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 MAJOR GENERAL ALFRED J. STEWART
Officials release officer cross-flow board results

Posted 3/10/2011 Email story   Print story

    


by Maj. Beth Kelley Horine
Air Force Personnel, Services and Manpower Public Affairs


3/10/2011 - RANDOLPH AIR FORCE BASE, Texas (AFNS) -- As part of the Air Force's ongoing efforts to balance the force, Air Force Personnel Center officials convened a panel Feb. 15 through 16 to select eligible nonrated line officers for cross-flow into critically manned career fields.

"The officer cross-flow program was implemented in 2011 as a targeted approach to respond to changing mission requirements," said Maj. Gen. Alfred J. Stewart, the AFPC commander. "The cross-flow panel truly facilitated a 'shaping' of the force within authorized, funded end strength."

The panel considered 424 officers for cross-flow and competitively selected 73 officers for cross-flow opportunities. Sixteen of those selected were released for further screening and assessment for 13D and 13L training, and 57 officers were selected for cross-flow into the 14N, 35P, 62E and 63A career fields.

The goal of the panel, according to Col. David Slade, the AFPC director of assignments, was to competitively select officers who, after considering all available information, had the highest potential for success serving in their gaining career field.

The selection panel considered the officer's application, overall record of performance, senior rater recommendations, academic degrees and transcripts, and other factors in order to assess the applicant's relative standing among his peers.

The panel also used a reverse-seniority process to select eligible officers for cross-flow.

"While performance and requisite qualifications were key components of the selection process, so too was the officers' relative seniority," Colonel Slade said. "The panel considered officers with less commissioned-service time ahead of more senior officers; this method provides more time and opportunity for selected officers to develop within their new career field."

"Cross-flowing between career fields is not a new thing," said Maj. Paul Ferguson, the 63A assignments chief. "It's actually a normal part of development. Many current 63A officers cross-flowed into our career field from other career fields. Cross-flow provides officers with breadth of experience, something that adds diversity to our acquisition program offices."

For officers selected to cross-train into the intelligence career field, benefits include global opportunities and high visibility positions at all levels of command, said 14N assignments officer Maj. Trever Gersten.

"Some of our present day intel commanders of highly sought after units are cross-trainees," Major Gersten said. "The skills they learned in other career fields are a huge benefit, providing a broader leadership perspective for the Airmen and commanders they work with."

Major Gersten also added that developmental teams review and select officers in their career fields for developmental education primarily on officership and duty performance, and not length of time in a certain career field.

"The opportunities are the same, regardless if you've been in one career field or four throughout your career," he said.

Additional officer cross-flow opportunities may be announced for 2012 and subsequent years, officials said.

Eligibility criteria and career fields will vary, depending upon changes in officer manning and future Air Force mission requirements. For more information on cross-training opportunities, contact the Total Force Service Center at 800-525-0102.



tabComments
3/21/2011 10:09:35 AM ET
Keep drinking that blue Kool-Aid JBL.
Warlock, USA
 
3/20/2011 11:48:35 PM ET
Well I guess have PME complete Masters and 2 deployments and was SqCC wasn't strong enough and a strong promotion recommendation....not sure what is then JBL...you tell me. It was a numbers game. Period. Don't deny it.
The Dude, LA
 
3/16/2011 5:32:42 PM ET
I feel for those that were force shaped but the truth of the matter is that your record wasn't as strong as those who were retained. It is understandable that you are upset but the AF made the right decision on who they let go. You have to trim the fat from some place.
JBL, TX
 
3/15/2011 1:35:34 PM ET
Same here Dude. I was a chemist with a great deal of intel experience including commanding joint intel units in Afghanistan specialized in counter-IED. Would have been a perfect fit for 14N...
J, FL
 
3/12/2011 10:56:02 AM ET
Yeah, where was this option when I got cut/force shaped last year? With my 12 years in, I would have taken this in a heartbeat. Now the AF has put itself in a pickle playing musical personnel when all they had to do was ask on the first round of cuts. Another fine example of what a joke the manpower/personnel systems and those who run it are.
The Dude, LA
 
3/11/2011 10:57:37 AM ET
Add this article to the one about cutting across the force without regard to career field and guess which officers in these critically manned career fields will be cut. You guessed it. The ones who just got moved in. So they will end up losing after all.
Jerry, Oklahoma
 
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