Officials release officer cross-flow board results

  • Published
  • By Maj. Beth Kelley Horine
  • Air Force Personnel, Services and Manpower Public Affairs
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.