FACT
SHEET ON AIR FORCE BENEFITS
THIS IS A LISTING OF JUST SOME OF THE
MANY AIR FORCE BENEFITS WITH A BRIEF SUMMARY OF EACH. IAW AFI 36-2618, THE ENLISTED
FORCE STRUCTURE, SUPERVISORS ARE REQUIRED TO REVIEW THE FACT SHEET WITH EACH
FIRST AND SECOND TERM SUBORDINATE WHEN CONDUCTING PERFORMANCE FEEDBACK AND WHEN
AN INDIVIDUAL COMES UP FOR QUALITY REVIEW UNDER THE SELECTIVE REENLISTMENT PROGRAM. FOR MORE INFORMATION ON A PARTICULAR BENEFIT,
CONTACT THE APPROPRIATE BASE AGENCY.
MILITARY PAY RAISES: By law, military pay raises are set
at .5% below the Employment Cost Index (ECI) published by the Department
of
Labor. However, the FY00 National
Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) changed the law to allow military pay raises
to be set at .5% above the ECI through the year 2006. See Military
Pay Charts for more information.
SPECIAL AND INCENTIVE PAYS: Air Force members
are entitled to selective reenlistment bonuses, enlistment bonuses, continuation
bonuses, accession bonuses, proficiency pays, career incentive pays, deployment
pays, hazardous duty pays, and other special pays depending on specific
qualifications. See Military
Pay Charts for more information
TAX ADVANTAGE:
Military personnel receive additional compensation since some allowances
are not taxable. These include
Basic Allowance for Subsistence (BAS), Basic Allowance for Housing (BAH), Overseas
Housing Allowance (OHA), Cost-of-Living Allowance (COLA), and Family Separation
Allowance (FSA). Federal income tax is calculated using the standard deduction
rates. See Military
Pay Charts for more information
RETIREMENT: Individuals are typically retirement
eligible upon completing 20 years of service.
For complete details, see Understanding Military Retired Pay.
THRIFT SAVINGS PLAN (TSP): Effective 2002, military members
will be able to contribute to the popular TSP which federal civilian employees
currently enjoy. This will provide
military members a 401(k)-like savings plan, which allows members to accumulate
long-term, tax-deferred savings and earnings, with which they will be able to
supplement future retirement income.
LEAVE: Accumulates
2.5 days leave per month (30 days of leave with pay each year) which can be
carried forward (maximum of 60 days) into the next fiscal year.
SURVIVOR BENEFITS.
All pay stops when a member dies.
However, if the member dies while on active duty with 20 or more years
of service, the surviving spouse and children are automatically protected by
the Survivor Benefit Plan (SBP)--at no cost to the member.
The surviving spouse will get an annuity equal to the difference between
the dependency and indemnity compensation (DIC) payment and the SBP payment
that would be paid had the member been retired on the date of his death. To determine the amount of the SBP, the
maximum applicable rate of retired pay that would be due the member would be
used.
SERVICEMEMBERS' GROUP LIFE INSURANCE: Inexpensive insurance--$250,000
at $20 per month ($0.80/$10,000 of coverage).
EDUCATION: The
Air Force currently pays 100 percent of tuition, within certain limitations.
See Air Force Tuition Assistance for more information. .
COMMISSIONING PROGRAMS: There are many avenues
to pursue for those interested in a commission.
Officer Training School (OTS), Air Force Reserve Officer Training Corps
(AFROTC) scholarship programs, and Airman Education and Commissioning Program
(AECP) are some of the many programs available. Additionally, AFROTC recently implemented
a 1-year Professional Officer Corps (POC) program that allows enlisted personnel
who are within one year of completing baccalaureate requirements, the opportunity
to apply to ROTC.
MONTGOMERY GI BILL (MGIB): Individuals
entering the Air Force after 1 Jul 85 are automatically enrolled in the
MGIB, unless
they disenroll in recruit training. The
MGIB requires a $100 a month nontaxable pay reduction for the first full 12
months of active duty. For complete
details, see the Active
Duty MGIB Article.
SCHOLARSHIPS: Many scholarships are available
for both military members and their families.
Eagle Grants are also available for CCAF graduates who are pursuing a
bachelor's degree. Grants range
from $250 to $500 and may be used in conjunction with Tuition Assistance. Military spouses’ organizations also offer
scholarship opportunities.
VOCATIONAL TRAINING OPPORTUNITIES: There
are training opportunities, both formal training associated with AFSC and various
classes related to personal enhancement (PME, computer classes, management training).
CAREER BROADENING OPPORTUNITIES: Special
Duty Assignments, Retraining, Overseas Duty, Contingency TDYs, etc.
PROMOTION OPPORTUNITY: Our system
is fair, impartial, visible, understandable, and provides equal selection
opportunity
to all eligibles. For complete
information, see Air Force Enlisted Promotions, Simplified.
FAMILY SUPPORT CENTERS: The Air Force realizes
there is a direct relationship between a member’s ability to successfully accomplish
a mission and the quality of life that his/her family experiences. Because of this relationship, many programs
are offered through the base Family Support Center to promote a positive family
and community environment. The
Family Support Center offers a Transition Assistance Program for those separating/retiring
from the Air Force, an extensive Relocation Assistance Program that includes
a Smooth Move program to prepare those who will PCS and a base newcomers tour.
The family services program offers a loan locker, which includes pots,
pans, cribs, and other household items available for checkout to relocating
members and their families. The
volunteer resource office maintains a list of agencies accepting volunteers
and a list of those wishing to volunteer.
