For Air Force personnel seeking to balance their service with personal and professional aspirations, the Career Intermission Program (CIP) offers a unique opportunity. Established in 2014 by the Department of Defense, this program allows dedicated service members to temporarily step away from active duty and transfer to the Individual Ready Reserve (IRR) for a period of one to three years. This intermission caters to personal or professional pursuits outside of military service, with a seamless pathway back to active duty upon completion. Despite its availability, the CIP remains underutilized, highlighting a need for greater awareness within the Air Force community. One inspiring example of the program’s success is Major Sandra Walker, an assistant director of operations for the 321st Missile Squadron at F.E. Warren Air Force Base, Wyoming, who became the first missileer to leverage this beneficial program.
Understanding the Air Force Career Intermission Program
The Career Intermission Program stands as a testament to the Air Force’s commitment to supporting its personnel both professionally and personally. Participants in the CIP gain the flexibility to address life events or pursue opportunities while retaining crucial benefits. These benefits include comprehensive medical and dental coverage for themselves and eligible dependents, continued access to Exchange and Commissary facilities, and a monthly stipend equivalent to one-fifteenth of their basic pay. This robust support system ensures that service members can focus on their intermission goals without undue hardship, knowing their health and family needs are continuously met. The program’s design underscores the Air Force’s understanding that supporting the holistic well-being of its members ultimately strengthens the force.
Major Walker’s introduction to the CIP occurred at the 2015 Twentieth Air Force Women’s Leadership Symposium. A guest speaker highlighted the program’s potential, planting a seed of knowledge that would prove invaluable for Walker in the years to come. Initially, the CIP was not an immediate necessity for her, but she recognized its potential value and mentally cataloged it as a future option. This proactive awareness demonstrates the importance of disseminating information about career-enhancing programs throughout the Air Force.
Maj. Walker’s CIP Experience: Balancing Family and Career
The pivotal moment for Major Walker’s consideration of the CIP arrived in 2016. Her husband, an active-duty helicopter pilot, received a distinctive opportunity for an immersion program with the German Air Force. This exciting prospect presented a geographical challenge. Potential work assignments for Walker in Germany were geographically inconvenient, situated several hours away from her husband’s posting. Adding to the complexity, they were expecting their first child. This confluence of career opportunities and family needs prompted Walker to explore flexible solutions, with the Career Intermission Program emerging as a promising option.
Alt: Maj Sandra Walker USAF assistant director of operations 321st Missile Squadron explains Career Intermission Program benefits at FE Warren AFB
Extensive research and thoughtful family discussions ensued, carefully weighing the career implications and broader family impacts. Ultimately, the CIP presented a compelling pathway to be closer to her family residing in Germany. It promised the invaluable opportunity to be actively present during her daughter’s formative early years, while simultaneously enabling her husband to undertake his unique German Air Force assignment. This decision-making process highlights the CIP’s value in facilitating work-life balance and supporting dual-military families.
However, Major Walker’s decision was not without its detractors. She encountered discouraging comments, with some voicing concerns about being “out of sight, out of mind” and questioning why she would seemingly jeopardize her promising career trajectory. Her resolute response challenged these conventional notions. Walker astutely reframed the intermission as simply a “delay” in retirement for those committed to a 20-year career. She emphasized that the quality of an Airman upon return is self-determined. Walker insightfully argued that allowing personnel to address personal needs through programs like CIP ultimately benefits both the Air Force and its Airmen, fostering a more resilient and adaptable force.
A crucial piece of advice Walker offers to anyone contemplating the CIP is to meticulously understand promotion timelines and Professional Military Education (PME) requirements, applicable to both officers and enlisted personnel. Open communication with squadron leadership, senior enlisted leaders, or mentors is paramount. While separation is flexible, returning service members must be prepared for their careers to resume momentum immediately. Strategic planning regarding desired career trajectory upon return is therefore essential. This proactive approach ensures a smoother transition back to active duty and maximizes career progression post-intermission.
In 2018, Major Walker commenced her Career Intermission. This period became a deeply enriching chapter in her life. She dedicated herself to raising her daughter and experienced a more relaxed second pregnancy and postpartum period. Furthermore, she invested in personal growth through extensive reading and running, showcasing the program’s capacity to facilitate self-improvement.
Alt: Maj Sandra Walker USAF with daughters in Germany during Career Intermission Program experiencing family time and cultural immersion
“The beauty of this program,” Walker elaborated, “is its open eligibility for diverse reasons.” She noted that CIP participants pursue varied paths during their intermission, ranging from employment at companies like Amazon to providing care for family members facing illness, and numerous other personal and professional development goals. For Walker, the program served as the linchpin to support her husband’s career advancement, nurture her family, and immerse her daughters in German language and culture, a deeply personal and invaluable outcome. This versatility underscores the CIP’s broad applicability and its potential to meet a spectrum of individual needs within the Air Force.
Seamless Return and Continued Success
The Career Intermission Program is intentionally structured to ensure a successful return to active duty for participants. For Major Walker, the reintegration process began approximately six to nine months prior to her return date. The Air Force Personnel Center (AFPC) initiated dialogues regarding preferred assignment locations, highlighting a significant benefit: authorized travel and transportation allowances to a designated home of selection within the U.S., and subsequently to the follow-on assignment upon reactivation. AFPC also facilitated medical clearance renewals and the security clearance reinstatement process. This proactive and supportive approach by AFPC streamlined Walker’s return, minimizing administrative burdens.
Upon her return to active duty in 2021, professional opportunities quickly unfolded for Major Walker. Her husband was selected for in-residence Intermediate Developmental Education at Maxwell AFB, Alabama, while she commenced teaching at Squadron Officer School, later transitioning to Director of Operations for a student squadron. Subsequently, the roles reversed when she was selected for Air Command and Staff College, and her husband took up a teaching position at SOS. This reciprocal career support exemplifies the program’s positive impact on dual-military families, enabling both partners to pursue significant career milestones.
“Returning to active duty was considerably smoother than separating,” Walker reflected. The initial separation required navigating a shift in identity, adjusting to life outside the Air Force structure. In contrast, her return was characterized by clarity and familiarity. She readily re-integrated into the established routines and expectations of military life. The primary challenge upon return was the children’s adjustment to a new culture and language environment after their extended period in Germany, a testament to the depth of their immersion experience.
While observing peers promote to lieutenant colonel while she remained a major presented a unique dynamic, Walker views her CIP experience with unwavering positivity. She recognizes that her peers are now in positions of influence and hiring authority. Walker firmly believes that her intermission has made her a more well-rounded and effective Airman. She emphasizes that taking time for personal and family priorities has ultimately strengthened her commitment and capabilities.
A Call to Consider Career Intermission
For Airmen contemplating their career trajectory and seeking greater work-life integration, Major Walker offers compelling encouragement to explore the Career Intermission Program. She describes it as a “once-in-a-career opportunity” to prioritize personal well-being, pursue self-improvement, and focus on life priorities. Walker asserts that the diverse perspectives gained during intermission enrich an Airman’s capabilities and enhance their future service. She passionately believes that a break in service through the CIP should be viewed as a strength, not a detriment. The DoD’s provision of this program reflects an investment in its personnel, fostering a force of service members who return “eager to serve,” equipped with “newfound skills and passions,” ultimately bolstering retention across the Air Force. The Career Intermission Program stands as a powerful tool for career flexibility and personal growth, deserving wider recognition and utilization within the Air Force.
