by Eric M. Grill
Air Force Personnel, Service and Manpower Public Affairs
11/15/2011 - RANDOLPH AIR FORCE BASE, Texas (AFNS) -- Air Force officials are offering enlisted Airmen voluntary separation and retirement programs for fiscal 2012 as part of the service's ongoing force-management initiatives.
Voluntary and involuntary force-management programs were implemented in fiscal 2010 due to a 17-year high retention rate. For fiscal 2012, the service remains over its congressionally mandated end-strength.
"Extraordinarily talented Airmen have answered our nation's call," said Col. Kenneth Sersun, the Air Force Military Policy Division chief. "With so many Airmen wanting to serve, we now have more Airmen serving than the authorized 332,800 end-strength funded by Congress."
Based on end-strength limits, the additional force-management measures are necessary to reduce the number of Airmen serving on active duty, he said.
The enlisted voluntary measures focus on Airmen in non-critical, overage specialties. These programs include limited Active Duty Service Commitment waivers, including waiving up to two years of enlistment obligations; Palace Chase transfers for enlisted Airmen with a one-to-one rather than a two-to-one year commitment; and enlisted Airmen may also apply to the Air Force Blue to Green Interservice Transfer to the Army program.
Eligible Airmen can begin applying immediately for any of these voluntary programs.
The challenge is balancing both the number and skills of Airmen within authorized, funded levels, Sersun said.
Airman and Family Readiness Centers will continue to provide support through the Transition Assistance Program and veterans' benefits seminars. These seminars include information on employment opportunities available in the Air Force Reserve, Air National Guard, Air Force civil service and private sector. Also included is information on the educational options available with the Post 9/11 GI Bill.
Senior leaders highly encourage Airmen to consider opportunities along the Air Force continuum of service in either the Air Force Reserve or Air National Guard.
For information about this, and other personnel issues, visit the secure Air Force Personnel Services website at https://gum-crm.csd.disa.mil.
Comments
12/5/2011 12:34:17 PM ET The program is VOLUNTARY and IN-VOLUNTARY. no, the focus is not just on Airmen that got in trouble.
Claudia, Camp Bullis TX
11/22/2011 6:39:29 PM ET I have a line to add to the article. Enlisted involuntary measures focus on Airmen with Article 15s with punishment including rank. Integrity first, right?