The family life program offers classes in parenting, couples communication,
stress management, and a host of other family-related courses. The family readiness program prepares
families for the stress of deployments, NEOs, and repatriations. Emergency financial assistance is available
through the Air Force Aid office, and the Personal Financial Management Program
offers information, education, and personal financial counseling on the full
range of financial issues. FSCs are the first stop on base for information
and referral services for all individual and family issue. In addition to these traditional Family
Support Center programs, the Air Force has a comprehensive community We-site
at www.afcrossroads.com. Crossroads provides our military
members and their families access to a wide range of resources from information
on 300+ DoD Installations to a spouse forum, secure and monitored teen forum
and spouse employment web-site with exclusive access to jobs for our AF Family
members.
MEDICAL AND DENTAL: In 1999, an estimated 43 million Americans
(approximately 18%) did not have health insurance. Those that have insurance pay an average
premium of $205 a month or $2,460 a year ($470 a month or $5,646 a year for
a family of two or more). These
premiums do not take into account the cost-shares and deductibles often required
in civilian plans. As an active
duty member, the military provides you and your family with comprehensive medical
care. TRICARE is the name of the
Department of Defense’s regional managed health care program. Under TRICARE, there are three health
plan options: TRICARE Prime (which covers all active duty members and those
family members that choose to enroll in this HMO-style plan); TRICARE Standard
(an indemnity plan formally called CHAMPUS) and TRICARE Extra (a Preferred Provider
Organization plan). Under TRICARE
Prime, you will have an assigned military or civilian primary care manager who
will oversee all aspects of your care, including referrals to specialists.
As of 1 Oct 2001, active duty families that enroll in Prime will have
no deductibles, cost-shares, or co-payments except for a nominal co-payment
for prescriptions filled outside the military treatment facility (MTF).
In addition to providing top quality health care, the TRICARE Prime program
also guarantees access for all your health needs: urgent appointments available
within 24 hours, routine appointments within seven days and referral for specialty
care within 30 days. Emergency
care is offered 24 hours a day. TRICARE Prime also includes preventative
health screening services such as periodic eye examinations, mammograms,
cholesterol screening and a health risk
assessment appraisal that many civilian health plans do not cover. TRICARE Standard offers more choice of
providers, but requires an annual $50 deductible per person or $300 per family
(E-1 to E-4: $50 per person or $100 per family) plus a 20% cost-share for outpatient
care and an $11/day charge for inpatient care. TRICARE Extra offers the same as Standard,
but if you elect to use a Prime network provider, the outpatient visit cost-share
is only 15%. Even after retirement,
TRICARE Prime is available to all retirees
under age 65 for a minimal enrollment fee of $230 or $460 for a family plan
per year, a fraction of the cost in the civilian sector. And recent legislation, known as TRICARE
for Life, has expanded benefits for retirees over age 65 (Medicare eligible).
While the Air Force Medical Service can
provide free dental care for all active duty members, we do not have the staff
to see all family members. Dental
health insurance is available for family members through the TRICARE Dental
Program (TDP). Monthly TDP premiums are cost-shared by
the Department of Defense (i.e., government pays 60% and the sponsor pays 40%).
The sponsor’s monthly premium payment is about $8 when a single-family
member is enrolled and about $20 for two or more enrolled family members.
Basic preventative services are covered at 100%; the plan pays 50-80%
of the cost of certain specialized services such as restorations, orthodontics,
and prosthodontics. In addition,
costs shares for other specialty care (periodontic, endodontic and oral surgery)
are lower for E-1s to E-4s.
COMMISSARY:
Provides 29 percent savings over commercial purchases (based on 2000 Market
Basket Survey).
BASE EXCHANGE: "We
Go Where You Go" is the motto of AAFES. For more than 105 years, the exchange
service has remained true to its commitment to Value, Service, and Support for
the military customer and their families worldwide. AAFES helps you in two principal ways.
First is its guarantee to "meet or beat" any retailer's price on the
same item (under $5, no questions asked, over $5, within 30 days of the retailers
advertisement). Second, profits are used to support the
Services' morale, welfare, and recreation programs. And now, AAFES offers 24/7 convenience
through its new website: www.aafes.com.
BASE FACILITIES/SERVICES: Includes the base fitness center, health
and wellness center, golf course, family housing, child development center,
skills development center, auto skills, aero club, community centers, swimming
pool, enlisted club, intramural sports, bowling center, library, chapel, youth
center, outdoor recreation, base exchange, commissaries and discounts on special
events/off-base recreation areas through Information, Ticket and Tours.
CHILD CARE: Child Development Centers offer
care for children 0-5 years of age. Air
Force licensed family childcare is available at most installations and is certified
by the Department of Defense accredited by the National Association for the
Education of Young Children. Fees
are based on total family income. Before and after school programs
are also offered as part of our Youth Programs.
SPACE
AVAILABLE TRAVEL: Eligible for travel aboard military
aircraft worldwide. Families are
eligible for space available travel outside the CONUS.
LEGAL ASSISTANCE:
The base Legal Assistance Office will assist with preparing wills, powers
of attorney, and provide advice on domestic relations problems, contracts, civil
rights, and tax problems.
VA HOME LOANS:
May be eligible for home loans through the Veterans Administration.
OTHER ENTITLEMENTS
Family Separation Allowance (FSA)
Dislocation allowance
Transportation for dependents on duty changes
Shipment of household goods overseas and in the United States
Schooling for dependents overseas and at some CONUS bases
Station housing and cost of living allowances at many locations
Travel allowance for POV pickup/delivery at port
Storage of POV when PCSing to POV restricted area
Reimbursement of Pet Quarantine Fees
PROGRAMS FOR DOCUMENTED PERSONAL DIFFICULTIES
Emergency leave with priority on military aircraft
Humanitarian reassignment
Permissive reassignment
Exceptional Family Member Program (EFMP)
Air Force Aid Society
Information Courtesy of United States
Air Force
