8.1 Benefits & Services

The Air Force Portal

Launched in 2000, the Air Force Portal provides a single point of entry to web-based information, self-service applications, collaboration and networking tools, and combat support systems — many without requiring a separate user identification and password. Access requires any internet-connected computer with a valid DoD public key infrastructure certificate, such as a common access card.

Through the portal Airmen reach myPay, the Air Force Virtual Education Center, MyFitness, the Virtual Military Personnel Flight, LeaveWeb, the Assignment Management System, and the Air Force E-Publishing Website.

The Military and Family Readiness Center

M&FRC services assist commanders in assessing and supporting the welfare of the military and build a strong sense of community. They support mission readiness by helping Airmen and families adapt to the challenges and demands of expeditionary operations and the military lifestyle.

A distinction AFH 1 draws explicitly: legal services are not performed by or within M&FRCs — they are performed by the Office of the Staff Judge Advocate on the installation.

TAP Deadlines

365 and 90 are the two numbers to hold.

Casualty, Emergency Data, and Insurance

Casualty Assistance Representatives (CAR) and survivor benefit plan counselors provide counseling on benefits from the Department of the Air Force, VA, Social Security Administration, IRS, HHS, and state and local agencies. When a casualty occurs, the Air Force promptly notifies the Primary Next of Kin (PNOK) and other named beneficiaries. A CAR is appointed where a member is deceased, Duty Status Whereabouts Unknown (DUSTWUN), or missing.

The 12-hour rule: the CAR assists in meeting timelines such as delivering notifications within 12 hours of a casualty — which is precisely why AFH 1 insists the Record of Emergency Data be current.

Record of Emergency Data (DD Form 93 / vRED). Maintained initially on the DD Form 93 and input into the virtual Record of Emergency Data via vMPF, it lets Airmen list who should be notified if they become ill, injured, wounded, missing or deceased, and designate beneficiaries of Death Gratuity and Arrears of Pay, plus the Person Authorized to Direct Disposition (PADD) of their remains.

Members must review or update the vRED annually and on life-changing events: marriage, divorce, births, before deployments, TDYs of more than 30 days, and PCS. AFH 1's note is testable: there is no requirement for the PADD to be related to the deceased, but that person should know the member's wishes and understand they will decide on embalming, funeral services, cremation, and burial.

SGLI and the Servicemembers' Group Life Insurance Online Enrollment System (SOES).

SOES enables elections 24/7/365. Hard-copy SGLV Form 8286 elections remain valid until superseded by a SOES election. Airmen married to other Airmen who have not updated DEERS with spouse information cannot properly certify their SOES record and must visit the MPF Customer Service Element or a RAPIDS station.

Family Care Plans

Under AFI 1-1, all Air Force members must be available to perform military duties and assignments unless deferred or exempted. A family care plan is required for:

• Single-member parents with custody who bear sole or joint responsibility
• Military couples with dependents
• Members solely responsible for the care of a spouse, elderly family member, or adult family member with disabilities who depends on them for financial, medical, or logistical support — including family members who have limited command of the English language, cannot drive, or cannot access basic life-sustaining facilities

Each member must maintain arrangements allowing them to be worldwide deployable at all times, and plans must be sufficiently detailed and systematic for a smooth, rapid transfer of responsibilities.

Certification uses the DAF Form 357, Family Care Certification. Commanders or first sergeants counsel Airmen with family members during inprocessing, and must annually brief all military members with family care responsibilities, individually, signing the form each time the plan is reviewed and certified. The member signs and dates the form to document the briefing. The original is filed with the member's administrative office, with a copy to the commander.

Changes: members must notify the commander or first sergeant immediately, or within 30 days (60 days for Selected Reserve) when personal or family circumstances change. Failure to produce a family care plan within 60 days of the discussion with the commander, supervisor, or designated representative may result in disciplinary action or administrative separation. Duty deferments, primarily for a four-month period, may be offered to help develop a plan.

VA Benefits and Health Care

VA benefits fall into disability benefits, education benefits, vocational rehabilitation and employment, home loans, burial benefits, dependents' and survivors' benefits, life insurance, and health care.

