Colorado Technical University

USAF Palace Chase program for overseas members requirements?

First things first, i know i should see the in-service recruiter to get the most accurate and up-to-date information. That being said i know that I am still some time away from being eligible for the program and i am deploying withing the next few weeks so i will see one when i get back. Currently I am stationed overseas so I know that the requirements for the program are different for me. This is the information that I have found that seems to apply for me. If overseas: submit application 1 year prior to your requested DEROS, if DEROS and DOS match (highest ADSC for officers) and may request up to 6 months early release. If DEROS and DOS (highest ADSC for officers) do not match, must submit application 6 months prior to DEROS for an early release equal to DEROS. What I gather from this is that I need to submit the application one year from my DEROS (my DEROS is JAN-2012). I should get back from my deployment around Sept-Oct, so i have to submit my application by Dec or Jan right? By then I'd be in the AF for about a year and a half. Would that be a disqualifying factor? I am enlisted and in good health. Also what would be the chances of me being able to cross train? I realize its all up to the gaining unit but I am wondering if anyone has had any experience with all this. The primary reasoning for me wanting to do this is that I want to get a degree, and this would give me the necessary time to do so (I currently work 12's on the flight line so i don't exactly have a lot of time to do this), also i would like to cross-train into a career field that could transfer more easily into the civilian world such as a medical job. I currently crew f-16's which doesn't easily transfer into the civilian world. Last but not least i can still serve my country while doing all of this. Thank you for your time and help.

Public Comments

1. When you palace chase, you will palace chase into a unit that you've already contacted and they've agreed to take you in. This can be any guard base, whether they have your current AFSC or not. You're filling one of their slots and it'll be whatever the AFSC is of the slot you're applying for. The only benefit of not cross-training is not having to go to tech school again and go through CDCs again (which I'm currently going through...ugh). While I was overseas, I looked at palace chasing too (although wound up not doing it) and your dates look right. One of the only things that can really stop you from doing it is if you're trying to curtail your DEROS. Your CC can just say "no" right there because you're fulfilling a tour there and he doesn't have to release you from it. If you just palace chase at your DEROS, then it's not an issue. You might want to just talk to your CC ahead of time and see what his attitude is towards releasing you early.