Palace Chase/Separation Questions
 

I'm currently overseas (Alaska) and applying for Palace Chase to get out at my DEROS. My DEROS is 23 May 17 which is 6 months before my ADSC. I'm getting some conflicting information and am hoping that someone can help answer the following questions assuming my Palace Chase app is approved:

What is the earliest that I can depart for my HOR?

For a voluntary separation, does the AF give you travel days to get to your HOR like a PCS?

My local FSS told me that I can't leave AK for my HOR until my DOS since I'm selling back my leave. I was under the impression that they have to get you back to your HOR prior to DOS. My HOR allows for 10 days of travel based on the JFTR which makes me think that I should be able to leave on 13 May for a 23 May DOS. Am I wrong?

I believe that I read somewhere that voluntary separations from overseas don't qualify for PTDY. Am I missing something there?

TIA!

First Palace Chase means you have a Guard or Reserve job. I gather you have one and that's why you're selling back your leave, so you can start right away, rather than take terminal and leave AK ASAP. A TFI unit has to sign off on your Palace Chase to incur the remaining commitment. If not then your talking Palace Front. But why sell back your leave? You'll lose $$. Not sure the details about the other stuff. Good luck!

Yes, I was hired at Selfridge flying the KC-135. I'm selling back my leave because I don't want to move my family across the country in Feb/Mar. The roads will suck and I'll be towing a camper and I don't want to pull my kids out of school with 2-3 months remaining. If I wait until my DEROS, my kids will be out of school and the roads will be much better. I realize that I will only get my base pay but it just makes sense for my family. We're still looking at other options to include moving my family home early but I'm leaning toward cashing out my 2-2.5 months of leave at this point.

When I switched from AD to reserves I went straight to full time orders and carried my leave over to the reserves. I don't know the process and I think the guard/reserve unit must be ok with it but it is possible.

ps...You know the AF is screwed when dudes are leaving fighters to go fly tankers.

ISR is terrible
 

I have been hired by a reserve unit and intend on applying for palace chase. I have contacted the ISR and exchanged phone calls (when he answers), emails (when he responds), and I have gone speak to the ISR in person. He is about as useful as a poopy flavored lollipop. He tried to tell me I can only ask for 90 days, what paperwork I needed, etc. I told him he is wrong and confused with the enlisted rules. He was confident he was correct and then I had to flat tell him no you are wrong and need to educate yourself on the officer side of the house. I have lost all confidence in him especially since it took him 2 months after my request to start the process of putting me on the scroll.

Does anyone has a good step by step deal so I can just do this myself? If I wait for him to pull his head out of his rear, my ADSC will just end up being complete. Maybe that is the plan of the AF. They will put the most incompetent people in the ISR office to ensure we have no hope to palace chase. I am currently deployed and want to get this paperwork in asap. Any help is much appreciated.

No one else run into a sub par ISR?

I just started to look into PC myself and the ISR at my base is great. I don't know if you have to use the one at your duty station. PM me and I'll get you the info for my ISR. Hopefully he can help you out/get you the answers you need.

Any 11F Palace Chase success stories recently? I’ve got about 2 years left on my ADSC (1 year until UPT commitment…added an extra year for some training). Would like to PC and ask for separation at my original UPT ADSC but concerned that might be asking for too much. Biggest concern is laying my cards on the table too far out and ending up at a sunny locale making coffee/powerpoint. Most I’ve heard right now is 6 months and even that has been few and far between. Assumption would be that I’d have a Guard/Reserve unit willing to hire me and incur the commitment.

Get familiar with the Palace Chase PSD which is located on MyPers under separation then palace chase. You can ask for as much off your ADSC as you want. Traditional guidance is they will only approve less than 6 months but I know a few cases where Palace Chase was approve for individuals with for 12 months off.

https://mypers.af.mil/ci/fattach/get...7%20Secure.pdf

Is that link going to take me to a place in the portal where I can just do all the paperwork myself and avoid going through my terrible ISR? If so, I will have to try this on Monday. Thanks.