WASHINGTON (AFNS) -- In ongoing efforts to size and shape the force to current and future requirements, Air Force officials announced the fiscal 2014 force management programs.
The Air Force ended fiscal 2012 159 Airmen over end strength and anticipates ending fiscal 2013 at or marginally over end strength. The fiscal 2014 budget requests active duty end strength at 327,600, which is a further reduction of 1,860 from fiscal 2013 active duty authorized end strength.
For enlisted Airmen, voluntary programs from last year will continue. These include waivers for active duty service commitments, time-in-grade waivers, enlistment contract waivers and expanded Palace Chase transfers to the Air National Guard or Air Force Reserve.
For officers, voluntary programs will continue. These programs will be offered to certain year groups and overage career fields to allow time-in-grade and ADSC waivers. New for this year will be an ADSC waiver of up to 12 months for Senior and Intermediate Developmental Education. Likewise, Palace Chase and the 10 to eight years of commissioned service waivers will continue to be offered.
"The Air Force will be smaller in the future," said Col. Dawn Keasley, the Military Force Policy Division chief. "Depending on end strength requirements for fiscal year 2014 and beyond, we may be required to implement additional force management measures throughout the year to meet Congressionally-mandated end strength."
She added that the Air Force's goal will be to use voluntary measures first, offer incentives where needed and use involuntary programs if required.
"Airmen are our most important resource and we must do our best to live with the resources we've been given," said Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Mark A. Welsh III. "That requires having the right balance of skills to meet the needs of the current and future fight, which these force management actions will provide."
The Air National Guard and Air Force Reserve are conducting their own force management actions in fiscal 2014. Click on
Air Force Reserve or
Air National Guard for more information.
For more information on fiscal 2014 force management programs or to apply, please visit the myPers website at
https://mypers.af.mil and enter "Force Management" in the search window.