Reserve PA Update
From the 2017 NAPA Breakout Meeting at the AAPA Conference
Presented by LCDR Clifton Butler
NAPA President 2016-2017

This is the text of a presentation given at the NAPA Breakout Meeting at the 2017 AAPA Impact Conference in Las Vegas, NV. NAPA members may log in and view the presentation slides here.

ORGANIZATION OF RESERVES

Purpose of The Reserve Component

Support Navy Medicine through:

• Integration
• Augmentation
• Sustainment
• Medical support

Reserve Utilization

Who makes up the PA Reserve Component?

• Civilian PAs with related careers
• Reservists may be:
  • Former active-duty members
  • Direct accession
• Remains a reservist either voluntarily, or by obligation
• Typical Drill activity:
  • IDT/IDTT one weekend per month 48 drills per year
  • Annual Training (2 week AD) May be up to 29 days earlier in the Fiscal Year
  • ADT and ADSW

Types of Reservists

Selected Reserves (SELRES)

• Drilling Reservist/ Reserve Units
  • Most relied on component of the reserve
  • Paid drills: one weekend/month
  • Two weeks per year Annual Training
• Voluntary Training Unit (VTU) – Lost Billets – Drill for Points
  • The VTU consists of personnel, organized into units, who are eligible and willing to return to a pay status, or personnel not eligible for further pay assignments but who voluntarily drill for retirement points. (Why would I do this?)
  • Paid ADT/ADSW (for clinical sustainment)

Individual Ready Reserve (Kiss of Death for PAs)

• Receive no pay, not obligated to drill or perform annual training
• They can earn drill credit via correspondence courses
• Keep their ID Card, ID cards for dependents, exchange privileges
• Can be called up in extreme cases
• Problem: Many don’t know they are in the IRR

Retired Reserve

• Completed 20 or more years - Retired / not paid
• After 20 “good years” (all drills and AT)
• Common for officers to stay 30 years
• Draw pay and benefits at age 60
• Retirement pay based on number of points/rank/days served on duty times the conversion factor

MedMACRE RC POM 18

Current Inventory

• 50 PAs
• BA = 53 PAs
• 94% Manned and needs to Grow by FY23
• MarForRes Billets also available
• Personnel leaving AC may communicate with CDR Foor for Reserve requirements.

RC Benefits

• Drill Flexibility
  • Location
  • Drill options
  • Authorized absences
• Compensation
  • Drill Pay
  • Pay Raises
  • Active Duty Pay
  • Special Pay Augmentations
  • Retirement
  • Promotions
  • Reemployment Rights
• Life/Health
  • Life Insurance
  • Medical/Dental Care/ Tricare Reserve Select
• Education
  • GI Bill
  • Advanced Degree for Officers
• Income Enhancements
  • Home Loan Program
  • Income Tax Deductions
  • Commissary/Exchange Privileges
  • Travel

RC Challenges

• Recruitment
• Retention
• Billet vulnerability

How to keep the PA RC Strong?

• Quality PAs getting off active duty
• Let’s keep the quality (All RC PAs Boarded for Family Practice)
• Send AC that are leaving to the Recruiters

Contact:

CDR Brian Foor
Assistant Specialty Leader for USNR Physician Assistants
Bureau of Medicine and Surgery