More on IMAs
130:
I'm going to start by assuming you are USAF, not USN. Why in a few paragraphs.
I'm a TR, and I see a lot of want-ads for IMA positions flow through my squadron, ie, "Does anybody want to do this for 180 days?"
From what I have seen, being a TR means I have a steady position with pay I can count on. I'm in a flying billet, and I get pro-rated flight pay.
As a TR, I can volunteer for IMA duty when it appeals. Most of the IMA stuff I have seen has been staff duty in various locations, from MacDill, to Qatar or any country that ends in "stan."
If you are separating and want to go straight into the IMA, it would still be available as a volunteer position. But you couldn't bank on it. If your flying gates are met, you might still get pro-rated flight pay--I'm not sure on that.
As an IMA, you will only earn one retirement point a day. As a TR, I sometimes earn two a day, but mostly just one. Could also earn none a day (it's complicated).
The reason I mentioned the Navy: I know guys who have done IMA duty for the Navy....for points only!!! That's right, they did the job for free, but earned a retirement point a day. I don't think the USAF has a similar system. To be fair, these jobs are more in the traditional "one weekend a month; 14 days a summer" category.
As an O-5, each point I earn is worth about $0.45 a month in my retirement (which you don't get until you are 60). For an O-4 it's about $0.39. That's pretty low wages, in my book, to justify working for points-only. (But more secure than an airline retirement).
Hope that helps. You might find more info on baseops.net.