Air Force officials cancel officer training boards

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RANDOLPH AIR FORCE BASE, Texas (AFNS) --  Air Force Recruiting Service officials here announced April 14 that they are canceling the upcoming summer Officer Training School board and possibly other future boards until further notice.

The board is being canceled due to the Air Force's recently announced overall Force Management program to reduce authorized end-strength. End-strength is the maximum number of people each service is authorized annually by Congress and limited by Department of Defense budget constraints.

The number of boards held yearly is determined by how many officers the primary commissioning sources anticipate graduating each year. Due to the Air Force's Force Management program, recruiting officials will be limiting line officer accessions per Force Management Program guidance.

"Air Force retention is currently at a 15-year high," said Brig Gen. Alfred Stewart, AFRS commander. "Although this situation is a tremendous testament to the dedication of our great Airmen and the high regard they have for the Air Force as a career and as a way of life, we now have more Airmen serving than we are authorized by Congressional mandate. Therefore, unless the Air Force takes aggressive and immediate actions to balance the force, this overage will continue to grow."

The OTS board cancellation is not permanent and selection boards will be held sometime in the future, General Stewart said. Candidates are encouraged to keep in touch with their recruiter and periodically refer to www.rs.af.mil for more information.

To read more about the Air Force's Force Management Program, go to www.afpc.randolph.af.mil.