NCO retraining program application window open

  • Published
  • By Debbie Gildea
  • Air Force Personnel Center Public Affairs
JOINT BASE SAN ANTONIO-RANDOLPH, Texas (AFNS) --  Staff sergeant-selects through master sergeants in overage career fields can apply for retraining into an undermanned career field during Phase I of the fiscal 2014 Noncommissioned Officer Retraining Program. Retraining applications will be accepted June 4-July 8.

The two-phase program is used to balance and sustain the enlisted force by moving second-term and career Airmen from overage career fields to shortage career fields, said Master Sgt. Lytronda Clay, the AFPC retraining policy superintendent.

Approximately 970 Airmen from nearly three dozen career fields will be affected this year, compared to more than 1,400 last year.

Those Airmen have an opportunity during NCORP Phase I to voluntarily retrain into the undermanned career field of their choice, if they qualify, Clay said. The list of open fields is updated daily, and interested Airmen can access it on the myPers website.

Phase II is involuntary and will implemented if Phase I objectives are not met. During Phase II, AFPC will select the most qualified and vulnerable Airmen for retraining out of overage career fields. Phase II is slated for July 8-Sept. 8. Airmen who meet retraining eligibility criteria and who are vulnerable for non-voluntary retraining will be notified by their local personnel section in July.

Airmen who volunteer during Phase I will have significantly more options, said Clay. Undermanned fields include flight engineer, cyberspace defense operations, military working dog handler, at least nine medical fields and more.

To apply for NCORP retraining, Airmen must be on their second or subsequent enlistment, be a staff sergeant (or staff-select) through master sergeant, and have a minimum 5 skill level in their control Air Force Specialty Code. In addition, staff sergeants must have fewer than 12 years of active service as of Sept. 30, and technical and master sergeants can have no more than 16 years of active service by Sept. 30.

Retraining applicants must have at least 24 months of retainability upon completion of their new career field technical school, as well, Clay said.

"Airmen selected during Phase II for retraining who do not have 24 months of retainability may decline retainability, but will then be ineligible for assignment, promotion and reenlistment," she said.

For complete eligibility and application information, go to myPers at https://mypers.af.mil and enter "Enlisted Retraining" in the search window.