• Disability compensation is tax-free, graduated from 10 percent to 100 percent in increments of 10 percent. An additional allowance for dependents applies if the combined rating is 30 percent or greater
• Burial benefits: the VA National Cemetery Administration operates 155 national cemeteries; benefits include gravesite, opening and closing of the grave, perpetual care, and a government headstone or marker at no cost
• Yellow Ribbon GI Education Enhancement Program is a provision of Public Law 110-252, the Post-9/11 Veterans Educational Assistance Act of 2008
• Dependency and Indemnity Compensation is tax-free, payable to a surviving spouse, child, or parent

TRICARE versus the Veterans Health Administration. TRICARE is operated through the Department of Defense for service members and dependents; the VHA provides care for enrolled veterans and eligible family members. They work together but have different eligibility criteria, health benefits, and costs. The primary TRICARE options are TRICARE Prime and TRICARE Select, and TRICARE offers three dental plans: the active duty dental program, the TRICARE dental program, and the TRICARE retiree dental program.

Retirement

Eligibility: enlisted members may retire with 20 years of TAFMS absent restrictions in DAFI 36-3203. Enlisted members must apply for retirement, otherwise they will separate on their date of separation. Officers need 20 years TAFMS and 10 years of total active federal commissioned service.

Application: typically submitted through myFSS up to 12 months, but no less than 4 months before the desired retirement date. Before submitting, the member must request an eligibility review through myFSS.

Place of retirement: generally at the current duty station, with travel to a home of selection anywhere in the United States.

Retirement Pay Plans

The Date Initially Entered Uniformed Service (DIEUS) determines the plan — a fixed date not subject to adjustment because of a break in service.

Key numbers: the maximum multiplier for 30 years TAFMS is 75 percent; members serving beyond 30 years earn an additional 2.5 percent each year, maxing at 100 percent. Under BRS, DoD makes an automatic 1 percent contribution to the Thrift Savings Plan after 60 days of service and matches up to an additional 4 percent after 2 years, continuing until separation, retirement, or 26 years of service.

REDUX cost-of-living adjustments are Consumer Price Index minus 1 percent, with retired pay recomputed at age 62 so REDUX and High-3 salaries equalize — after which REDUX COLAs again run at CPI minus 1 percent.

The Survivor Benefit Plan

Military pay stops when a member dies. SBP provides a monthly annuity to survivors, structured so a surviving spouse cannot outlive the annuity, with cost-of-living adjustments built in. RegAF members with a spouse or dependent children are automatically covered at no cost while on RegAF status.

The base amount may be full monthly retired pay or a portion, down to $300. Because the base amount is tied to retired pay, COLAs raise the base amount, the premiums, and the annuity together.

Withdrawal: participants have a one-year window to terminate coverage between the second and third anniversary of beginning to receive retired pay. Premiums are not refunded, no annuity is payable, the covered spouse or former spouse must consent, and termination is permanent.

Paid-up feature: members who reach age 70 and have paid 360 months of premiums stop paying but remain active participants.

American Red Cross and Recruiting Programs

The American Red Cross serves members and families free of charge, 365 days a year, 24 hours a day, with emergency communications whose verified information assists commanders in making decisions regarding emergency leave. The stateside toll-free number is 1-800-733-2767. The Red Cross partners with the Air Force Aid Society, Army Emergency Relief, Coast Guard Mutual Assistance, and Navy-Marine Corps Relief Society for financial assistance.

Recruiter Assistance Program (RAP) is a RegAF leave program in which an Airman directly supports a recruiter, with non-chargeable leave under DAFI 36-3003.

We Are All Recruiters (WEAR) may grant permissive temporary duty for events that directly enhance the recruiting mission. AFH 1 defines the audiences precisely: applicants are individuals aged 17 to 39; influencers are parents, community leaders, teachers, counselors, or coaches. Each attendee at a multi-Airman event must submit a separate package, approved first by the commander and then routed to Air Force Recruiting Service Public Affairs.