, and separation makes sense for many non-rated officers who have the option to get out after just 5 years. I wasn’t being hyperbolic when I suggested that a commander might cancel upgrades, ground you, and/or reduce your ratings on performance reports and promotion recommendations after seeing your Palace Chase or Palace Front application. Air National Guard / Air Force Reserves ; Palace Chase/Front - Does it matter what I fly? ). The AFI says that a Palace Chase application should get an answer within 7-8 weeks of arriving at HQ AFPC. Getting out early may sound great, but there’s a catch. military service to an Air Reserve Component (ARC) • PALACE CHASE applicants are not eligible for AFR incentive programs • The PALACE FRONT program is a transfer program which allows active Air Force officers and enlisted members to transfer from the United States Air Force (USAF) to the ANGUS or the USAFR the day after separation from the Air Force non-PALACE CHASE • In light of this, your conversations about Palace Chase with your commander need to focus on the benefits of that continued service. You need to be good in your aircraft, but you also need to be effective in your office job(s). This means you need to work hard and actually produce good results. It explains how Air Force officers and enlisted members apply for entry into the Air National Guard of the United States (ANGUS) and the US Air Force Reserve (USAFR) under the PALACE CHASE and PAL- ACE FRONT programs. If the Air Force cannot afford to release a member due to the career field being undermanned, the request for Palace Chase will not be approved and the member must wait 120 days before reapplying. Palace Front allows for a seamless transition from active duty after the end of the member’s enlistment. As long as your service deserves his or her respect, showing your cards shouldn’t be an issue. Vote. However, if you want to do any type of job (flying or non-flying) that involves working for the government, your security clearance is priceless. One additional benefit to Palace Front is that the member is eligible for any bonuses being offered at the time to join the guard or reserve. The process is straightforward enough that it only occupies a little over 3 of the 45 pages of the regulation that governs these programs (AFI 36-3205). I’d then make my second request to get out with six months of ADSC remaining if the first application got denied. In my opinion, every Air Force pilot should consider using one of these programs to transition to part-time military service as soon as it makes sense. Unfortunately, the Air Force and its people don’t always fit those descriptions. BLUF: Considering Palace Front but might have 50% VA disability. Palace Front is an option for AF members who have elected to separate, have a separation date and are within six months of that separation date. If you honestly run the math, I suspect you’ll find that even a $25K-$35K per year pilot bonus in the Guard or Reserve is chump change compared to the end of career airline pilot pay you’d be giving up by delaying your departure from Active Duty. It’s possible that you’ll be able to sign a pilot retention bonus after you’ve served out your remaining time. It might not hurt to rush a Guard or Reserve unit you’re interested in to get a feel for your compatibility before you even submit your PC application. I recommend requesting to leave as soon as it makes sense to maximize the benefits of leaving Active Duty, but you shouldn’t submit so early that showing your cards will cause you problems. After completing four years on active duty, Senior Airman Brandon, a 50th Intelligence Squadron geospatial intelligence analyst, used the Palace Front program to transfer directly to the Reserve. The Air Force Personnel Center/Palace Chase office is the approving official for Palace Chase applications. However, this doesn’t have to be the case. You need to earn as many qualifications and certifications in your aircraft as you can. It’s possible to get Palace Chase if you’re still serving out an obligation related to a bonus, scholarship, tuition assistance, or similar program. Question. It’s likely that once you show your cards, you will be removed from any upgrade training you may have been slated for on your aircraft. Also, be sure to use our map that displays both Guard/Reserve units and airline domiciles. First, it will prompt him or her to support your PC application.