ROBINS AIR FORCE BASE, Ga. -- Air Force Reserve Command’s Individual Mobilization Augmentee Strategic Review Team has completed Phase II of its thorough review of the IMA program to ensure the globally integrated IMA force aligns with the National Defense Strategy, Department of the Air Force and Air Force Reserve strategic priorities, and that its 7,500 Individual Reservists receive proper administrative control and support. Phase III is now in full swing.
The second phase of the review focused on three lines of effort: scope, structure and resourcing. On Nov. 8, the Phase II team presented Lt. Gen. Richard Scobee, AFRC commander and chief of Air Force Reserve, with four recommendations. He signed a record of decision on Jan. 18, where he authorized a transition to Phase III and approved the team’s recommendation for a formal strategic assessment of the IMA program.
“I am really energized by the hard work put in by the members of the Phase I and Phase II teams and I’m excited to dive into Phase III,” said Maj. Gen. Moe Banavige, the mobilization assistant to the commander of Air Force Materiel Command and the team lead. “The formal strategic assessment that General Scobee approved will be conducted by Headquarters Air Force and Air Force Reserve Command staff to determine the actions needed to eliminate shared ADCON (administrative control) for our IMAs, which is one of our central goals for this project. To see this all come together is really fantastic, and will provide meaningful improvement for IMAs. It’s an honor to get to lead this effort.”
In addition to the two recommendations that were fully approved, two others were approved with modifications. These modifications authorize the team to prototype the bullpen structure and work with staff to bring finite detail to the proposal of eliminating shared ADCON as well as the structure needed for effective management and oversight of the IMA program.
“The bullpen structure that we look forward to prototyping is an innovative human capital management concept which allows the active component to quickly and easily access the unique and talented skill sets that reside within our individual reserve portfolio,” said Brig. Gen. Dave Smith, MA to the 9th Air Force commander and the leader for the structure line of effort. “We are also performing a deep analysis of the type of structure and oversight our IMAs need to serve more productively, with less reliance on the active component for administrative support. Our hope is to create a structure that ensures an improved level of support to our Airmen and Guardians.”
An in-person offsite was held on Feb. 16 and 17, in Alexandria, Virginia, to officially kick off Phase III. This event brought together IMA Strategic Review Team members as well as stakeholders from the Headquarters Readiness and Integration Organization, Air Force Reserve Command and Headquarters Air Force Reserve directorates.
“There was a significant amount of work done at the Phase III kick off,” said Col. Chad Segura, commander of HQ RIO. “The administration of the IMA program is complicated, but everyone in the room had the same overarching goal: make the IMA program more responsive to both the mission and the IMAs themselves. The meeting was very productive, and I look forward to working with the team as they explore ways to improve the overall program.”
As a result of the off-site, work now begins for newly formed integrated product teams which will focus on further development of the structures and processes needed to fully realize the four recommendations proposed in Phase II.
For more detailed information about the IMA Strategic Review Team’s work, go to https://www.afrc.af.mil/About-Us/IMA-Strategic-Review/.