I was in the same situation and decided to retire and apply under the Retired Rated Recall to avoid being forced out at 28 years. There is no mandatory separation date for a retiree, so if you reach sanctuary you can press on until you reach 20. One thing to consider - a four year tour is not automatic, it all depends on the assignment offered and training required. I am pursuing a UAV job which is training plus three years. Haven't gotten a straight answer yet on whether they will write orders for a four year tour or whether or not I can work an extension once on active duty. As to drawing immediate retired pay if forced out, I don't see how you would unless you had 7300 points. Hope this helps.

Rule Change
 

According to the contact center last week my status was concurred with UAV Creech with a spring training date. I was expecting a SOI but instead I got this:

As of today, our office has not received final disposition on your medical
clearance. In the past, all applications were processed prior to receiving
medical clearance; however, this created a bottleneck in the process since
packages could not meet senior panel review. Moreover, you cannot return to
active duty without medical clearance. As a result, it's best we receive
finalized medical clearances; this will help expedite the process through
Airman Assignments, senior panel, and ultimately return you to active duty.

I don't know if my assignment is on hold or if the process will start over when my physical gets blessed. Looks like nothing happens now until the physical gets approved. MSgt Jacks told me the physical process can take 6 to 8 weeks. I took my physical seven weeks ago.

Update on my status,

Timeline: faxed in paperwork 11 May physical same day (I scheduled it before doing paperwork) assignment guy contacted me on 10 June, physical paperwork approved by AETC/SG on 22 June, sent to board members on 6 July, SOI july 11. 61 days from start to SOI. Received orders on 15 Aug. report 15 Sept. Word to the wise for those going back on duty and moving, you will need a copy of your DD1172 to show your dependents prior to your orders getting published. I found this when I called to check on the status of my orders. From the time I sent in the SOI to orders was another 30 days and I had everything done when I got the SOI, so it takes a while. Good luck to those still trudging the process.

Retirees with VA Disability
 

Have any of you returning retirees that have received medical clearance had any VA documented disabilities??? If so, how were these cleared???

I haven't actually received my medical clearance yet, but my disability was handled as a required waiver.

If you ever had a medical waiver in the AF, it is the same process, a lot of paperwork and a few more signatures.

I think the real probelm will be sorting out the paycheck when the time comes. I assume they will just terminate the VA check, but somehow I don't think it will be that simple.

I had a 20% disability for 2 items. One was something that I had been on a flying waiver for when I was on AD, the other was something that the VA doc discovered. At the time I retired I was on 2 waivers, one for the aforementioned item, and the other was something the VA didn't care about. So, three potential medical landmines.

The Flight Doc used the wording from my original waiver paperwork and submitted those items up the waiver chain. (Note, he was an AMC doc, but our waivers don't go thru the doc's normal waiver chain, they need to go thru AETC.) The other item that VA found, he evaluated and decided it had no impact on flying performance and ignored it. I did have to submit my VA disability paperwork to AFPC, but I don't know how hard they looked at it. In the end, my medical was approved.

Timeline for medical: physical on 4/14, package sat at CHS awaiting a signature until 5/26, called in for extra tests related to one of the waiver items on 6/9, physical approved on 7/9.

I have a VA disability that is connected to an indefinite waiver I had on active duty. I called the VA and they immediately faxed me a letter that AFPC needed describing the disability. I had made copies of my medical records upon retirement and was able provide a copy of the waiver documentation which satisfied the flight surgeon that gave me my physical, so fortunately I didn't have to go through the process of obtaining a new waiver. I've been medically "good to go" for a couple months now. Assignments has been what is holding me up.

I received the same message yesterday. I sent an email back and they replied saying, "Without your medical clearance your package cannot meet the review panel however, you have been given an assignment." I emailed them back and I got a message that they I've been assigned my first choice to go back to 135's. You might want to ask them if they've given you an assignment as well.

My next question is this review panel. I noticed that it used to be a board that got together to approve the packages every week or so, but now its just a review panel. Is it likely I'll still get my choice or could they reject the offer from assignments based on what they see in the package?

From my research, you have to send a letter to the VA letting them know you are going back on active duty. If not they have no way of knowing that and will keep sending you checks that they will then collect when they finally figure it out :D

I e-mailed and asked about my assignment. I was assigned my first choice UAV to Creech with a springtime class. They said the medical hold would not change the assignment. I did not ask about the panel but I have not heard of anyone having their assignment changed by the board or the panel.