Air Force releases major, captain reduction-in-force board results Published Oct. 28, 2011 By Eric M. Grill Air Force Personnel, Service and Manpower Public Affairs SAN ANTONIO (AFNS) -- Commanders Air Force-wide were notified Oct. 24 of the results of the Calendar Year 2011 Reduction-in-Force Board held at the Air Force Personnel Center here in September. The CY11 RIF board, which considered captains and majors in the Line of the Air Force competitive category, is part of the Air Force's fiscal 2011 force management program. The force management program blends voluntary and involuntary programs in order to meet the Air Force's congressionally mandated end-strength of 332,800 officers and enlisted Airmen by Sept. 30, 2012. The board considered 8,832 officers and selected more than 95-percent for retention, officials said. The objective of the board was to retain the best-qualified officers according to the "whole-person" concept used in promotion boards. Officers not selected for retention must separate by Mar 1, 2012. When the RIF board was announced in February 2011, officials said the goal was to target up-to10 percent of the officers meeting the board. Since then, Voluntary Separation Pay was offered to the RIF-board eligible officers as an incentive to encourage officers in overage competitive categories and specific year groups to separate early. About 10-percent of the RIF-eligible officers applied for VSP, officials said. The Air Force approved the maximum number of VSP applications without adversely impacting mission capabilities known to be critical at that time, officials said. Applicants in critical career fields or with skill sets essential to the Air Force mission, and those with lengthy Active Duty Service Commitments, were generally disapproved for VSP. Approximately 650 officers who applied for VSP and were turned down, were required by law to still meet the CY11 RIF board. All officers not selected for retention will receive full separation pay and any remaining financial obligations will not be recouped. The officers and their immediate family members are also eligible for two years base commissary and exchange privileges and will receive 180 days of post-separation medical benefits. For those separating officers, Airman and family readiness centers provide transition support through transition assistance planning and veterans' benefits seminars. These seminars include information on opportunities available in the Air Force Reserve, the Air National Guard, Air Force civil service and the private sector, as well as educational options available with the Post 9/11 GI Bill. Senior Air Force leaders encourage Airmen to consider opportunities along the Air Force continuum of service of Air Force Reserve and Air National Guard. For information about this, and other personnel issues, visit the Air Force Personnel Services website at https://gum-crm.csd.disa.mil.