Options available to those affected by force management programs

  • Published
  • By Karen Abeyasekere
  • 100th Air Refueling Wing Public Affairs
RAF MILDENHALL, England --  Air Force leaders recently announced the implementation of a variety of force management programs which will affect thousands of Airmen across the entire Air Force.

The purpose of these programs is to help the Air Force meet budget reduction requirements.

As the Air Force adjusts to meet the new requirements, select Airmen will need to cross-train into different career fields or separate. These Airmen can get more information about their options from a number of resources; the main source being the myPers website, accessible through the Air Force Portal.

For Airmen at RAF Mildenhall, the Team Mildenhall career assistance advisors, located in the professional development center, can provide advice as well.

"There are retraining opportunities still available. Most are for first-term Airmen, although there are a few for career Airmen," said Master Sgt. Rebecca Marrs, 100th Air Refueling Wing career assistance advisor from Providence, R.I. "The list (is) much smaller since the beginning of the force management program (implementation), but it's a constantly changing document. As different authorizations come and go, the online retraining advisory will be updated.

"(Airmen) have three chances to be selected once they apply for retraining," Marrs said. "If they get declined three consecutive times, then their 'window' is off the books. For first-term Airmen, it depends on their time in service. There's a specific window when they're eligible to retrain and it depends on whether they are a four-year or six-year enlistee, as well as what their date of eligible return from overseas is."

One word of advice for all Airmen who may be affected by any of the force management programs is for those Airmen to check their personnel records display application before they do anything else.

"Make sure your records are accurate!" said Senior Master Sgt. Jener Tiongson, 100th ARW career assistance advisor from St. Louis, Mo. "That's what the selection boards are going to be looking at. The boards don't know who's who - they don't know Sergeant Marrs from me. They can only tell who people are from their records."

After checking PRDA, if an active-duty member's records are not up-to-date, that Airman should contact his or her military personnel section, which will help correct the records.

On myPers, there are personnel services delivery memorandums for each force management program, which spell out all the different timelines, dates and options available.

"The best thing for members to do is to get smart on the different programs that are available to them. Members should learn as much as they can about the programs that may affect them, then sit down with their families and make an informed decision," Marrs said.

Examples of current force management programs are below. For a complete list and description of all the force management programs, visit the myPers website.

Enlisted-only programs

Quality Force Review Board - This board will determine the retainability of all Airmen (except those in retirement sanctuary) with a specified negative quality indicator, which includes reporting identifiers, reenlistment eligibility codes, assignment availability codes and grade status reason.

Enlisted Retention Board - This determines which Airmen, senior airmen through technical sergeants in overage Air Force Specialty Codes and grades, the Air Force will select to retain. The Air Force will offer voluntary separation pay to Airmen with six or more years of service who are meeting a retention board. The Air Force will give involuntary separation pay to Airmen with between six and 15 years of service who are not retained by the board. The Air Force will offer Temporary Early Retirement Authority to Airmen with 15 or more years of service who are meeting a retention board and to similarly eligible Airmen who are not retained by the board.

Senior NCO Retention Board - This board determines which retirement-eligible Airmen, with at least 20 years of service as of Nov. 30, 2014, in overage AFSCs and grades, the Air Force will select to retain and which Airmen the Air Force will select to retire early.

Officer-only programs

Force Shaping Board - This board will consider active-duty officers with more than three but less than six years of commissioned service as of Dec. 31, 2014, for separation and will target career fields and year groups based on sustainment levels.

Reduction in Force - This program will impact regular officers with six or more years total active commissioned service and less than 18 years of total active federal military service below the grade of lieutenant colonel who have served at least one year of active duty in the current grade, are not on a promotion list, and are not eligible for retirement or will not become eligible for retirement within two years.

Enhanced Selective Early Retirement Board - The board applies to regular officers on the active duty list in grades of caption (with prior service) through colonel, with specific eligibility requirements based on grade, year group, specialties and competitive categories.

Officer and enlisted programs

Temporary Early Retirement Authority - This program authorizes officer and enlisted Airmen, with more than 15 but less than 20 years of total active federal military service to apply for early retirement with a reduced amount of retirement pay.

Voluntary separation pay - This program is for active-duty Airmen with more than six years of service, but less than 20 years of total active federal military service. Enlisted Airmen may apply for VSP if they are in an overage AFSC and grade, which includes Airmen who are eligible to meet an enlisted retention board. Officers who are eligible for RIF and Force Shaping Boards may apply for VSP in lieu of meeting a board.

For more information, go the myPers website via the Air Force Portal or contact Marrs at DSN 238-5933, commercial at 01638 545933 or email at rebecca.marrs@us.af.mil.

Editor's note: Information courtesy of the Air Force Personnel Center and www.af.mil/News/ArticleDisplay/tabid/223/Article/ 467713/af-announces-additional-force-management-programs-to-reduce-force-size.aspx