Off-duty employment procedure Published Sept. 14, 2009 By Airman 1st Class Valerie Hosea 82nd Training Wing Public Affairs SHEPPARD AIR FORCE BASE, Texas -- Airmen pursue off-duty employment for a variety of reasons. A second job offers benefits to Airmen ranging from more family insurance to more income to being a voluntary time consumer. An off-duty job can be very valuable, especially when the proper procedures to acquire and keep one are followed. The Department of Defense 5500 7-R, Joint Ethics Regulation, Section 2-206a, discusses the proper channels to go through when pursuing a second job. It says, "A Department of Defense employee, other than a special government employee... shall obtain written approval from the agency designee before engaging in a business activity or compensated outside employment with a prohibited source, unless general approval has been given in accordance with subsection 2-206(b) of this regulation." It also says that once the Airman has all of the necessary permissions, they can begin their desired off-duty employment. However, the second job should not hinder military performance. Master Sgt. Regan Crowder, 982nd Training Group first sergeant, said he believes Airmen should make sure they allow themselves to have a long enough rest period after their off-duty shift is over. "If an Airman works a full duty-day they will need some rest. The AFIs and regulations protect Airmen by keeping them from being over-worked," he said. Although the DoD regulation governs all military services, an Air Force Instruction exists specifically for medical personnel. Air Force Instruction 44-102, Medical Care Management, specifies, "A period of at least six hours of rest must elapse between the end of the off-duty employment and the start of the duty period." Airmen should also make sure they're not exhausting themselves by working too much. For that reason a limitation of a 16-hour work week, unless approved by the flight commander, has been set in the AFI. "Off-duty employment shall not exceed 16 hours per week. This limitation does not apply to off-duty employment performed while on official leave status. (With the exception being that) the (flight commander) may approve periods that exceed 16 hours per week," it says. Another factor that could possibly interfere with the duties of an Airman is the location of the off-duty employment. AFI 44-102 says, "Military personnel may only work at a site that is close enough to allow the individual to return promptly if military duty requires return...For off-duty employment during non-duty hours of normal duty days, providers must be able to return within two hours by land. Personnel may not travel by air beyond acceptable land travel distances for travel time." For off-duty employment during non-duty days or on official leave, personnel are not restricted by the two-hour return time, it says. " The guidelines tell Airmen what the standards are and while protecting them at the same time." said Sergeant Crowder Off-duty employment can be a good thing if the regulations are followed. For those interested, more guidelines for off-duty employment are available in DoD 5500 7-R and AFI 44-102.