WILDFIRE HALTS MOVES TO AIR FORCE ACADEMY

FROM:  U.S. AIR FORCE
Wildfire stops moves to Air Force Academy
by Debbie Gildea
Air Force Personnel Center

6/28/2012 - JOINT BASE SAN ANTONIO-RANDOLPH, Texas (AFNS) -- Air Force officials have temporarily halted permanent change of station moves and most temporary duty assignments to the U.S. Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs, Colo., as Air Force members join the fight to extinguish the 29-square mile Waldo Canyon wildfire burning northwest of the installation, Air Force Personnel Center officials said.

The stop movement order, initiated by the 10th Air Base Wing commander, is in effect through July 1 and affects more than 200 military members, said Cristi Bowes, the AFPC assignments advisor.

"The order does not affect cadets, who are required to proceed to the Academy," Bowes said. "However, active-duty members with a permanent change of station report date in June, July or August are affected, and they need to know what the restrictions are."

Stateside-based Airmen projected to move to the Academy and those who have out-processed but have not departed from their current duty station must not depart or proceed. Airmen stationed overseas who have a projected assignment to the Academy and a June or July 2012 return from overseas date who have not yet departed the overseas area have options, said Bowes.

"Airmen planning to take leave outside the stop movement area may proceed, but if the stop movement order is still in place when their leave ends, they will not be able to sign in at the Academy, and any additional time will be charged to their leave account," she explained.

Members who do not intend to take leave en route and who have not yet signed out of their unit will not be allowed to proceed until further guidance is provided. Voluntary return from overseas extension requests will be considered, and some affected Airmen may be authorized additional temporary lodging allowance.

Airmen, including technical school graduates, who have already departed their last permanent duty station will not be allowed to proceed to the Academy. To ensure they are aware of the situation and have instructions, military personnelists from their former assignment will contact them, Bowes said.

Air Force civilian employees are also affected by the stop movement order, said Robbie Brown, the AFPC workforce effectiveness and compensation chief. Civilians who need information and guidance can contact their previous installation civilian personnel section or email the AFPC program management and evaluation branch at afpc.dpiec.af.programs.oversight@us.af.mil.

Temporary duty assignment moves are also affected, and members who are scheduled for a TDY to the Academy must consult their Academy point-of-contact for guidance, said Bowes.

"The gaining unit must approve the travel before the member may proceed," Bowes said. "Those whose travel is not approved should remain in-place until further notice. Members assigned to the Academy who have been deployed, on temporary duty or leave, may return."

All Airmen assigned to the Academy and the area affected by the wildfires must also log in to the Air Force Personnel Accountability and Assessment System to ensure they and their family members are accounted for, AFPC officials said. Read more at the AFPC news article released June 27: http://www.af.mil/news/story.asp?id=123307786.

For more information about the stop movement order, visit the myPers website at https://mypers.af.mil. Select "search all components," and enter "stop movement" in the search window.