The RIO Buzz                                                                                 Vol 93

 

Good News First: CY25A RSSB Selections! A huge congratulations to all the IMAs selected for CY25A RSSB! This board selected Air Force Reserve Officers for 11 courses, including short, hybrid, and seminar formats. Remember, these professional development opportunities are invaluable. We highly encourage everyone to explore courses listed in the RDEDB and EDEB as well as the RSSB and consider applying! Invest in yourself and your military career.    Important Updates:   

·       Return to In-Person Work: Exemption Granted! Great news for our IR members married to active-duty service members! AFRC has secured an exemption allowing these individuals to continue teleworking or performing remote orders. Important clarification: "Active duty" for this exemption does not include training duties or service school attendance.  

·       Telework/Remote Orders Still on Pause. Just a reminder that the pause on new telework/remote orders and extensions to existing orders remains in effect. We'll keep you updated as soon as we have any changes.  

·       Gender Dysphoria Policy: Update! The Under Secretary of Defense for Personnel and Readiness directed that no involuntary separation processes be initiated in light of the preliminary injunction order issued on 21 Mar 25 in Talbott v. United States. Awaiting further guidance.  

·       Missed the IR All Call? We've Got You Covered! If you couldn't make the IR All Call on 14 Mar 25, don't worry! The recording, slides, and Q&A are all available under the 'Events' section HERE. Get caught up on the latest information.  

·       Stay Informed: DoD Communication Playbook. The March issue of the DoD Communication Playbook is now available. You can access it HERE. It's a great resource for understanding communication strategies and best practices.  

·       Opportunity Spotlight: Executive Officer at HQ RIO! HQ RIO is seeking a highly motivated individual to serve as Executive Officer to the Commander. This is a fantastic opportunity to contribute directly to the success of our organization. If you're interested or want to learn more, check out the advertisement in VRS or GigEagle.   

Now, on to the Buzz...   Attention all exceptional Enlisted Airmen! The CY25 Stripes for Exceptional Performers (STEP) II program has exciting new changes! Mark your calendars for a new Promotion Eligibility Cutoff Date (PECD) of 13 Jun 25 and a myVector submission deadline of 15 Jun 25 at 1630 MDT. The Time in Grade (TIG) requirement is now four years. Please note that no CMSgt nominations will be accepted this year. Review the CY25 Stripes for Exceptional Performers Guide for complete details HERE and discuss your eligibility with your leadership.   

Stay Connected Throughout Your Deployment Journey! The AFRC Yellow Ribbon Reintegration Program offers valuable resources and support to you and your family before, during, and after deployments. Eligible IMAs can attend pre- and post-deployment events to connect with resources and support networks. Learn more and see if you qualify HERE or contact MSgt Samantha Conner at samantha.conner.1@us.af.mil. 

Important SHPE Update: Effective 19 Feb 25, Separation History and Physical Examinations (SHPEs) will only be performed for IRs who are retiring or separating within 90 days of their order end date. This change aligns with Section 1145 of Title 10, U.S.C. You are still required to complete your annual Periodic Health Assessments (PHAs) and/or deployment-related assessments, as applicable, as these assessments provide avenues to update/ document your medical status. 

Child Care Update: What You Need to Know. You may have heard about recent executive orders impacting federal hiring. We want to assure you that DoD childcare programs, including Child and Youth Programs and Home Community Care (HCC), are exempt from these hiring freezes. This means families should see no disruption in childcare availability. As a reminder, HCC is the primary childcare program for Reservists and is not subject to federal civilian workforce changes. This is a great time to review your family's dependent care plan to ensure you're ready for any situation. Need assistance with childcare? Contact your FSS Family Child Care coordinator or Military & Family Readiness Center. 

Free Tax Services for Military Members. MilTax (through Military OneSource) offers free e-filing software for service members, eligible family members, survivors, and recent veterans. Verify your eligibility and access this benefit today. Click HERE for more information.    

TRICARE Online (TOL) Patient Portal: Download your legacy health records from the TOL Patient Portal before 1 Apr 25, when it will be replaced by MHS GENESIS. LEARN MORE     

Standing Announcements:   

·       Annual Tour: The deadline for submitting AT orders requests for FY25 is 31 May 25. To ensure timely processing and funding, we strongly recommend submitting your requests as soon as possible. Please note that submitting requests after the deadline does not guarantee funding availability, and late requests may not be executable. If you are uncertain about the exact dates, you can submit your AT request with your best estimate and modify the dates at a later time.  

·       Job Opportunities: Check out opportunities in GIGEAGLE. These may include part-or-full-time, RPA or MPA orders, or AT, IDT and points-only options.   

Upcoming Events:  

·       FY25 Annual Tour orders request deadline: 31 May 25    

Resources   

IR Guide - Headquarters RIO > IR Guide (af.mil)  
Training videos - https://www.youtube.com/@HQRIOOfficial  
Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/HQRIO/  
Portal / website - https://www.hqrio.afrc.af.mil/  
RIO Connect App - https://www.hqrio.afrc.af.mil/RIO-Connect/  

  V/r,   

Col Nathan “N8” Day  Commander