AFLCMC taps into reserve component to fill vacancies

  • Published
  • By Mark Wyatt
  • 66th Air Base Group Public Affairs
HANSCOM AIR FORCE BASE, Mass. – Two reserve component officers recently began three years of active duty service here through the Air Force Personnel Center’s Voluntary Limited Period of Active Duty program.

Lt. Col. Dave Skiba, currently the chief engineer for Battle Control Systems Division, and Capt. Francis “Mickey” Condon, intelligence officer for the Acquisition Intelligence Division, are filling vacancies for the Air Force Life Cycle Management Center at Hanscom.

“The opportunity for the Air Force Life Cycle Management Center to tap into the reserve component to fill critical vacant active duty positions is a win-win for all,” said Col. Michael Harm, Theater Battle Control Division senior materiel leader. “Lt. Col Skiba and Capt. Condon are Air Force acquisition professionals who bring a breadth of experience to their respective teams.”

The program allows Reserve and Air National Guard Airmen to fill vacant active duty positions in undermanned career fields for three years and one day.

“I jumped at the opportunity to continue my service on active duty at Hanscom,” said Skiba, who came from the Air Force Reserve Individual Mobilization Augmentee program. “I’m able to bring more than 20 years of service as a civil engineer, developmental engineer, environmental engineer and explosive ordnance disposal technician to help provide war-winning capability to the warfighter.”

According to an Air Force Personnel Center article published earlier this year, the program also offers officers special duty opportunities, mission support group deputy commander positions and instructor positions. Enlisted offerings include more than 60 career fields throughout the Air Force.

“In addition to more than 15 years of military experience, for the past four years I have been a systems engineer as a contractor here,” said Condon, who was an intel officer for the Vermont Air National Guard. “I have a unique blend of intel and acquisition experience that helps me as an intelligence officer in the Acquisition Intelligence Division.”

Each Airmen is taking advantage of the added experience the VLPAD program provides to them as well as the many of the benefits afforded active duty members.

“The program allows Airmen the opportunity to gain critical experience that they might not otherwise get while in the reserve component,” said Skiba. “The end result is a more seasoned officer for the United States Air Force.”

The officer program is open to first lieutenants through lieutenant colonels. Enlisted members in all grades are eligible to apply, although senior master sergeants and chief master sergeants are on a case-by-case basis with Air Force-level approval needed, according to AFPC.

Interested reserve officers are required to submit an Air Force Form 125, Application for Extended Active Duty with the United States Air Force, and also letters of recommendation, current fitness assessment, their last five performance reports and a resume.

Enlisted Airmen must submit the same, as well as a cover letter, most recent DD Form 214, record of emergency data, most recent enlistment form and their last three performance reports.

“Meeting the needs of the warfighter is important work,” said Condon. “The opportunity to reach into the total force to fill critically needed active duty positions is helpful in accomplishing that.”

Further information on the VLPAD program is available and continuously updated on myPers, including eligibility, additional guidelines, vacancies and more for officer and enlisted Airmen.

For additional information, contact the AFPC Total Force Serve Center at 800-565-0102 and select option 1 (regular Air Force with personnel inquiries).