAPS
- Points, participation, and readiness
- Assignments, Medical, and deployments
- Career development, mentorship, and training resources
- Enlisted promotions, Officer Promotions, Tuition Assistance, and more!
Who Should Attend HQ RIO strongly encourages all IR Airmen, regardless of experience level. Active-duty Supervisors, Unit Reserve Coordinators, and Reserve Advisors are also welcome. This is a valuable opportunity to build awareness, foster collaboration, and stay informed on key program updates.
A DETAILED AGENDA WILL BE POSTED ON THE HQ RIO PORTAL CLOSER TO THE EVENT
REMINDER: FY26 Annual Tour (AT) Orders Deadline
Deadline: 31 May 2026
- Action Required: To ensure timely processing and funding, we strongly recommend submitting your requests to the HQ RIO Orders Writing Cell (OWC) in myFSS as soon as possible.
- Warning: Submitting requests after the deadline does not guarantee funding availability, and late requests may not be executable.
- Note: If you are uncertain about the exact dates, you can submit your AT request with your best estimate and modify it later. That will ensure funds are obligated. Late submissions are not guaranteed to be funded.
ACTION REQUIRED: Complete Your BAH Recertification
Deadline: 01 Jul 2026
All Individual Reserve Airmen are required to recertify their BAH status, including those who are single and do not claim dependents. Fill out DAF Form 594 (ensure you are using the 20221207 version).
For instruction on how to fill out the BAH recertification use this link:
To submit your BAH recertification use this link:
ACTION REQUIRED: Leave Options for Your Space Force Transfer
FOR: IMAs Transferring to the Space Force
Before you transfer to the Space Force, you must choose one of two options for your unused leave:
- Sell It Back: Get paid for your leave now. This is the recommended option to avoid delays after you transfer.
- Carry It Forward: Keep your leave for use in the Space Force. Be aware that you will likely face significant delays in accessing it.
What You Need to Do:
- To Sell Back Leave: Follow the instructions in the .
- To Check Your Balance: Look at your current leave balance on your most recent LES. If you are unsure of the accuracy of the leave balance on your LES, submit a myFSS case to the HQ RIO/RPO Leave Que and ask for your Leave Master Record (LMR).
REMINDER: Tour of Duty Certification (TODC) Process within AROWS-R
Several attempts may be required by the member to successfully send the supervisor TODC email, preferably between 15-45 minutes after the hour. Members are advised to check with their respective supervisor to verify receipt after submitting the TODC. There are troubleshooting tips on this to try if you have issues. If the supervisor does not receive the email, then the member will need to take the following action outside of AROWS-R:
- Print out the order/save order as a PDF
- Complete blocks 36-44 to include digital or wet signatures
- Submit the orders for certification manually via a myFSS > myIMA > IMA Reserve Pay > RPO: Pay Issues >
- Choose Request Type: “RPO: Pay Issues”
- Attach the certified order
- Add a comment that this manual certification submission is for pay due to the AROWS-R TODC function being inoperative
Individual Development Training (IDT) Travel Reimbursement Guide Update
The updated guidance can be found in the IDT Travel Reimbursement Quick Guide; refer to the .
Main Updates:
- Added approved exception to policy (ETP) for 2F- Fuels Management (2F091 & 2F000) by location request
- Previous version 3 updated intelligence DAFSCs to allow for 11 round trips for members assigned to JRIC locations only (see page 34). All other IMAs remain limited to 3 round trips based on DAFSC and location.
Remote Network Access Now Available
Need to access the network remotely? EITaaS Virtual Access Infrastructure (VDI) is now available as the replacement for Sonic Boom/Desktop Anywhere.
- After you CAC in, click the User Guide for setup instructions and the Download link to install it. The process is quick and straightforward.
- Access it here:
New Skillbridge Program Policy
Effective: 31 Mar 2026
New skillbridge policies, AFI 36-2671 & SPFI 36-2672, were published on 31 Mar 26 with MAJOR revisions that introduce rank-based program categories, clarify CC approval authorities, and formally codify that manpower backfills are prohibited for Airmen & Guardians. Skillbridge applications approved BEFORE 31 Mar 26, are not subject to new requirements.
Tiered Program Lengths: Each service established separate program duration limits based on rank to balance transition opportunities with operational readiness. By prioritizing transition support for its junior members and ensuring experienced leaders remain focused on the mission, the Air Force continues to build a stronger, more resilient force, ready for today's challenges and prepared for tomorrow's opportunities.
USAF:
- 120-day maximum for ranks E-1 to E-5 and O-1 to O-3.
- 90-day maximum for ranks E-6 to E-7, WO to CWO-3, and O-4.
- 60-day maximum for ranks E-8 to E-9, CWO-4 to CWO-5, and O-5.
- Officers in the grade of O-6 are not eligible to participate in SkillBridge without an approved Exception to Policy (ETP) for rare circumstances.
USSF:
- 120-day maximum for ranks E-1 to E-8 and O-1 to O-4.
- 90-day maximum for ranks E-9 and O-5 & above.
Clarified Approval Authorities: The policy clearly defines the application approval level for each rank, ensuring appropriate oversight for both active-duty Airmen and Air Reserve Command (ARC).
No Backfills Authorized: Reinforces units will not receive manpower backfills for members participating in SkillBridge. Commanders must weigh the impact of temporary manpower deficits when approving applications.
Formalized Exception Process: A formal Exception to Policy (ETP) process is now established for unique cases, such as members undergoing a Medical Evaluation Board (MEB), or SecWar and SecAF priorities.
For More Information: refer to the knowledge article, in myFSS or visit on the HQ RIO portal.
Very Respectfully,
HQ RIO