Retraining program achieves 95 percent success Published June 21, 2006 RANDOLPH AIR FORCE BASE, Texas (AFPN) -- The NCO Retraining Program, designed to balance the enlisted force by moving NCOs from career fields with overages to those with shortages, has reached an unprecedented 95 percent of the Air Staff goal for the fiscal 2006 program. This is the most successful NCORP to date, said officials from the Air Force Personnel Center. The success can be attributed to a recent Air Force policy change requiring Airmen identified for retraining to complete the required administrative actions or separate on their current date of separation. "The Air Force mission requires the right people, in the right (Air Force specialty codes) at the right time," said Chief Master Sgt. Christine Williams, chief of the AFPC enlisted skills management branch. "We have to realign our resources, and we must meet our NCO responsibilities to meet Air Force needs." Thirty six Airmen who failed to take action by the May 15 deadline now face mandatory separation. Two of these individuals were selected for promotion to technical sergeant but will not pin on that rank as stated in the FY06 Phase II NCO Retraining Program memorandum they were required to sign. Additionally, 22 Airmen elected to separate rather than retrain. The two-phased fiscal 2006 NCORP included a voluntary retraining phase that ended in October and an involuntary phase that began Nov. 30. Future members identified for retraining should pick a career field that matches their interests in the voluntary phase rather than wait for the involuntary phase and have no role in the selection, officials said. "During the voluntary phase, members have choices," Chief Williams said. "They have the ability to positively impact their future by being proactive."