The AGR to ART conversion was put on hold indefinitely in late Summer 2011. AFRC is now attempting to implement the plan again. AFRC/CC Lt Gen Stenner has been on a "Farewell Tour" visiting all of his peeps. He stopped in at Laughlin AFB, Mexico, today and had a Town Hall meeting with my unit, the 96th Flying Training Squadron.

We got to learn all about the USAF top five priorities for 2012 and how we as Total Force Warriors fit into the plan. Then he asked for questions about the AGR to ART conversion. He said:

1. AGR Review Boards will not take conversion into account in deciding whether or not to extend career status.

2. Currently serving in an AGR position, you won't be forced to convert to an ART. This implies orders will not be curtailed and that dudes in career status will not be converted out of their AGR job.

3. ARTs and TRs are the composition of a normal reserve unit. AGRs should only be used for HQ Staff, Medical Corps, Trigger Pullers, and I don't remember what else.

4.. Unit openings caused by an AGR leaving/retiring/promoting will be converted to ARTs if they were positions that were supposed to change to ARTs.

Huh? Initially not all of the positions will be convertible positions. I asked him if this meant that if a Lt Col flight commander retired from a position that was supposed to be converted and I was a Lt Col select AGR and my commander wanted me to take over as that flight commander, that I would not be able to be MDRd into it as an AGR. He said that was correct. I might not be able to pin on if the vacated job was one that was supposed to convert to ART. But I could sign up to have AFRC manage my career to get me into those leadership opportunities that I desire!

I stopped asking questions, covered up my name patch, and slowly slid underneath the table in hope that he would not remember my name or face. If only I had introduced myself as Art Vandelay.

Waiting for AGR Review Board results,
AggiePilot