WASHINGTON -- The top generals of the Air Force’s reserve components told members of the Senate they are concerned about retention in the coming years.

Lt. Gen. Daniel James III, director of the Air National Guard, and Lt. Gen. James E. Sherrard III, chief of Air Force Reserve, met with members of the Senate Appropriations Committee subcommittee on defense May 7 to discuss post-Operation Iraqi Freedom concerns.

James told the senators he is using surveys to gauge the mood of his troops after more than a year of near-constant deployment to OIF and operations Enduring Freedom and Noble Eagle.

“We surveyed at the end of the first year, and I’m pleased to say they’re more positive than we thought,” he said.

Normally, James said, the ANG expects to lose about 10 percent of its forces each year, but initially anticipated many more might opt to leave this year. The first survey, however, indicates that 13 to 15 percent will choose to retire or separate from the service.

“It’s not going to be an issue that will cause much concern right now, but it will have to be looked at,” he said.

James said another survey will be conducted at the end of this year and will continue as long as the operations tempo remains high.

According to Sherrard, the Air Force Reserve is also focused on keeping its numbers up, in both prior-service and new-accession categories.

While the Reserve exceeded its five-year average enlisted-retention rate in fiscal 2002 by retaining 86 percent of its airmen, the general was cautious in terms of the future.

“We want to continue accessing as many prior active service (airmen) as possible,” he said. “That gets to be a major challenge for us, when there’s Stop-Loss of the active force.”

Historically, the Air Force Reserve recruits about 25 percent of eligible separating active-duty airmen. The general expressed concern, however, that Stop-Loss and the continued high operations tempo may negatively affect recruiting.

Sherrard told Alaska Sen. Ted Stevens, ranking member of the subcommittee, that additional retirement incentives could keep experienced airmen in uniform.

“Our key to success is prior-service airmen, and anything we could do that would retain (them) to the maximum extent possible … would certainly enhance our ability to keep that experience base that is so critical to help us do our job,” he said.

Potential future incentives discussed with Stevens included a retirement credit multiplier for combat duty, long-term mobilization and service beyond the 20-year point. In addition, the general urged senators to examine a change to legislation allowing retirement benefits to be paid before age 60.

According to James, who said 55 percent of ANG airmen are currently performing full-time duty, information on deployment schedules is vital to retention and the Air Guard’s mission.

“Predictability is the key,” he said. “That’s why we established the Air and Space Expeditionary Force concept -- to give predictability to airmen and their families so they would know when they’re supposed to deploy. Unfortunately, the predictability part for the reserve component is not as good as it is for the active component.

“Our airmen are very proud to be a part of (OIF), but we don’t know what their breaking point is or when it’s going to impact on our retention,” James said.